Winslet has baby on board

London — Actress Kate Winslet and her husband, director Sam Mendes, are expecting their first baby, his publicist confirmed Friday.

Winslet, who has a 3-year-old daughter, Mia, from her previous marriage to director Jim Threapleton, is due to give birth in January.

“They are both delighted with the pregnancy,” said Chloe Dunbar of Premiere PR in London, which represents Mendes.

The pair were married in May, and Dunbar said they were now on vacation in Italy.

Liza, husband have separated

New York — Liza Minnelli and David Gest, who were married last year in a star-studded ceremony, have separated, Minnelli’s spokesman said Friday.

Spokesman Warren Cowan said he could provide no other details.

Minnelli and Gest wed in March 2002 with best man Michael Jackson briefly carrying the bride’s train. Elizabeth Taylor served as maid of honor.

Gossip columnist Liz Smith called the nuptials, Minnelli’s fourth, “the kissiest wedding” she’s ever seen.

Minnelli danced in happiness at the altar after tying the knot, attendees said.

Minnelli and Gest earlier in the day canceled an appearance Tuesday on CNN’s “Larry King Live,” a spokeswoman for King said Friday.

UCLA creates Wilder Theater

Los Angeles — The Hammer Museum at the University of California, Los Angeles will name a new theater after late filmmaker Billy Wilder.

Audrey Wilder made a $5 million donation in honor of her late husband to create the Billy Wilder Theater, the museum said in a statement Thursday. Construction will begin next year on the project, which also will be used for screenings by the UCLA Film and Television Archive.

Wilder died last year at 95. The influential Austrian-born writer-director’s films included “Sunset Boulevard,” “Some Like It Hot” and “The Seven Year Itch.”

Audrey Wilder said her gift reflected “Billy’s passion for film and art, and his dedication to supporting and encouraging artists of all kinds.”

Dame returns to Shakespeare

London — Oscar winner Judi Dench will appear in a Royal Shakespeare Company production in its hometown in Stratford-upon-Avon for the first time in 25 years.

Dench will play the Countess of Rossillion in the bard’s “All’s Well That Ends Well,” which will open in December at the Swan Theatre, the company announced recently.

Her last performance in Stratford was in 1979 when she played Imogen in “Cymbeline.”

“The countess is one of the few Shakespearean women that I’ve never played and I’m thrilled to be working with (director) Greg Doran and being part of a big company again,” Dench said.