Now hear this ...

"Working with Heath was one of the purest joys of my life. He brought to the role of Ennis more than any of us could have imagined " a thirst for life, for love and for truth, and a vulnerability that made everyone who knew him love him. His death is heartbreaking." " Ang Lee, who directed Heath Ledger to an Oscar nomination in the 2005 film "Brokeback Mountain." The 28-year-old actor was found dead Jan. 22 at his New York apartment.

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"I had such great hope for him. He was just taking off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss." " Mel Gibson, on the death of Heath Ledger. The actors co-starred in 2000's "The Patriot."

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"You put me shoulder to shoulder with a group of fine actors. I'm proud to be in their company and to have the broader recognition for the film is a lovely thing." " Daniel Day-Lewis, on snagging a best actor Oscar nomination for "There Will Be Blood."

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"That's a no-brainer. Actors need writers. You know scripts don't write themselves. I'm here because this part is so well-written." " Amy Ryan, on why she won't attend the Oscars ceremony if writers are still on strike. Ryan is nominated for best supporting actress for her role in "Gone Baby Gone."

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"We are deeply disappointed and upset by these latest revelations and are doing everything we can to offer Amy our full support in dealing with her problems." " Universal Records, Amy Winehouse's record label, responding to the release of grainy video footage allegedly showing the troubled singer smoking crack.

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"I wish the best for her and I just wish everyone would leave her alone so she could live her life. She's a great mother and a great girl and I really care about her." " Paris Hilton, on Britney Spears.

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"I'm having to learn a whole new language. Upstage, downstage. I'm like, 'Upstage? What's that mean? Behind? Oh, got it. Why didn't you just say behind? ...' It makes me crazier than I already am." " Clay Aiken, on nailing the stage lingo for his Broadway debut in "Monty Python's Spamalot."

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"Dude, this is going to be so fun." " Jason Priestley, who starred as a wealthy teen in TV's "Beverly Hills, 90210," on plans to enter a car in the Indianapolis 500 in May.