Single celebs look for love

MANY moviegoers have dreamed of meeting and dating a glamorous Hollywood star. Apparently, more of these dreams are beginning to come true. This news should bring some hope to those who find themselves without a hand to hold come Singles' Day on November 11.

Some single celebrities are hiring professional matchmakers to help them find love outside the entertainment industry, according to a recent New York Times story.

"They've tried to find someone in Hollywood, obviously," matchmaker Barbie Adler told the newspaper. "They've gone down that path, and it hasn't been successful."

High-profile relationships with other stars often give entertainment figures the publicity they need to keep their careers afloat. However, dating under the spotlight rarely leads to long-lasting love. One unnamed client told Adler, "My publicist fixed me up, I just met him in the limo, posed for pictures and spent all night with him and he was a dud."

Recent news reports also suggest that more celebrities are seeking a lover from outside their social circles. For instance, Matt Damon reportedly swore that he'd never date a celebrity again. He watched his friend Ben Affleck weather a media storm during his relationship with Jennifer Lopez. Damon's now married to a former bartender from Argentina.

Other examples include Nicholas Cage, who married a former waitress, and Sharon Stone, who reportedly told friends that she wants a boyfriend outside the entertainment industry.

Matchmaking

Matchmaker Samantha Daniels told the New York Times that celebrities have a difficult time approaching ordinary people: "Basically I get a lot of these stories: 'I was at this party, I saw this woman I was really attracted to. I wanted to say hello, but didn't think I could because some tabloid would write about me."

Daniels recently opened a Los Angeles office to help meet the growing celebrity demand for her services.

Most celebrities would never admit to using a matchmaking service, as such services have been traditionally looked down on in Western countries. However, US trend-spotter Marian Salzman believes matchmaking is gradually coming into favor in the West.

Salzman has a history of making accurate predictions: For instance, she popularized the terms the "metrosexual" and "singleton". In her 2007 predictions, she boldly "hailed the return of arranged marriages, where friends and family helped select a spouse", according to The Telegraph.

"Affection and mutual interests will [become] more important than lust," she predicted. 21ST

Maria Sharapova:

Maria Sharapova has long held the informal title of being the world's most beautiful athlete. Lately, she's been nursing injury. But that hasn't kept her off of many men's dream date list.

Three ways to land a date with your favorite celebrity

1. Create an award and ask the desired celebrity to attend a press conference to accept it. For instance, "The Most Beautiful Man/Woman in the Universe" How could anyone turn down such a prestigious award?

2. Study a celebrity sighting website to find out where your dream date gets his/her coffee. Then get a job at that coffee shop. When you get a chance, strike up a conversation with the star.

3. Create a blog where you collect only positive press clippings about your celebrity crush. Exclude any reports about their failed love life and drunken driving arrests. After you've built up a loyal fan following, request a sit-down interview with the celebrity.

Dream on: single celebs

Jessica Alba

A recent Yahoo! Personals survey named Jessica Alba the most desirable single female celebrity. The beautiful star is perhaps most famous for her roles in Sin City and Fantastic Four.

Yi Jianlian

NBA rookie Yi Jianlian is just beginning his career, but already he's showing great promise. The fact that he's single has got a lot of young Chinese ladies in the US city of Milwaukee pretty excited.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Some are calling the new face of HUGO and Versace, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, the sexiest man alive. Since he just broke up with his girlfriend, paparazzi are lying in wait to capture photos of his next lucky princess.

Jay Chou:

Jay Chou complains that he's "so busy", but if the right girl comes along, he might just be able to make time. Jolin Tsai has reportedly already had her chance, so who will be next in line?

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afloat 飘浮的

gratitude 感恩的心

lust 欲望

matchmaker 媒人

metrosexual 都市玉男

napkin 餐巾

publicity 宣传

singleton 独身

tabloid 小报

trend-spotter 时尚达人

Bonus points

dud: 失败的人或事

We lit the firecracker and waited for it to go off, but it was a dud. Nothing happened when the fire finished burning the fuse. 我们点燃了炮竹然后等它爆炸，但是失败了。引信燃尽的时候一点动静没有。

fix sb up (with): 为某人提供所需

She fixed me up with enough warm clothes to last all winter. I didn't have to spend a cent. 整个漫长的冬季，她给我足够的暖衣。我一分钱都不用花。

weather: 经受住

She's weathering her boyfriend's death with remarkable strength. She tells herself that life must go on. 她靠着强大的力量经受住了男友逝世的噩耗。她告诉自己人生必须继续走下去。

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