Malala, Pakistan’s 16-year-old heroine, has aims as high as her spirit. She plans to enter politics. Be president of her country someday. If not, the belief is she’ll at least make prime minister.
To continue helping her people — all, not just the women — Malala Yousafzai said only 2 percent of its budget previously went to education. Now, 4 percent. Believing in a hands-on approach, she believes in working on the ground to help her countrymen. At Ann Tisch’s Charter School event, she was sorry to be sitting in a place of honor rather than with the girl students.
Having survived near death and possible assassination, the noble Nobelists — who awarded prizes to Arafat, Obama and Al Gore — deemed her unworthy of the prize.
Pasta Talk
At Elio’s, Richard Engel and Egypt’s ambassador, who said his country’s “starting to come together . . . it’s working out its internal problems . . . the worst is behind us.” Then he ate spaghetti . . . So’s everyone. Mel Gibson, filming on Mad Ave., ordered some with white truffles shipped into his Haddad’s trailer . . . Looong after my bulletin, the Hollywood Reporter just reported Katie Couric’s show shaky.
I saw those who saw ‘Her’
SO, kiddies, let Mother relate red-carpet glories. Alice Tully Hall. New York Film Festival closing night. Director Spike Jonze’s film “Her.” I’m eyeing the arrivals.
Olivia Wilde. Stunning blouse and simple unshowy long pants that sculpted her behind like Rodin. Gorgeous. Starring in the movie. A fan behind the barricade shouts: “Olivia . . . Olivia!!” A festival pro, hired to monitor the arrivals and the movie, asks: “So who’s Olivia?”
Co-star Rooney Mara. Ankle-length black cut-out cocktail number showing skinsides and back. The bulletin: “It’s Proenza.” Some professional with a clipboard, ID, pencil, telephone and nervous tic hollered: “If you say ‘Ann Taylor,’ then I know what that is. Anybody ever hear of Proenza?” Pattern makers at Proenza Schouler are not thrilled.
The star? Joaquin Phoenix. Spoke to nobody. Looked at nobody. Amazing he didn’t trip because he looked neither right, left nor down. Just straight. No stopping. Aware of my enormous power, I strode right up with, “Well, you obviously aren’t going to walk by me!” Whereupon opening his shut mouth he said: “Watch!”
What becomes a legend most for a movie actress? Weariness. Rooney: “So exhausted after shooting that I came home crying. Depressed. It was so intense that I was glad the work was over. Playing my emotional part was devastating. A million things went through my head. The movie makes you think.” Sinatra once told me Jack Daniel’s relaxed him. Said Rooney: “Next time I’ll try that.”
Co-star Amy Adams: “I only know I was completely tired out after a day’s work. No relaxation. No game-playing. Couldn’t unwind. Couldn’t play. And on top of that, I had my daughter to take care of. I was so tired at the end of a day that I literally couldn’t think of anything else.”
Odds & Ends
Brian Willams works out post-knee surgery at an East Side physical rehab facility . . . Nick Cannon to Season 9 “America’s Got Talent” maybes: “Go big or go home. Don’t come mediocre. Go all the way. Pretty good never does well.” . . . Before a Salt Lake City flight, Katherine Heigl at JFK’s Due Amici puffing an electronic ciggie. Her mom worked a Bloody Mary.
Carson Leak
This bad-boy Johnny Carson stuff? The story, blotto at a bar, hitting on a mafioso’s gun moll? Legit. One involved in this incident offered details. Because Colombo’s son got arrested and they decided Italians weren’t treated well, he wanted his Italian-American Civil Rights League covered. The deal was Carson’s life for TV coverage. My whisperer — nameless so he remains alive — said: “We told Johnny, ‘Can’t hide in the car or your house — or, MF, we kill you.’ ”
***
With Joan Rivers’ headlined miseries — plus just losing her sister plus just losing her adored dog — a friend sent a gift to cheer her. The accompanying note read: “Appreciate this. It’s really expensive.” Back came the sense of humor. Joan’s written thank you: “It looks it. And I’ll mention that when I sell it on eBay.”
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.