L'amour, la divorcee

French President Nicolas Sarkozy's ex-wife lost a legal battle yesterday to stop publication of a book in which she allegedly called her former husband "cheap" and a "womanizer." The ruling is the latest episode in the French leader's highly publicized romantic life. He suggested this week that he and his latest love interest, former model Carla Bruni, are on the verge of tying the knot. Sarkozy, his former wife, Cecilia Sarkozy (inset), and their 11-year marriage are the subject of three books that hit bookstores this week, just three months after they divorced. Her lawyers asked a court to ban one of them, "Cecilia," saying it violated her private life. The author, journalist Anna Bitton, quotes Cecilia Sarkozy as calling the president a "womanizer," "cheap," and "ridiculous." The court threw out the complaint yesterday, ruling that a ban "would be totally disproportionate." (AP)

An attorney for Kevin Federline wants police to release their investigative report on an incident at ex-wife Britney Spears's home a week ago that led to the pop star losing custody of Jayden James, 1, and Sean Preston, 2, to Federline. According to a court order released yesterday, attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan also requested the names of the officers who responded. A hearing on the requests will be held Monday. (AP)

The union representing Hollywood directors said yesterday it will begin contract talks today with studios in a move that could affect the ongoing strike by writers. The announcement was made in a brief joint statement by the Directors Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. No further details were released. Both sides said they would have no further comment. A quick deal by directors could undercut the bargaining power of writers by serving as an industry template for the central issue of new media compensation. The directors guild said late last year that it would delay the start of talks to give writers a chance to come to an agreement with studios. In another development, striking writers said yesterday they had decided not to picket the Golden Globe Awards because organizers of tomorrow's event changed it from an exclusive NBC broadcast to an event open to all media. The Writers Guild of America issued a statement saying it had given the Hollywood Foreign Press Association its assurance that writers would not protest outside the event. (AP)

Toni Collette has given birth to her first child, a baby girl, Australian media reported yesterday. The Sydney-born "Little Miss Sunshine" actress and her husband, musician Dave Galafassi, welcomed Sage Florence Galafassi Wednesday. Collette, 35, was nominated for a best supporting-actress Oscar for her role in 1999's "The Sixth Sense." (AP)

James Gandolfini, star of the acclaimed TV drama "The Sopranos," is engaged to his girlfriend Deborah Lin, the actor's manager said Thursday. Gandolfini, 46, and Lin, a former fashion model, "recently got engaged during the holidays," manager Mark Armstrong said. (Reuters)

'She's a very strong woman.' Katie Homes, referring to her daughter Suri Cruise, who isn't yet 2 years old.