Diaz files libel suit

London — Cameron Diaz is suing the British tabloid newspaper The Sun over a story suggesting she was having an affair with a married man.

Lawyer Simon Smith said the actress had instructed his firm, Schillings, to start libel proceedings against the publishers of The Sun. Smith said lawyers hoped to file a writ by Monday.

The Sun said it wouldn’t comment until it had received legal papers.

On Thursday, The Sun carried a story claiming Diaz, who is dating singer Justin Timberlake, had a close relationship with a married television producer.

The firm also is representing Timberlake in a lawsuit against the News of the World tabloid over a story claiming he had cheated on Diaz.

Hometown honors Dylan

Hibbing, Minn. — The street where Bob Dylan grew up is being given the name “Dylan Drive” in his honor.

It’s the first time the city of Hibbing, where Dylan also attended high school, is doing something permanent to honor him.

“This street sign, and the support we’ve received from so many people here in town, show once and for all that this town is proud of Bob and what he’s accomplished,” said Aaron Brown, committee chairman of Dylan Days, a four-day festival that honors Dylan and the arts.

The city had issued a proclamation on May 24, 2001, Dylan’s 60th birthday, but that was just a one-day event, Brown said. The sign will be permanent.

The sign is honorary only, meaning Seventh Avenue will remain the official name of the street, and residents won’t have to change their addresses, Brown said.

The street sign project came up after a group of Hibbing citizens approached the City Council and gathered signatures of support.

“Through the whole peak of his career in the ’60s and ’70s the town did virtually nothing to honor him,” Brown said. “Now, people are coming around.”

Bond rumors never say die

New York — If Daniel Craig is going to be the next James Bond, it’s news to him.

Craig, who stars in the upcoming thriller “Layer Cake,” says he first heard the rumor from British tabloids while he was filming a movie in Texas.

“They seem to know a lot more than I do,” Craig said recently.

Craig praised the Bond character, calling him “an iconographic figure in moviemaking,” but said he hadn’t given the role “any serious thought.”

But he added: “I think you’d have to be stupid not to consider something like that.”

The blond, blue-eyed British-born actor’s credits include the 2005 thriller “The Jacket,” starring Adrien Brody and Keira Knightley.

Craig, 37, co-starred with Tom Hanks in the 2002 film “The Road to Perdition” and with Gwyneth Paltrow in “Sylvia,” about the lives of writers Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath.

‘Apprentice’ victor has advice for young entrepreneurs

New York — Guess you’re never too young to say “you’re fired.”

Bill Rancic, the first-season winner of NBC’s “The Apprentice,” is writing a children’s advice book titled, “Beyond the Lemonade Stand: Starting Small to Make It Big,” to be published by Razorbill, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group.

“Beyond the Lemonade Stand” will be for children ages 8-12. It will offer guidelines on how to be successful, ethical and profitable in business. Rancic will donate his royalties from the book, scheduled for publication Sept. 8, to children’s charities, including Mercy Home for Boys in Chicago, where he volunteers as a tutor for underprivileged children.

Rancic is continuing to work in sales and marketing on the Trump Tower in Chicago, the job he won from Donald Trump on the reality show last year. Trump will select his third “Apprentice” on Thursday.

Davis back for ‘Idol’ final

New York — Record mogul Clive Davis is returning to “American Idol” to give his expert opinion on this year’s remaining finalists.

Davis, who gushed over Fantasia Barrino last year before she was crowned champ, will appear on the Fox show Tuesday, a week before the season finale.

Davis, who heads the U.S. division of the BMG music conglomerate, has guided the debut albums of each of the “Idol” winners and that of runner-up Clay Aiken. Each of their albums has sold more than 1 million copies.

Davis — who launched the careers of Alicia Keys and Whitney Houston, among others — said he was excited to return to the talent competition.

“‘American Idol’ has confounded skeptics and unexpectedly given me special artists to collaborate with,” he said Thursday. “I will be looking at this year’s semifinalists with a sharp eye, hoping our amazing streak can continue.”

Former Jackson attorney says pop star was ‘target’

Santa Maria, Calif. — Michael Jackson’s former attorney Mark Geragos testified at the pop star’s child molestation trial Friday that Jackson told him his accuser had slept in his bed but that nothing sexual had happened.

Geragos, who testified that he investigated the accuser’s family members and became gravely concerned about them, was cross-examined on whether he ever asked Jackson if the boy slept in his bed.

“Yes, he said nothing happened,” Geragos testified. “He said he didn’t do anything untoward or sexual and if anyone spent the night in his room it was unconditional love.”

Geragos also gave a ringing defense of his former client as he described his first visit to Jackson’s Neverland ranch.

“When I was there, what I saw was a gentleman who was almost childlike in his love for kids. I didn’t see anyone doing anything nefarious or criminal. I saw someone who was ripe as a target,” he said.

Birthdays

Movie producer George Lucas is 61. Rock singer David Byrne is 53. Actor Tim Roth is 44. Actress Cate Blanchett is 36. Movie writer-director Sofia Coppola is 34. Actress Amber Tamblyn is 22.