2006 was the year of babies, with some of the most highly anticipated babies making their debut. Topping the list is the offspring of Hollywood's impossibly gorgeous couple: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. The socially active couple welcomed daughter Shiloh in June. Shiloh has already set records; she is the first baby ever to be immortalized in Madame Tussaud's wax museum in New York City. Another baby who caused quite a stir is Suri Cruise. The public waited impatiently for a picture of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes with their newborn. Many were skeptical of her existence because she had not been seen publicly since her April birth -- until the publication of the October cover of Vanity Fair. Cruise and Holmes tied the knot after months of anticipation in November during a lavish wedding ceremony in an Italian castle.
Twenty-five-year-old singer Britney Spears welcomed her second child in just as many years in September. In fact, son Jayden James was born a mere 2 days before big brother Sean Preston's first birthday. International superstar Madonna created controversy once again this year for adopting 1-year-old David Banda, an orphan from Malawi. Human rights groups protested the singer was given preferential treatment in the adoption process and questioned her abilities to be an adoptive mother. The boy's biological father, who gave David up to be adopted, later insisted he did not know the adoption would be permanent. Just as celebrities were busy making babies, they were also busy getting divorced. The nastiest divorce battle of the year was between ex-Beatles member Paul McCartney and estranged wife Heather Mills. McCartney filed for divorce in July. Mills could claim as much as a quarter of McCartney's estimated $1.5 billion fortune. Golden couple Ryan Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon surprised many when they announced their divorce in November. Rumors have been circulating that Phillippe cheated on Witherspoon with a female costar. Witherspoon is the second-highest earning actress in Hollywood, behind Nicole Kidman. Many suspect Reese's higher paychecks contributed to the dissolution of their seven-year marriage. Another famous couple called it quits in November. To the relief of the public, tired of their rumor-plagued relationship, singer Britney Spears and aspiring rapper Kevin Federline ended their two-year marriage just a scant two months after the birth of their second son. The divorce came at the same time Federline released his debut album. Sales were dismal.
Another Hollywood marriage to hit the skids was between actress Pamela Anderson and musician Kid Rock. The two celebrated their union with four weddings all over the world. But four months later, the two decided to part ways. This is the second failed marriage for Anderson.
One Hollywood couple, however, reconciled this year, putting an end to a bitter year-long battle. Socialites Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie rekindled their friendship after more than a year of not speaking to each other. The two star in their reality series The Simple Life, set to film their fifth season.
And then there were the celebrities behaving badly. Actor and Director Mel Gibson was pulled over for driving under the influence of alcohol this summer. During his arrest, Gibson allegedly shouted a barrage of anti-Semitic remarks, causing many to wonder how this would affect his career. Gibson later apologized saying his behavior was inexcusable. He denied being anti-Semitic, claiming it went against the tenants of his religion. Gibson's latest film, Apocolypto, is being released in December. Actor Michael Richards found himself in hot water after a disastrous appearance at a comedy club in Los Angeles in November. Richards went off on a racist tirade, when two African-Americans in the audience started heckling him. Richards went on a rampage using racial epithets alluding to images of lynching. Richards spent several days doing damage control, making public apologies with prominent black leaders. He claimed his outburst stemmed from rage, and not racism.
The year's top grossing film is Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest, raking in over $423 million at the U.S. box office and over $1 billion worldwide. Pirates of the Caribbean may have earned the title of top grossing movie of 2006, but it certainly wasn't the most controversial or talked about. Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan tickled the funny bones of fans, while at the same time angering the nation of Kazakhstan. Kazak officials were outraged at English comedian Sascha Cohen Baron's portrayal of Kazakhstanis as anti-Semitic, sexist and rude. The film raked in $116 million so far.
Top acting honors went to Philip Seymour Hoffman for his role in Capote. Reese Witherspoon won the Oscar for Best Actress for her role in Walk the Line.
