Gemma Ward

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Eva Mendes graces the July cover of W magazine in Miu Miu.

Gemma Ward has been cast in the fourth installment of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, playing a mermaid. 

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>> Earlier this year, Gemma Ward was said to be considering studying theater at Yale, and it seems the career direction was right, if not the venue: Ward has reportedly been cast in the upcoming fourth installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean series: On Stranger Tides.

The film, which is set to hit theaters on May 20, 2011, stars Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, and Geoffrey Rush, and is set to begin filming in Hawaii this week. Ward has a small speaking part as a mermaid and won't shoot her scenes until August. Australia's The Daily Telegraph cites a friend saying: "Gemma's focus is definitely on acting. She's spent the past year studying the craft full time in New York." And Frockwriter confirmed with "an extremely well-placed business associate" that Ward has definitely signed on for a role in the film.

>> "We were losers," Rodarte's Kate Mulleavy proclaimed to the audience who came to hear her and sister Laura get peppered with questions at FIT in New York Tuesday night. Kate was speaking of the time before she and Laura were designers, and instead were college graduates, sitting at home watching six films a day. Laura eventually picked up a waitressing gig, but as for Kate, she did, in her own words, "nothing." Later, Kate added of their current state: "Technically, we shouldn't even be up here. In a weird way, it's like we had a stream of circumstances where I look at now and think, 'This is so crazy that this happened to us.' But we're probably the least likely people that it should have happened to."

Would they ever design separately? »

>> Anonymous IMG Source: Gemma Ward Is "Not Coming Back" —Despite the fact that Gemma Ward proclaimed she had "not quit modeling" last November and planned to be back at work this year, many in the industry don't seem convinced.  That same month, her agency IMG turned down a photoshoot offer for Harper's Bazaar, stipulating that if she were to make a return, she would be back in modeling shape.  IMG wouldn't comment, and wouldn't even confirm that Ward is still under their representation; an anonymous IMG insider, however, said: "Her moment's over. She's not coming back."  A high-ranking magazine source notes: "Once these pictures are out of her being big, her brand is diminished, at least as far as her agency and the mainstream fashion world goes. Gemma's torn. In the last few years [her weight gain] was very much her f*ck you to the industry. She's rebelling by putting on 30 or 40 pounds, so now going back isn't a straightforward option."  Ward has reportedly been exploring other options in the meanwhile, like studying theater at Yale. [Page Six Magazine]

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>> Soon after Gemma Ward popped up in New York for her 22nd birthday, a spokesperson from her Australian agency Vivens went on record saying of Ward: "Gemma hasn't committed to returning to modelling at any time soon." The comment spurred many to conclude that Ward was permanently done with modeling.

Now, however, Ward herself is speaking out.  She Twittered yesterday: "Thankyou everyone for your support, all i'll say on the subject is im content with my decision but i have said nothing will be permanent."  And she emailed The West Australian to let them know she plans on returning to the catwalk next year: "I have not 'quit modelling' and my fans back home can expect to see me back at work modelling and acting in the new year."

What has she been up to? »

>> THE MODELIZER —Despite the fact that she was spotted in New York the night before taking in an Animal Collective concert with her brother and some friends, Gemma Ward failed to appear for her DJ gig at the Doe Fund's charity event last night.  The weird part: She had personally arranged to appear at the event, without the help of an agent or manager, and it's unclear why she didn't show. [The Cut]