Emma Watson is to be the new face of Chanel perfume. The ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’ star has won a two-year contract worth million to promote Coco Mademoiselle.

The 18-year-old actress will take over from fellow British star Keira Knightley, 23, when her contract ends this summer. A source said: “Emma has been excitedly telling friends that she is going to be replacing Keira.” Emma landed the deal with the French fashion house after signing up with top modelling agency Storm in an attempt to branch out from acting.

Chanel has been preparing Emma for her new role by dressing her for film premieres and parties. A source said: “She has been slowly integrated into the Chanel brand. Once it became clear she is growing into a beautiful young woman and wears the Chanel brand so elegantly, they had to sign her up.

Chanel realises it is important to target a young audience.” Bosses at Warner Bros - who make the ‘Harry Potter’ films - have given the deal their blessing. Read more »

Emma Watson @ the Harry Potter US premiere

Order of the Phoenix US premiere in Hollywood, CA

Former Spice Girl Melanie Brown has given birth to a daughter in California, her publicist said Tuesday.

The baby, who weighs 5 pounds, 4 ounces, was born just after midnight Tuesday at St. John’s hospital in Santa Monica, said Nadine Bibi in an e-mail.

“Baby is completely healthy with a good head of hair. Mother and baby are now resting,” the statement said. “No name has been decided on as yet, and (she) is purely known as Baby Brown!”

Brown has said ex-boyfriend Eddie Murphy is the father. The 46-year-old “Dreamgirls” star has said he’s not sure. Brown has said there’s “absolutely no question that Eddie is the father.”

The 31-year-old Brown, known as Scary Spice when she was in the megahit group of the ’90s, has an 8-year-old daughter, Phoenix Chi, from her marriage to Jimmy Gulzar.

Gulzar married Brown in 1998 after he had performed on a Spice Girls tour. Their 15-month marriage ended in divorce in 2000.

Murphy’s wife, Nicole, filed for divorce in 2005, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple were married in 1993 and have five children. [AP]

Muhammad Ali, center, walks with actress Sharon Stone, left, and singer Diana Ross on the red carpet to the Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night XIII in Phoenix on March 25. (AP/Jeff Chiu)