PAINTED LOVE

As well as being Marilyn Manson's girlfriend, Evan Rachel Wood is apparently an actress, though one who seems to have gone virtually unnoticed until she began sharing a coffin with the only man in music less scary than Mika. She was speaking at the launch of her latest film, 'The Life Before Her Eyes', a film more likely to have the bargain bins creaking than the trophy cabinets.

Rather than talk about epic cinematography and clever plot twists, Wood wisely chose to concentrate on a subject she knows something about: going out with Marilyn Manson and tattoos. In wonderful news, she's had another unsightly and hideous mess added to her body (not counting Manson himself). She and the Lord of MOR shallowness have got matching heart tattoos, and if that isn't the epitome of black-souled Rock 'n' Roll then I don't know what is.

"It's a lightning bolt for David Bowie. And it has a black valentine heart around it. Marilyn has a black heart on his wrist and I have a black heart. We got them on Valentine's Day."

Nothing better to mark an undying love affair than having an indelible monstrosity inked onto your skin, is there? What could possibly go wrong with that scheme? Maybe the fact that Evan has a lovely letter 'J' on one ankle, marking the time she was passionately in love with British actor Jamie Bell?

Yes, 'Billy Elliot' Jamie Bell. Now THAT'S frightening.