Actor Robert Downey Jr has said his year in jail for cocaine charges has left him "older" and "wiser".

He told reporters at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah: "I'm a little older. I'm mildly wiser."

The Ally McBeal actor spent a year in jail after being arrested on cocaine charges in 1999. On his release he was caught with drugs twice more and had to go into rehabilitation.

He said acting had helped too.

"I definitely think it's better to be working," he said.

Downey Jr now appears in the big-screen remake of Dennis Potter's The Singing Detective, which also stars Katie Holmes and Mel Gibson.

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Renee agrees to Bridget Jones sequel

Actress Renee Zellweger has agreed to pile on the pounds again to star in the sequel to Bridget Jones's Diary.

The news follows months of indecision on the part of the petite star who has agreed to take the lead in Edge of Reason, based on Helen Fielding's second Bridget Jones novel.

Zellweger, who had to put on 20lb for the original role, says she will put the weight back on "with pleasure".

Speaking at a press conference for her latest film, Chicago, she said: "I am ready, willing and able: Bridget's a character I really identify with."

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Shakira cleans up at awards

Colombian pop star Shakira was the big winner at the French NRJ music awards on Saturday.

The star won the best international album award for her international debut Laundry Service, best international song for Whenever, Wherever and best international female artist.

US group The Calling won best international group and Spanish group Las Ketchup won best international newcomer award.

Robbie Williams performed at the awards, but lost out in the best international artist category to American-Filipino artist Billy Crawford.

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Grammy tip tops charts

Grammy nominee Norah Jones has topped the US album chart, a year after her debut release hit the shops.

Sales of Come Away With Me actually fell slightly last week, but it now takes its place at the top of the chart a week after she was shortlisted for five Grammys.

The singer has enjoyed a year of success since teaming up with legendary jazz label Blue Note.

Company president Bruce Lundvall told industry paper Variety: "I think maybe people have been hungry for this for a long time.This is a real artist, and that's what I'm so proud about."

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Grant best pals with Bullock

Hugh Grant says he gets on well with his Two Weeks Notice co-star Sandra Bullock because she reminds him of his ex-girlfriend, Liz Hurley.

There have been rumours the pair became more than just good friends during filming.

"She's incredibly charming. She's got a touch of what my ex-girlfriend has - this delusion that they can do everything - and I'm not sure that's entirely true." Grant said.

The romantic comedy is released in the UK on 7 February.

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Sir Tim to help Oxford students

Sir Tim Rice is to help aspiring thespians at Oxford University make their first step into the profession.

The lyricist follows in the footsteps of Stephen Sondheim, Alan Ayckbourn, Richard Eyre and Diana Rigg to take up a visiting professor's post at the city's St Catherine's College.

He will give lectures at St Catherine's College, answer questions from aspiring lyricists, and is even offering to take a look at lyrics penned by Oxford students.

"I don't really think you can teach people to write, but I can certainly give those with some flair a few tips," said Sir Tim.

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Browne fury at assault claim

Singer Jackson Browne is demanding a cable TV network remove scenes from a film about the life of John F Kennedy Jr which he assaulted actress Daryl Hannah.

TBS said the producers of America's Prince stood by the film, which aired on the station on Sunday.

Browne's lawyer, Lawrence Iser, said he demanded in a letter to TBS that it "cease and desist" showing the programme again "until false and defamatory scenes accusing Mr Browne of assaulting actress Daryl Hannah are removed".

Hannah, who was unable to comment, was a former girlfriend of both Browne and Kennedy.