Wednesday January 30 6:09 PM ET

Testino shows why he is photographer to the stars

LONDON (Reuters) - Peruvian charmer Mario Testino Wednesday launched a London exhibition of his celebrity photographs that shows why the stars trust and adore him.

From Princess Diana to Madonna (news - web sites), from Kate Moss to Meg Ryan, the world's most beautiful people were captured at the height of their allure by his flattering lens.

It is little wonder that they call him Super Mario. Keanu Reeves exudes sultry elegance, Elizabeth Hurley is pure sex appeal and Naomi Campbell proudly flashes her posterior. With Testino, the stars are clearly at ease before his camera.

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Testino poignantly captured the vivacity and elegance of the newly divorced Diana for a Vanity Fair spread just months before her death in a Paris car crash in 1997.

``My original instinct was to do her wearing a tiara and make her look like a princess,'' he said. ``But I realized that the most wonderful thing was if I could make it look as if I knew her. What everyone wanted was a little glimpse of her private life.''

His favorite subject is British supermodel Kate Moss who has a whole room at the exhibition dedicated to her.

But why is she such a muse to Testino? He said he adores her dry sense of humor, adding: ``I find her incredibly beautiful and she is so full of style.

``I am a great believer that I will be a photographer until I die,'' he said. ``My work is my life.''

The celebrities turned out in force Tuesday night when the Gallery hosted a champagne reception for the photographer dubbed ``the snapper to the stars.''

Madonna came with her husband, film director Guy Ritchie, and her daughter Lourdes. Gwyneth Paltrow looked resplendent in black after flying in from Paris. Gucci boss Tom Ford sported a new beard.

'Ben-Hur': The greatest film spectacle of its era

[Snipped for Keanu]

Boyd(His filmography from IMDB.com), who a few years later was slotted to play James Bond before producers decided on Sean Connery instead, was his era's Keanu Reeves: hired for looks over talent. So the homosexual subtext isn't as strong as it could be. But it's there, in the way Messala's hand lingers when they touch, and the looks of affection he gives Ben-Hur before they become the bitterest of foes.

The actor has just spent a few days in Paris with his mother and sister. Staying at the Ritz, Reeves clan made shopping incognito. Keanu could not resist the idea of a ride on a motorbike through the French capital. The Ritz staff did his best to try and rent the powerful motorbike!

To enable his mother and his sister to visit Paris, Keanu Reeves offered them a one-week stay at a very proper establishment: The Ritz. However, for his own transportation, the Matrix hero kept his feet on the ground. No limousine or driver in sight, he chose to rent a beautifuly Harley Davidson. He doesn't need anyone to show him where to go.

Vive la France! Hic!

Keanu Reeves recently took time out in Paris and relaxed at his hotel suite at the Ritz.He was later seen renting a Harley Davidson motorcycle and shopping all over town for quality French wines.

Word is Keanu Reeves' sequel to the sci-fi thriller The Matrix is going to have a lot of action, but it's going to have to go a long way to beat the wild time the star had entertaining pals while filming in Australia. Keanu, 37, who is Down Under filming the next two Matrix movies, kicked off the fun by buying out the entire exclusive Double Island resort off the coast of Far North Queensland and inviting 28 pals for an adventure-packed 10-day party. Famous friends like Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, Matt Damon, Kiefer Sutherland and Drew Barrymore flew over for the bonanza bash. The fun-filled itinerary included thrilling whitewater rafting trips, excursions into the jungle, skydiving and some pretty hairy rides on Harley Davidsons.

Published on: January 9, 2002

Alert

We heard from a Japanese living in Cairns that Keanu had a great new year with his big family. But Actually Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston,Matt Damon,Keifer Sutherland and Drew Barrymore were not with him there.And all members of his family were so kind and gracious.

And on 3rd Jan Keanu was believed to join the shooting team in University of Las Vegas.The detail is here

Kate Beckinsale continues to rack up roles opposite Hollywood's leading men, with reports that she is to play alongside Keanu Reeves in the 1930s piece Ray Of Sunshine. Beckinsale, who starred with Ben Affleck in Pearl Harbor and John Cusack in Serendipity, will star in the tale of two lovers during the American Depression. The Warners production will be based in San Francisco.

Kate Beckinsale and Keanu Reeves play lovers in Depression movie

Kate Beckinsale and Keanu Reeves are to star in the '30s movie Ray Of Sunshine.

They will play lovers struggling to survive during the American Depression.

Barry Sonnenfeld has been pencilled in to direct the film.

The movie is loosely based on an Austrian film about a young couple's similar plight in pre-war Vienna.

It will be set in San Francisco, and is being backed by Warner Brothers.

Story filed: 10:28 Tuesday 8th January 2002