Sporting an imposing barrister’s robe and wig as he stands on the steps of Melbourne’s Supreme Court, Mark Holden is almost unrecognisable as the flamboyant former Australian Idol judge who coined the catchphrase “Touchdown!”.

But Mark, who once described his persona on the popular TV talent quest as “loony”, couldn’t be more serious about his new career in the courtroom.

Having completed a law degree almost four decades after he began studying for one, the 55-year-old former singer and actor is ready for the spotlight in an entirely different arena – as a barrister.

“I started my law degree in 1971 and dropped out three subjects short of my final year, when I was signed to EMI for my first album,” Mark says.

“I always felt it was unfinished business, and it bothered me.

I like to finish things I start, so I eventually did.

“Then, after Australian Idol ended for me two years ago, I had a year off and met Melbourne barrister William Lye. He encouraged me to become a barrister and became my mentor. Everything lined up, and it became a reality.”

Happily immersing himself in the law, the father of two admits there is a theatrical side to his new line of work.

“That’s a part of it that appeals to me – there is an element of understanding your audience and of personal projection,” Mark says.

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The Aussie star puts the past behind him, as he welcomes his mother into his family.

Hugh Jackman and his mother Grace are enjoying being a family again after years of heartbreak, following her decision to walk out on her son when he was aged just eight.

Enjoying a day out in Manhattan with Hugh’s daughter Ava, 3, mother and son have clearly put the painful past behind them. Friends say that British-based Grace has been happy to help out with the kids while Hugh’s wife, Deborra-Lee, has been in Australia raising awareness of adoption issues. But things weren’t always so easy.

Hugh recalls the pain of arriving home one day from school to find his mother gone. She sent a telegram the following day informing her family that she was returning to her native England, where she raised her daughters Zoe and Sonia.

Her three boys, Hugh, Ian and Ralph, remained in Sydney with their father Chris.

While Hugh confesses that his mum’s sudden departure cast a long shadow over his childhood and teens, he says the passage of time and an increased understanding of the emotional torment she was going through at the time –reported to be undiagnosed postnatal depression – have helped them rebuild their relationship.

“I had some very dark periods as a child but we’ve made peace with each other,” Hugh says. “The bottom line is, I never felt that my mum didn’t love me.

“Now that I’m an adult and have talked to her, I can see there was no other way she could see to solve it at the time.

“My mother was not well. I always hoped she would come back, but I never blamed her for anything that went wrong.

“On some level I understood that she was not in a great way. But it was a big tumultuous change.

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The former Idol reveals to CLARE RIGDEN how her mother stepped in to put a stop to her partner’s abuse.

After the first series of Australian Idol, she was one of Australia’s brightest stars, but Paulini Curuenavuli’s home life wasn’t so glamorous. A victim of domestic abuse, she endured beatings that left her emotionally and physically scarred.

“There was a point where I said to myself, if I don’t leave now, I won’t make it,” she reveals. “Things were getting so bad that I was fearing for my life in those last few weeks.”

Paulini reveals how it was her mum, Miliana, who finally broke the cycle and rescued her.

“One afternoon things had got so bad that [Mum] saw the aftermath of what had happened, and that was it,” Paulini recalls. “She said, ‘OK, if you don’t want to do anything about this, I’m going to.’ And she took steps to inform the CEO of the company that was looking after my ex-partner. They were helpful and tried to get help for him.”

Paulini has made the brave decision to speak out about the abuse – widely believed to have taken place when she was dating NRL player Wes Naiqama – as a way of raising awareness.

She says she was one of the lucky ones because she had the support that made it possible for her to walk away.

“My mum and dad and my friends were so supportive all the way,” she says. “Even when they saw all of this happening, and I didn’t see it, still they were standing by me.

“I want to encourage women out there to talk to people – talk to family, talk to friends, talk about what is happening.”

And that’s exactly what Paulini is doing now.

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Three years after their lavish wedding, friends claim Katie is feeling trapped by life with domineering Tom.

Tom Cruise wanted to treat Katie Holmes to a three-year anniversary dinner at Bricco, their favourite Boston restaurant, on November 14. He had one tiny request: that the entire second floor be emptied so the two could dine in private.

“When they walked up the stairs, she said, ‘Where is everybody?’, recalls the restaurant’s manager.

Romantic? Yes. Lonely? Maybe. Though a source says she “loves” Tom, “Katie is cut off from the world and feels miserable because of it.

“To say Tom is controlling is an understatement. His whole philosophy is to control, and Katie hates it.”

And barring a divorce, it’s likely her situation will not improve until November 2013. According to multiple sources, the actress, 30, has had second thoughts about being wed to a Svengali-like star and reportedly committing herself to a restrictive seven-year marital “contract”.

“Katie has virtually no say in their marriage and hates it,” says the insider. “In the beginning it was glamorous, but now she’s tired of the life they lead.”

And when she dares disagree with Tom, 47, “he can lash out at her and call her stupid and pigheaded,” claims the insider. (A lawyer for Cruise strongly denies any discord in the marriage or existence of a contract.)

Katie, who once said her childhood dream was to marry Tom, is learning the hard way to be careful what you wish for.

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The effervescent Domestic Blitz star tells Glen Williams she has at last found real domestic bliss – marrying her best friend in a secret seaside wedding.

They dreamed it would be the perfect day, low key, but brilliant – and it was.

Shelley Craft and Christian Sergiacomi, two soul mates exchanging marriage vows on the shores of their “most special place in the world”, Belongil Beach at Byron Bay.

Beside the turquoise water, a stunning Shelley walked towards the man who has turned her life around.

Christian, 32 – a passionate Australian/Italian freelance cameraman and former professional Rugby player with Italy’s Benetton Rugby Club – admits to seeing his approaching bride only through a blur of happy tears.

Shelley, 33, did her own hair and make-up, and chose her favourite flowers to decorate the beautiful holiday house – their “special place” – where the wedding was held.

There were pink and white peonies, lisianthus and freesias, their heady fragrance mixing with the saltiness of the sea breeze. And as she made her way through the aisle of guests, all waving festive “twirlers” (aqua ribbons on sticks, made by Shelley), the moment wasn’t lost on anyone.

“I’m the happiest girl in the world,” Shelley told Woman’s Day. “And the luckiest in so many ways. To have found love again, I just wish everyone could do what I’ve just done, to be able to fall in love with then marry your best friend.”

Indeed, Shelley’s “perfect day” was something she could not have envisioned two years ago. Then, she endured the heartbreaking end of her 14-year union, and eight-year marriage, to marketing man Brett De Billinghurst Craft.

“It was a lovely marriage but a difficult break-up,” a gracious Shelley says, not wanting to cast shadows across her new-found joy.

And Christian had also experienced his own long-term relationship painfully ending in 2004. He and Shelley would begin their friendship when travelling the world together on The Great Outdoors in 2007.

“We both started at Channel Seven in Brisbane at the same time in 1994,” Christian says. “I saw Shelley, but she didn’t see me. It was our first year out of high school. Then she moved to Sydney.”

“We’d been in the same year at school, separate schools in the same street, we later found out we had a lot of mutual friends and a lot of mutual stories,” says Shelley, tenderly leaning into her new hubby.

They’d been working together for about five years on The Great Outdoors, and had become good friends and confidants, when love slowly came calling.

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Nicole Kidman has finally opened up about her unusual relationship with her older children, Isabella, 16, and Connor, 14, frankly revealing that the pair, with whom she hasn’t been photographed since 2007, have little time for her baby daughter, Sunday Rose.

The star, who is out promoting her new movie musical, Nine, confesses that the children she adopted with former husband Tom Cruise are typical teenagers, with little time for the latest addition to the family.

“Well, she’s their second baby sister and they’re 16 and 14, and only interested in their friends, but they are good with her,” Nicole told UK magazine, She. “Connor wants a boy – maybe I will try again.”

There is speculation that the Aussie star may have been shut out of their lives since her split from strict Scientologist Tom, but she insists that she remains close to them.

Nicole, 42, who first became a mum at 26, admits she is finding it difficult juggling the competing needs of a toddler and a teen.

“They’re polar opposites. With Bella, I’m being someone she can confide in, while trying not to tell her what to do. With Sunday, I have to show her how to do everything … It’s really keeping me on my toes.”

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