LOS ANGELES?We conclude our report on our recent interviews with Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman in New York. Since the two ladies are among the hottest young actresses today, their first film together as sisters vying for the love and bed of King Henry VIII (Eric Bana) in ?The Other Boleyn Girl? is being written about as a throwback to those days when pictures starring rival movie queens created much excitement. Like Nura versus Velma?

Off screen, the two lovely babes have become friends. In between takes, they had fun booty dancing while wearing their 16th century-era costumes and long wigs.

In addition to her outspoken support for US presidential contender Barack Obama, Scarlett is also very much in the news with the May release of her first album, ?Anywhere I Lay My Head.? Scarlett sings 10 covers of Tom Waits tunes and one original track that she and her producer Dave Sitek (of the rock band TV on the Radio), composed. No less than David Bowie sang backing vocals on two songs. Tom and David are reportedly impressed with Scarlett?s baritone singing voice, which has been likened to Debbie Harry?s.

Lucky guys

Scarlett is dating actor Ryan Reynolds while Natalie is linked to Nathan Bogle, a Brit who?s a former model and co-founder of the Rag & Bone fashion line.

When Natalie was asked about Eric, the lucky guy who gets to have her and Scarlett as his lovers in the movie, she laughed and pointed to the back of the room. ?He?s back there,? she said, looking at the Australian actor who appeared by the door, with a mischievous glint in his eyes. ?Get out of here, Bana,? she smilingly told the man, handsome in a black jacket.

When Eric complied, Natalie lavished him praises: ?He?s the best. As adamant as I was about working with Scarlett, I felt the same way about Eric. He just blew me away in ?Munich? and ?Chopper.? He?s one of the best actors working today. He?s incredibly masculine which is unusual these days. When we were casting, we thought, who can be a king? So many actors just seem like boys. It?s hard to imagine most actors playing King Henry. He was just far and away the best.?

Favorite love scene

When a reporter asked Scarlett a common question, she was surprisingly thrown off. ?My favorite love scene?? she repeated the question. ?Hmm, that?s a good question. I?ve never been asked that before. Well, I am partial to the love scenes in ?Dirty Dancing.? Maybe that?s just a generational thing.?

When Natalie was asked the same question, she replied, ?I?d have to say?I know it?s bad but when I was growing up, the one I watched over and over again was ?Dirty Dancing.?? When told that was also Scarlett?s choice, Natalie laughed and said, ?Really? That?s hysterical. That?s our generation. I used to freeze frame the tape so I could see Patrick Swayze?s butt.?

Well, the girl who used to ogle at Patrick?s behind has grown up not only to be a talented actress but, like, Scarlett, a socially-committed individual as well. She is an Ambassador of Hope for a foundation that provides loans to poor, would-be entrepreneurs around the world.

Volunteer work

?I work for Finca (Foundation of International Community Assistance), an organization that you guys (HFPA) have actually been generous with and for which I?m really grateful,? Natalie said. ?Finca gives small loans to women in developing nations so they can start their own businesses. It?s an amazing way to help make a woman, who normally wouldn?t have these opportunities, proactive in taking care of herself and not rely on a government, men or anyone to help her out.?

?I do spend a lot of time traveling with this organization,? she continued. ?They?re in 22 countries around the world. I?ve been doing fundraising and education awareness for them.?

When a scene in which her character sings was brought up, Scarlett grinned and quipped, ?Please don?t use the song I sing in the film as an indication as to what my album is going to sound like.? Surprise?the actress is not joking. ?But I do have an album coming out,? she announced. ?It?s a collection of Tom Waits songs and an original track as well. I was approached to record an album after singing a song on an album for Music Matters, which is a wonderful organization. It was an opportunity that so many people I know would kill for. It was something I could not pass up.?

Not pop

?The album is not pop by any means,? Scarlett elaborated. ?It?s very inspired and it was an amazing experience for me. I used my baritone singing voice.?

?He gave his blessing,? Scarlett said of her inspiration? Tom, the raspy-voiced singer-songwriter. ?He didn?t participate in the actual recording or anything. But I wouldn?t have done it if he was against it. From what I understand, he?s very excited about the album and the way it turned out.?

?I?ve always loved to sing,? Scarlett confessed. ?I trained when I was young to sing because I always thought I would do musical theater. But my voice was so deep at the time. It was impossible for me to play a young Cossette.?

E-mail rvnepales_5585@ yahoo.com, and read his blog, ?The Nepales Report,? on http://blogs.inquirer.net/nepalesreport