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Hathaway wants to be 'first babysitter'

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Actress Anne Hathaway says she would love to babysit U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's two daughters as the country's "first babysitter."

The "Bride Wars" star said she would accept a position on Obama's staff that allowed her to watch over Sasha Obama, 7, and her 10-year-old sister Malia, People.com reported Saturday.

"I would want to be head babysitter," Hathaway, 26, told People. "I'd love to be first babysitter, absolutely."

Hathaway isn't the only celebrity interested in the presidential family gig. Corbin Bleu of "High School Musical" says he's interested, too, even offering a hint at what he has to offer.

"I'll just go up and do performances for his kids all day and just keep them entertained," Bleu said. "They seem like really sweet girls. They seem very well mannered."

Former "American Idol" contestant David Archuleta told People he would share his singing talents with the girls if tabbed as their babysitter.

"I would give the girls music lessons," he said. "Probably not piano lessons, because I'm far from the greatest pianist, but voice lessons."

Smith open to playing Obama in movie

LONDON, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Will Smith joked at a London movie premiere that he would be open to playing U.S. President-elect Barack Obama in a film if Obama ordered him.

"If I am ordered by my commander in chief to star in a film about him, I will do my duty as an American," Smith said while in town for the first showing of his "Seven Pounds" Thursday, The Daily Telegraph reported.

The 40-year-old U.S. actor also expressed no interest in ever following in Obama's footsteps with a presidential run.

"If we were in the White House I don't know if that would exactly be a good thing," the "Men in Black" star said.

"It's a whole lot more fun to be a movie star. That's a difficult job being president with a whole lot of lives on the line with every decision you make."

Smith did tell the Telegraph he has tentative plans to combine talents with "Slumdog Millionaire" director Danny Boyle on a new Bollywood movie.

Michael Jackson focus of London musical

LONDON, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- The producer of "Thriller Live" says the new London musical is a tribute to U.S. pop star Michael Jackson and his music.

Producer Paul Walden said no one in Jackson's family is involved with the production, which features a look-alike Jackson wearing the singer's trademark single white glove and focuses primarily on the star's music, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.

"We don't have a big name in the cast to pay. There are no moving sets or scenery," Walden said of his production.

Instead of elaborate stage sets, "Thriller Live' offers Jackson fans more than 30 of the pop star's top songs accompanied by dancing.

The Lyric Theatre show in London, which opens Wednesday, will be paired with an identical "Thriller" production that will begin touring in Europe in February.

Walden told the Journal his musical, which is being supported by Sony Music UK, will highlight "an artist who had an amazing career."

Author Mortimer dead at age 85

LONDON, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- British author John Mortimer, likely known best for writing the TV series "Rumpole of the Bailey," has died at the age of 85, his agent says.

Agent Anthony Jones said Mortimer died Friday of unspecified causes in Buckinghamshire county following a bout of poor health, The Daily Telegraph reported Saturday.

Mortimer's personal training as a lawyer likely helped him create the title lawyer character of "Rumpole," which was adapted for short stories and the radio following its TV run. The TV series followed Rumpole, who accepted clients from all walks of life.

Mortimer also wrote the 1981 TV adaptation of the classic novel "Brideshead Revisited."

For his writing accomplishments, Mortimer was officially knighted in 1998.

The Telegraph said Mortimer is survived by his wife Penelope and five children.