Nigel Barker charms during his Haiti: Hunger and Hope art exhibition held Thursday at NYC’s Milk Gallery.

While tunes such as SWV’s Right Here and Stevie Wonder’s Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours blare, the America’s Next Top Model judge and fashion photographer gamely entertains guests with kisses on the cheek and sparkling conversation.  

Any budget beauty or fashion tips?

“I always say ‘keep it natural, keep it simple,’” he tells me. “People tend to overdo it. People ask ‘what can I do on the red carpet? I want to have a more relaxed look.’ Just be confident in yourself. Don’t think because of the makeup, because of the hair, because of the gown, you’re going to look fantastic. There’s enough fashion faux pas out there. You have to feel fantastic and the camera will pick it up.”

Nigel perks up when asked about his favorite body part.

“I’m more of a butt guy than I am a boob guy,” he laughs. “And legs as well. Legs and butt are very important -- and feet. I’ve got a bit of a foot fetish. I’m all about the lower part of the body.”

Oh really …

Despite pleas from the government to cancel his trip, Nigel traveled to Haiti to document the situation so that he could raise awareness about their desperate plight. (It’s just 45 minutes from the U.S.) His striking photographs adorn the walls tonight.

Giving back is key to the British-born father of two, 36, who is married to Cristen Chin.

“I think it’s fantastic that stars like Angelina Jolie get involved with charity,” he tells me. “The more people the better. We need to help out more in general, and on Top Model we always go on about our girls becoming role models. It’s not a joke. It’s important. If you’re in a position where people listen to you or you’re in the public eye, that celebrity should be used for something. It shouldn’t just be used to make your life better. I guess it’s an Asian thing, but the pleasure is in the giving in my family.”

He continues, “When you have children, it’s not when the kid gives you something, it’s when you give your son something and you see that smile on their face. We can all identify with that. Charity’s the same way. When you help people and they are physically moved by what you’ve done or you’ve changed their life, there’s nothing in the world that makes you feel better.”

I ask designer Zang Toi whether he’s spoken to Farrah Fawcett recently. (She was diagnosed with cancer of the intestine in 2006.) The Charlie’s Angels star has been his muse, and I once had time with her backstage after one of his shows.   

“I haven’t talked to her for several months,” Zang tells me. “I try to leave a message every two weeks. I just left a message at Christmas, but the last time I called about six weeks ago, I spoke to the housekeeper and she said she’s fine, so I hope she’s OK.”

Any fashion advice?

“Create your own style, and don’t follow trends blindly. You have to understand yourself, and have your own individual look.”

He gives props to “glamorous” Sharon Stone, “original” Drew Barrymore and “youthful” Cameron Diaz for having the best style.

Um, Sharon?

“Anything I mention to my clients – if Sharon has it, they all want it.”

Stars turn out in full force for the Notorious premiere held Wednesday at NYC’s AMC Lincoln Square, but Beyonce and Jay-Z drift in the side entrance and Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon sneak through the back door.

The superstars are simply being cautious given the circumstances surrounding the debut of the movie paying tribute to the life and death of rapper Notorious B.I.G., who was gunned down in 1997 after attending the Soul Train Music Awards in Los Angeles.
 
Lil’ Kim is unhappy about her portrayal and is threatening to expose the secrets of Biggie’s mom, Voletta Wallace, who says she has nothing to hide, laughing “I was exposed many years ago when I gave birth.”

Voletta adds, “It reveals a lot about my son that I don’t like, but I still love him.” What would surprise us about Biggie? “He was a manipulator.” She gives her stamp of approval to Angela Bassett’s performance of her.

Naturi Naughton, the former 3LW singer who plays Kim, confirms the controversy. “It is true, naturally, I’m not going to front,” she tells me. “But I hope she enjoys my performance because I put my heart into this. It was hard because you’re trying to appease the fans – they want to see a replica of what they’re used to – and you’re trying to appease the person because they see themselves in a different way. It’s a challenge.”

As the story goes, Kim had an affair with Biggie (born Christopher Wallace) while he was married to Faith Evans.

Dealing with the loss of her husband and father of her son Christopher doesn’t get easier for Faith Evans. She struggles to help others when they are grieving.

“You never get over it,” Faith tells me. “Even when I meet people who have gone through the loss of a loved one, I don’t know what to say even though I went through it -- other than I’m praying for you, and keep your head up. I think it’s such a personal thing – you can only be there in the sense that you know that they need you. Just be there when you’re needed. Just keep yourself focused on your higher power, and keep yourself in prayer.”

After B.I.G. was killed, his good friend Puff Daddy recorded I’ll Be Missing You dedicated to his memory.

Of course, the artist now known as Diddy has no beef with how he was portrayed by Derek Luke.

“I think Derek did a great job,” Diddy says. “I think everybody on there did an excellent job. I would get chills when I was around them. I would have to actually leave. At the end of the movie, it broke my heart. My heart is broken every day with Biggie not being here, and it just opened it up even more so.”

The father of four -- who is also an actor -- doesn’t feel dissed because he didn’t want to play himself.

“I get to play myself every day,” Diddy laughs. “I’m looking for roles that would be a stretch for me, and playing myself is probably one of the hardest things to do. But I wanted the movie to not be about me. I wanted the movie to be about Biggie. And I’m looking to play roles that are not myself and are foreign to what I do every day.”

He adds, “I don’t know how many people who have had a movie that is made about them while they’re still young – it’s kind of hard when you’re young, because you’re looking at yourself and it’s something you would expect to happen when you’re older. I don’t know if I was mature enough to really handle it, and I still don’t know if I’m mature enough to handle it.”

Ginger Kroll, who plays another woman who has an affair with Notorious B.I.G., definitely would not cheat after this part.

“There are consequences,” she tells me. “I was punched in the face and had this big fight scene. It’s not a good idea. I don’t recommend it. I’m not a cheater, so I wouldn’t have been in that situation to begin with, but seeing the consequences of this film, even doubly so.”

Jamal Woolard, who suffers from diabetes, defied doctor’s orders to portray Notorious B.I.G. “I got up to 340 because I really wanted to win the role. I just ate everything in sight.” Also: he stuffed his bottom lip with cotton balls. “I put the cotton balls right here [in front of teeth] because B.I.G. had something extra right here. We went Marlon Brando-style with the cotton balls.”

Anthony Mackie, who plays Tupac, says the rapper who was gunned down in 1994 would be “very pleased” with the Obama administration. (His 1990s tune Changes includes the line “We ain’t ready -- to see a black president.”)

Fabolous shares lessons learned from Biggie’s life and death.

“Life is precious,” he tells me. “You see someone who’s had so much great success – they could be here today, and gone tomorrow. Just the same as a regular person. He was a celebrity who represented being down-to-earth. He still went through the same trials and tribulations as regular people go through.”

Actress Melinda Williams remembers when Notorious B.I.G. was shot.
 
“I was in Jerry’s Famous Deli in L.A. at the time, and it’s directly across the street for Cedars-Sinai Hospital. Some guys came in saying ‘Biggie’s dead, Biggie’s dead’ and that’s certainly one of the worst nights I remember.”

Mary J. Blige pats Angela Bassett on the back, saying “you look so beautiful” as Ciara, Ice-T and Coco, and Russell Simmons head into the screening.  

Notorious is in theaters January 16.

Kate Winslet exhales “I’m absolutely exhausted” when she strides into NYC’s Regency Hotel with hair tousled.

The actress, 33, who is mom to Mia, 8, and Joe, 5, is in the midst of a busy 24 hours racing around NYC to promote her post-Nazi drama The Reader, which is in theaters Friday.

How does the twice-wed star keep her family and her career moving full steam ahead?  

“It’s a challenge, but it’s no more of a challenge for me than it is for any working mother,” she says with her lilting British accent. “Your first commitment is to your children, and to make your own life work – your own career right. It takes a lot of planning. It’s as simple as that. I get up extremely early in the morning.”

Such is the life of the smart, sassy actress who married director Sam Mendes, 43, in 2003. Kate’s up for two Golden Globes in the awards show airing Sunday, and will have two Golden Globe favorites – Revolutionary Road and now The Reader – released in the space of two weeks. (She could be part of five wins – her hubby is also up for best director. Time to make space on that mantle!)

In The Reader, she steams up the screen with a 17-year-old boy (David Kross), and she also has love scenes with her Titanic paramour Leonardo DiCaprio in Revolutionary Road, which her hubby directed. (She calls their experience “unbelievable.”) Um, awkward?

She asks for a break to get a drink of water, and returns with the answer.

“Of course Sam doesn’t get jealous,” she haughtily tells me. “I’m not a porn star. I’m not walking out there and actually having sex with other people for my job. It’s part of my job – no, he doesn’t get jealous at all. Not in the slightest. It’s something that – believe me – he’s used to. In every single piece, I feel that every level of nudity in the films that I have been a part of has been absolutely relevant and enhanced the story. Sam has supported me in all of that, and has felt the same way.”

Showing her body is something Kate is proud to be asked to do – such as baring (almost) all in a svelte turn on the December cover of Vanity Fair.

“I had a moment of thinking ‘my God, am I really going to take my clothes off here?’ And in the next breath, I thought ‘yeah, dammit, I am. I’m 33, I’ve had two kids, Steven Meisel wants to take pictures of me naked. This is never going to happen again. Man, oh man, I’m going to make the most of this!’ It was one of those things where I transported myself thirty years on, and wanted to be able to say ‘God, yeah, I did that. That was one of those crazy, wonderful things and I’m really happy to have that memory.’”

Although she’s faced criticism for the shoot – wasn’t she the same gal who encouraged women to embrace their bodies, no matter the size? – Kate doesn’t let it get her down. (Her style mantra? “Whatever fits and whatever works.”)

“The trick is to try to find a way of ignoring it, and not letting judgment affect one’s sense of self and one’s choices and one’s priorities in life. Luckily enough, I am a strong enough character to be able to hang on for that.”

She adds, “I think we live in a world today where it’s almost impossible not to feel judged, and that’s for myself and I think for all of us. We live in a very judgmental world, and it actually makes me very sad. Wouldn’t it be great if we could just simply do what we wanted to do, be ourselves, wear the clothes we wanted to wear, not worry about the exteriors and the trappings of life and literally just go and be free?”

Speaking of criticism, her thoughts veer to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.  

“They’re sort of a walking soap opera,” she says. “The public wants to know what’s going to happen next. Coming soon to Brad and Angelina is, you know, dot-dot-dot. I think for them, it must be so hard to hang on to any mystery.”

Maintaining her own mystique is important, but she doesn’t hold back when asked about her brood. Would she like more kids?

“At the moment, no,” she says. “Sam and I have talked about it, and we feel like Mia and Joe are so great and we’re very, very lucky that they’re healthy. We’re really happy with the family that we have.”

Not that young Mia (whose dad is ex-hubby Jim Threapleton) and Joe are problem children, of course. In fact, they’re real-life mini-mes.

“I see the personalities of myself and both of their dads emerging in both of them, and it’s great. In Mia, she has a lot of Sam, too, because he’s really raised her with me. That’s a really amazing thing, which I am surprised by on a daily basis, and it’s really wonderful.”

Since she has such a serene, peaceful personal life, would she like to see good pal Leonardo settle down?

“That is a way too dangerous question for me to answer, babe,” she laughs. “There’s no way I’m going there, babe.”

The Reader is in theaters Friday. The Golden Globes take place Sunday.

Anne Hathaway is a class act during the Bride Wars premiere held Monday at AMC Loews Lincoln Square in NYC.

Gliding down the Tiffany & Co. blue carpet sprinkled with pink rose petals, the brunette beauty takes note of the balmy temperature inside the tent.

“Is there a heater over here?” she asks. “You poor, poor creatures. I’m so sorry.”

(I think it’s awesome, actually, because the alternative is frostbite. I have no idea how these stars can walk the line in barely-there dresses when the temperatures are in single digits. “Must…look…good…in…pictures” is their mantra. It’s perfect tonight, though.)

Even though wedding movies have become her specialty, Anne shrugs when asked if she’s eager to marry.

“I don’t really care,” she tells me. “If it happens, great. If it doesn’t, I’m sure my life will be just fine.”

The 26-year-old actress endured high-profile scrutiny with dignity and grace when longtime love Raffaello Follieri went to jail soon after they called it quits in 2008. What advice would she give those dealing with a breakup?

“Go home to mom,” she says. “I’m very close to my family, so whatever it is – whenever you feel lost, whenever you feel down, whenever you feel wronged, go to wherever your home is, go to the people that know you deeply and love you.”

Anne gleefully introduces herself as “Annie” to Real Housewives of New York City stars Jill Zarin, Ramona Singer, Alex McCord as Vera Wang, Lisa Rinna and Rachel Roy head inside.

Here comes Kate Hudson, who is showing off her playful side by giving costar Steve Howie a friendly pinch. “She just poked my kidney,” he yuks.

Goldie’s girl gushes about son Ryder, who celebrates his fourth birthday Wednesday. “He is a big music fan,” she says. “Right now he loves Coldplay.”

Are music lessons in his future?

“I haven’t thought about lessons. He has his dad. That’s a lesson enough.”

Kate delights with a dead-on impression of Kurt Russell’s facial expressions and mannerisms.

“My dad saw the movie, and he came out, and my girlfriends are like crying. I’m like ‘I love my girlfriends.’ My dad’s like ‘I don’t get it. It’s so crazy.  You guys are crazy.’”

Up next is SNL star-turned-Bride Wars screenwriter Casey Wilson, who gives her take on female competition. “I’m jealous of both you two,” she tells me and the TV Guide Channel reporter beside me. “I want to be better than you two, but … no.”

What inspired the flick?

“I think all our girlfriends are at that age when they’re getting married,” she tells me. “Not this one! But we were going to all these weddings and there’s a lot of craziness on top of craziness. I love the idea that normal, normal girls go crazy. They just lose their minds.”

Casey continues, “I have a couple friends who went a little cuckoo bananas. They’re really normal girls, but you’d see them berating a caterer and they’re wearing Spanx and a top. You see behind their eyes that something’s not right. God love them. They’re all divorced now.”

Bride Wars is in theaters Friday.