It’s the Pits

Liz Hurley may have bared a lot of leg at the London premiere of boyfriend Hugh Grant’s new movie “Notting Hill,” but his costar, Julia Roberts, showed enough skin–and hair–to steal the spotlight. Across the pond, the London tabs chattered endlessly about the ungroomed hair sprouting from the pretty woman’s armpits, which was clearly visible as she waved to fans in her cap-sleeved red frock. Kathie Lee Gifford took Julia to task on her morning talk show, but not everyone was a critic. “I have to admit I looked twice over Julia’s hairy armpits,” Kate Winslet told the London Mirror. “But I thought Julia looked stunning.” Let the arm wrestling begin.

Rest in Peace

There’s nothing scandalous about going to your husband’s funeral–unless you happen to be an Islamic queen. In next month’s Vanity Fair, Queen Noor of Jordan reveals that–contrary to press reports–she violated Muslim tradition by secretly attending King Hussein’s final rites. “I watched my husband laid to rest, but I was not in the group of men,” confesses the queen, captured above by Herb Ritts in the last portrait taken of the couple before his death, in February. “I was a few meters away… The custom here is that women do not attend, but…it was important to me to go through the entire process.”

Final Touchdown?

Two-time Super Bowl winner John Elway, 38, has made what looks to be the ultimate completion in a legendary career. In his 16 pro seasons, the Denver Broncos quarterback led his team to an NFL record of 148 wins. “I’ve really accomplished everything I wanted to,” he said last week. “There’s no real upside to coming back.” But rumor has it he may still be calling the plays next fall–if only from a network booth.