Maggie Gyllenhaal backed out of “The Village Bike,” which opens the Lucille Lortel next week. Stars’ oddities often make strange decisions.
After stubbing his toe, Shaq O’Neal’s mama applied nail hardener. That night he scored 46 points. His habit afterward was to wear “blue” toenail polish . . . Tiger Woods thinks red is his power color . . . Kirsten Dunst fears spiders: “I’m afraid for revenge they’ll attack me.” . . . Fran Drescher once stayed in her room on location shoots too scared to venture out unless a friend accompanied her.
Tara Lipinski wouldn’t step onto the ice without three rings on the left hand, three on the right . . . Bill Pullman wears his father’s shoes for auditions . . . Bono takes lucky bedroom slippers on tour . . . Spielberg keeps a gold ET charm in his car’s glove compartment . . . One time Cameron Diaz wore identical clothing four days, then never again those clothes.
Billy Bob Thornton: “I don’t like flying. Not terrified I’ll die, but that I’d die with a tourist.” . . . Christina Ricci told British Esquire: “Houseplants are dirty. Touching one freaks me out.” . . . Liv Tyler’s nervous if she doesn’t know the time . . . George Clooney’s bad vibe is earthquakes . . . Meg Ryan avoids parking in underground garages.
Idol & his book
Bettina Cirone and camera, covering Billy Idol at Javits Center, says: “Writhing his pelvis, jutting it forward, he covered the crotch with a jacket of his soon-due autobio” and opined: ‘I am between dark and good, rebel and saint, sex maniac and monk, poet and priest, demagogue and populist.’ ” OK. Since he uncovered what’s in his book, better we should see now what’s in his crotch.
NPH nails it
Neil Patrick Harris, playing nonheterosexual Hedwig — with or without that angry inch — is around flashing cobalt-colored sequinned nail polish . . . WHERE in the world is Matt Lauer? Recently inhaling a croissant at LaGuardia’s Delta Terminal C and using the eatery’s iPad . . . JAMES McAvoy on his role in “X-Men”: “As an ensemble, it’s many different things. Each part embodies every single part.” And if you understand that, you can untangle America’s health plan . . . FYI: Jim Dale was born Jim Smith. A sign painter confused his name with his agent named Dale so he decided to “stick with it.”
Remote NY digs
Louis C.K.’s new home on Shelter Island — which is about 10 minutes south of Shanghai and such an easy commute when you’re booked for one-nighters — is on a large land parcel in a remote area. Off a crab creek. Guests will automatically get Dungeness cocktail or crab cakes. If you find the place. It’s so situated that it doesn’t appear on a GPS . . . JULIANNA Margulies: “I get dressed quick. I do the whole thing in a half-hour. You should have seen me 30 minutes ago. This all happened after I had a kid . . . ” Suggestion: How about a yearly memorial to stars who’ve passed away and gone to a better place — like the Turner Classic Movies channel.
Playwright shows emotion
At Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, Terrence McNally, Tony-nominated for “Mothers and Sons,” got teary. Asked might his late mother be proud of him today, he started crying. Then: “Ask my husband.” Then: “Yes, I think she would be.” . . . STEVE Buscemi and the missus taking in “Early Shaker Spirituals” at Soho’s Performing Garage . . . MICHAEL J. Fox to a university bunch: “I didn’t go to college so I’m jealous of you.”
Park Avenue’s Herman Goldsmith, art dealer, came from Frankfurt in 1939 (still speaks lousy English) and eats twice weekly — alone, with his nephew or with a lady — at Due, 79-80th and Third. Handsome, spry, it’s always pinot noir and veal piccata. Mr. Goldsmith is 102.So, ladies, if your golden guy’s turned rusty, take a tip. Try Italian food.
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.