People in the news

? Private drama plagues Oscar winner Bullock

Sandra Bullock is on a career high. America’s Sweetheart and “Miss Congeniality” was repeatedly anointed as Hollywood royalty this year, sweeping awards season and capping it off with an Oscar for her role as a devoted mom in “The Blind Side.”

But as this Tinseltown fairy-tale played out on camera, real-life drama may have been brewing behind the scenes.

With worldwide attention on the brand-new Oscar winner — who first captured hearts as a brave bus passenger in 1994’s “Speed” and went on to amass more than two dozen movie credits — Bullock is being dogged by tabloid reports of problems with her husband of nearly five years.

Internet rumors surfaced Wednesday that the 45-year-old actress’ husband, celebrity motorcycle builder and reality-TV star Jesse James, had been unfaithful while she was making her Oscar-winning film. Bullock subsequently canceled a planned appearance next week at the London premiere of “The Blind Side,” citing “unforeseen personal reasons.”

On Thursday, James apologized to his wife and three children from previous relationships through a statement issued to People magazine.

“It’s because of my poor judgment that I deserve everything bad that is coming my way,” he said. “This has caused my wife and kids pain and embarrassment beyond comprehension and I am extremely saddened to have brought this on them.”

He added that “the vast majority of the allegations reported are untrue and unfounded,” but offered no other details, saying, “Beyond that, I will not dignify these private matters with any further public comment.”