Mariah Carey’s ‘Precious’ role was first offered to Helen Mirren

November 3rd, 2009 more images more imagesMARIAH CAREY had to fill some regal shoes when she accepted her acclaimed role in PRECIOUS - the part was originally offered to HELEN MIRREN. The Heartbreaker diva has wowed critics with her performance as a dowdy social worker in the Oscar-tipped story of an abused teenage girl, but she reveals The Queen star Mirren was originally offered the role.

October 24th, 2009 DAME HELEN MIRREN and Italy's SERGIO CASTELLITTO have scored the big acting honours at the Rome Film Festival in Italy. The Queen star Mirren was named Best Actress for her portrayal of Leo Tolstoy's wife in The Last Station, while Castellitto claimed the festival's Best Actor prize for Alza la Testa.

October 7th, 2009 Pop superstar MARIAH CAREY loves to take nightly walks in public places, disguised in her husband NICK CANNON's clothes. The singer misses the anonymity she enjoyed before she was famous, but gets little fixes during twilight strolls, thanks to her new beau's wardrobe.

October 3rd, 2009 Mariah Carey The New York premiere of 'Precious' at the Alice Tully Hall New York City.more images

September 14th, 2009 TORONTO - Talk show queen Oprah Winfrey says she recognises herself in the the exploited girl Precious Jones, the protagonist of her film "Precious" about a Harlem teen sexually abused by her father. Oprah is executive producer of the African-American film based on the novel "Push" by Sapphire.

September 14th, 2009 "When you're with MARIAH CAREY, you've got to operate on Mariah Carey time... If we gotta be somewhere at six, I don't get dressed 'til seven.

September 9th, 2009 DAME HELEN MIRREN bursts into tears every time she sees footage of British monarch QUEEN ELIZABETH II as a young girl - because the video inspired her to portray the royal in her Oscar-winning movie. The veteran star picked up the Best Actress Academy Award for her role as Elizabeth in 2006 picture The Queen.

September 1st, 2009 MARIAH CAREY developed an inferiority complex as soon as she entered the music industry - because her record company made her paranoid about her looks. The Hero hitmaker was only a teenager when she got her big break in pop, and was already feeling lost because of her mixed genetic heritage.

August 20th, 2009 LONDON - R 'n' B singer Mariah Carey has pulled herself out of the 2010 Grammy Awards, after she postponed the release date for her latest album by a day of the cut off date for the running nominations. Carey, 39, will release her latest album 'Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel' on September 29.

July 29th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Mariah Carey has tried to make the songs in her next album "live-sounding", owing to requests by her Twitter followers. While recording 'Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel', the 'Hero' singer decided to act on the appeal from her Twitter followers, who posted messages onto her page.

July 28th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Mariah Carey has said that her marriage to Nick Canon has inspired her to write songs for her new album. The 'Hero' singer has said that her union with rapper-turned-presenter Nick has given her a fresh perspective on life, which is reflected in the material she has penned for forthcoming LP, titled 'Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel'.

May 28th, 2009 NEW YORK - Singer Mariah Carey had a tough time with celebrity hairstylist Ricardo Rojas during her trip to Cannes Film Festival, it has emerged. Following the trip, the 39-year-old songtress has decided not to use Rojas again after he left her on the day of the premiere of her new film without informing.

May 26th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Mariah Carey is auctioning off a rare designer dress especially created for her to raise money for breast cancer research. The 'Hero' singer is supporting charity Susan G.

May 18th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Mariah Carey was forced to tone down her infamous diva tantrums and "deglamourise" on the set of her new film 'Precious', after being made to share a trailer with her co-stars. The singer, who plays a social worker in the upcoming movie, was refused special treatment by director Lee Daniels.

May 16th, 2009 LONDON - American singer Mariah Carey is said to send her helpers hopping mad with her diva like demands, her most recent request being a Space Hopper. Carey, 39, had the retro children's toy included in the list of items she wanted as she arrived in Cannes for the Film Festival, and along with it she asked for flowers, candles, massage oils and speciality teas.