Amy Winehouse cracked her knuckles, adjusted her beehive – and to the delight of the 20 reporters in a London courtroom – spoke clearly from behind a clear plastic shield on the stand Tuesday morning.

Uttering only a few lines during a 15 minute hearing in the City of Westminster Magistrates Court, Winehouse proudly proclaimed her name as Amy Jade Civil – her married name. And, leaning forward to speak through a gap in the plastic, she pleaded “not guilty” when a charge of common assault against Sherene Flash was put to her.

The assault is alleged to have happened in September 2008 in Berkeley Square, London, at a high society ball.

Winehouse, 25, was dressed in a summery floral print, low-cut dress, which revealed her many tattoos and her bra strap, and four-inch pink stilettos. Asked at one point, as she fidgeted with her hair, if she was okay, she turned a security guard and said, “Me? I’m alright.”

Watching the proceedings from a few feet away was her father Mitch and a minder, who had driven her down to the court from her new home in Barnet, north London.

District judge and chief magistrate Timothy Workman set a trial date of July 23 and Winehouse was remanded on bail.

Leaving the hearing, the singer strutted and posed for the gathered photographers before being whisked away.

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Love her!

Actress Natasha Richardson was hospitalized on Monday afternoon in Montréal after suffering a serious head injury, PEOPLE has confirmed.

The Tony-winning star, 45, was first brought to Centre Hospitalier Laurentien near the Mont Tremblant winter resort following a skiing accident. At 5 p.m. she was transferred to Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal.

Her husband, actor Liam Neeson, 56, left the set of a movie he was filming in Toronto and rushed to his wife’s side, reports AccessHollywoood.com.

“Liam Neeson left the Toronto set immediately to fly to Montreal upon news of his wife’s accident,” a rep for his film Chloe said in a statement to Canadian TV. “We do not have any details at this time but we hope for the best and our thoughts and prayers are with Natasha and Liam and their family.”

Richardson – daughter of famed British actress Vanessa Redgrave, 72, and producer Tony Richardson, who died in 1991 – has been married to Neeson since 1994. The couple have two sons: Micheal, 13, and Daniel, 12.

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Fame

Meg Ryan took to the streets of Santa Monica Monday afternoon with a book under her arm entitled “River of Words.” Ryan joins the increasing list of celebrities supporting their own charitable cause as the River of Words organization helps kids learn more about protecting the environment.

Fame

This new film sees Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker as a high-powered New York couple who witness a murder and must go into witness protection in a small Wyoming town.

Marc Lawrence – who seems to like working with Hugh, since he’s directed him in both Two Weeks Notice and Music & Lyrics – has written and will direct the film starting in the Big Apple today!

Bauer Griffin

If there was anyone else hosting ANTM, I might actually watch it.  But seeing Tyra Banks on ANTM is close to what must happen in Guantanamo Bay.  T-O-R-T-U-R-E.  I might even consider it my personal hell.

After an NYC casting call for America’s Next Top Model turned ugly Saturday as hundreds of hopefuls were caught in a stampede resulting in three arrests and six injuries, the show’s host and executive producer Tyra Banks tells aspiring models that they will still have a chance to compete.

“To all the Top Model hopefuls who were affected by the New York casting, we are doing everything we can to make sure that ALL the girls who weren’t seen, get an opportunity to audition — we’ll update you on our plans very soon,” Banks told Usmagazine.com in a statement Monday.

She added: “It is so important to me to redefine beauty and make sure that everyone gets a fair chance to pursue their dream. I am beyond excited for Cycle 13; for the first time ever, young women 5’7″ and under have a shot at becoming America’s Next Top Model!

“I encourage each girl to come out ready to rock the runway and show off their fiercest pose. I’m rooting for all of you!”

As aspiring models waited in line at the Park Central Hotel, fights broke out as news of a supposed car on fire began to spread.

Police were forced to shut down the casting call, and arrested two women and one man on charges of disorderly conduct and inciting to riot, according to the Times. Two people were taken to a local hospital with minor injuries, while four others refused treatment.

“We are concerned by the events that occurred Saturday afternoon in the vicinity of the New York City casting call for the next cycle of America’s Next Top Model,” executive producers Banks and Ken Mok told Us in a statement earlier on Monday. “At this time, we still don’t know all the details of what happened or what triggered the incident. We appreciate the efforts of the NYPD and will assist them in any way possible in this matter.”

America’s Next Top Model debuted its twelfth cycle earlier this month.

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