Q: I wonder why singer Britney Spears decided to file for divorce when she did - was it so that with the elections, no one would notice? - L.M.A:<$> No; even with the Democratic sweep of Congress, gossip mavens still picked up on the news that Spears (above), finally decided to dump Kevin Federline after months of tabloid stories of his hard partying and their troubles. It may, apparently, have been a prenuptial-agreement issue; according to their legal arrangement, signed before the wedding, he most likely would have gotten more money for every year of marriage and since they married on October 6, 2004, allowing for a 30-day grace period, she had to file before the marriage went into year No. 3. And since she trimmed down, is recording a new album and will most likely go back on the road on tour, she wouldn't want to share those profits with him.

Q: I think actress Anjelica Huston is great. What is she doing now? — A.F.

A: Huston starts with Pierce Brosnan and Liam Neeson in the upcoming drama Seraphim Falls and in the mystery The Other Side<$>, and she is in discussions with director Wes Anderson, who directed her in The Royal Tenebaums <$>and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou<$>, to star in his new film, The Fantastic Mr. Fox.

Q: I think Kirsten Dunst is beautiful. What is she doing next? — M.K.

A: The actress (pictured), who currently starring as French Queen Marie Antoinette in the film of the same name, has the third instalment of Spider-Man due out next, to be followed by the supernatural thriller A Jealous Ghost, which she will also produce. Further down the line: a film based on the life of international relief worker Marla Ruzicka. Quite a bit of difference among the three.

Q: I thought Kim Basinger was very good in The Sentinel. Is she doing any new movies? — G.V.

A: The actress, who's gotten more publicity lately for her custody battles with ex-husband Alec Baldwin than for her movie roles, has just signed to star in a thriller called While She Was Out, about a Christmas-shopping trip to the mall that turns terrifying. It starts filming in Vancouver, British Columbia, in January.

Q: Is actor Rob Lowe going to come back to TV? — K.F.

A<$>: He is; the long time White House aide in The West Wing <$>and then in various short-lived shows is joining the cast of Brothers and Sisters<$>, playing a Republican senator who becomes involved with Calista Flockhart's character.

Q: I think actor Ewan McGregor is so cute. What will he be doing next? — B.G.

A: A lot. He stars in the upcoming British comedy Scenes of a Sexual Nature; Miss Potter, the story of The Tale of Peter Rabbit author Beatrix Potter, opposite Renee Zellweger; and an as-yet-untitled woody Allen movie that also stars Colin Farrell and is due out next year. He's currently filming Agent Crush, with Neve Campbell; is moving next to the action thriller The Tourist, with Hugh Jackman; and then the fantasy I, Lucifer, with the new James Bond, Daniel Craig; the mystery Number 13, with Ben Kingsley; the drama The Great Pretender:, in which he plays an actor and Bonnie Prince Charlie in an 18th-century flashback; and then the futuristic drama Franklyn.

Q: I recently saw The Big Easy again and just loved Dennis Quaid. What is he doing? — L.F.

A:<$> He's co-starring with Sigourney Weaver in the upcoming drama Vantage Point, getting ready to direct himself in the musical drama Shame on You<$>, then co-stars with Rachel Weisz in the romantic comedy Smart People and plays a detective in the serial-killer drama The Horseman<$>.

Q: I read somewhere that actress Joely Richardson is leaving Nip/Tuck. Is that true? Is it about money? — M.H.

A: Richardson has, in fact, told the show's creator, Ryan Murphy, that she's leaving, but it's not at all a salary or work dispute. She said she needs to care for her 15-year-old daughter, Daisy, who has a rare circulatory disease and is going to need several operations. Murphy is hoping that because her character is such a pivotal one, Richardson can return.

Q: I watch all of the Sex and the City reruns, and I remember that they were going to do a movie. What happened? Is it still going to come out? — W.A.

A:<$> The movie project died after Kim Cattrall refused to make a deal, but in two years, things can change. Apparently, Cattrall has now reopened negotiations and HBO is talking to all four actresses about reprising their roles for a movie. It's still a long way off, but now it looks like it could possibly happen.

Q: I think Jason Jones, one of the new correspondents on The Daily Show, is cute. Where is he from, and is he dating anyone? — K.P.

A: Jones, who has much more visibility on the show due to the departures of Ed Helms and Rob Corddry, is from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada — the same country as his wife, fellow Daily Show correspondent Samantha Bee.