US actress Brittany Murphy died of pneumonia, a Los Angeles coroner has ruled.

Coroner’s spokesman Craig Harvey added that iron-deficiency anaemia and “multiple drug intoxication” were secondary factors in her death.

The drugs were all prescription medicines. More details are due in two weeks when a complete report is ready.

Murphy collapsed at her Los Angeles home and was pronounced dead in hospital on 20 December, aged 32.

The coroner ruled the death was accidental.

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Michael Jackson’s concert documentary, This Is It, has been warmly received by the late singer’s fans after its worldwide premiere.

The movie was pieced together from 100 hours of footage shot at rehearsals for the star’s ill-fated comeback shows.

Fan Darryn Wade, in Los Angeles, said: “Judging by that film, it would have been the best show of all time.”

But Kasian Daley, 17, at the London premiere, said: “It’s an easy way for them to make money off his name.”

And Mustapha Duggash, 18, from Nigeria, also at the London screening, said: “I believe it’s a nice tribute but the main motivation is the money.”

Jackson’s brothers attended the screening in Los Angeles and simultaneous premieres were held in 18 other cities.

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It’s all about spirals, twists and rotations with a New Age spin. Don’t be fooled: It ain’t easy.

I’ve never given much thought to the difference between a workout and exercise. I frequently used the words interchangeably to refer to some form of structured physical activity.

That was until I tried Gyrotonic, which uses elaborate wooden equipment to strengthen and lengthen the body. Pilates enthusiasts, take note: Gyrotonic is not as closely related as it sounds. Think of them as cousins rather than siblings. While Pilates emphasizes the core, the goal of Gyrotonic is to increase the space between the vertebrae through fluid movement.
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Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe is heading to Broadway for his first musical.

The 20-year-old actor has been announced as the lead for How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.

Radcliffe is already used to the pressures of nightly Broadway and West End appearances, having wowed critics in Equus last year.

He will play the plum part of J. Pierrepont Finch, a window cleaner who rises to the top of a huge company while, of course, wooing and winning a girl along the way.

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Actress Dame Elizabeth Taylor has told fans her heart surgery “went off perfectly”, adding that “it’s like having a brand new ticker”.

The 77-year-old gave the update on her Twitter page, where she announced on Tuesday she would be undergoing an operation to repair “my leaky valve”.

The Oscar-winning actress added: “Thank you for your prayers and good wishes. I know they all helped.”

The star was diagnosed with congestive heart failure five years ago.

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Scientists announced a major breakthrough in the battle against breast cancer yesterday after discovering a faulty gene involved in half of all cases of the disease which kills 12,000 women in the UK every year.

The gene – called NRG1 – is also implicated in 50 per cent of bowel and prostate cancers and a quarter of cancers of the ovary and bladder.

Cancer charities hailed the find as a ‘major step forward’ and one of the most important developments in cancer gene research in the last 20 years.

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While the EU looks to curb significant hearing loss, there are currently no rules to govern the volume of portable music players in Canada.

The dawn of the iPod age has brought with it many things: catchy monochromatic advertisements, a love of touch screens and the ubiquity of white ear buds on subway platforms and city sidewalks.

Now, European lawmakers are looking to reverse one of the trends they say has picked up with alarming speed since iPods and other portable music players came on the scene: hearing loss.

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Studies suggest that certain diets, foods and supplements may help ease arthritic pain – here’s a few strategies worth investigating.

If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, you may have heard that avoiding certain foods, like eggplant and bell peppers, and taking antioxidant supplements can help relieve pain, stiffness and fatigue.

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These days we’re bombarded with diet and nutrition advice: what to eat to burn fat, build muscle, boost metabolism or ward off disease.

It comes from our friends and family, our co-workers, our personal trainers, the Internet, magazines and food companies.

But how accurate is what we hear? With everyone a nutrition expert, misconceptions are bound to arise – and linger. Whether based on outdated science, old wives’ tales or plain old lies, some of the advice you hear can’t be believed. This week, I take on common nutrition and fitness myths – some of which may surprise you.

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The stars of  Sex And The City have had their share of rows but if there was any lingering tension they didn’t let it show as they reunited to shoot scenes for the movie sequel in New York yesterday.

Kim Cattrall was spotted warmly embracing Sarah Jessica Parker as she arrived on the set while Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis.

The two were said to have fallen out during negotiations for the last film after Cattrall demanded she receive the same salary as her co-star, who plays the central character Carrie Bradshaw.

But it seems they have now put aside their differences ahead of the second big screen film.

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