Daily News from New York, New York • 216

nOmo(0)lF(0)(g) What America's hottest celebrities have been up to since gracing our cover. BY TAMEKA L. HICKS ma Hugh Jackman posed as Wolverine for an exclusive USA WEEKEND poster promoting the blockbuster X2, the X-Men sequel But the Aussie star ditched those razor-sharp claws for a high-energy display of his best stoked!" What a rock-in' grandma-to-be. Ewan McGregor told us he relishes the chance to get naked onscreen. "There's a lot of nudity in everyday life," he said.

Later, he showed up at Cannes in a kilt. We're still not sure Sect fl mil She's also boosted the size of her family: On Oct 23, second child Deacon Phillippe was born. Chris Rock was at a loss for words during our cover shoot with him last winter. Puffy eyes and a runny nose had gotten the best of the comedian-actor while promoting the presidential comedy Head of State. He was urged by studio execs not to do any Bush-bashing at the time.

But California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is fair game. "This is a guy who can't even play a smart guy in a movie," Rock's been saying on his recent tour. Jim Carrey told us how much he's into his 8-mile weekend jogs. Those will come in handy for his role as the superhuman Six Million Dollar Man.

He also has joked that hell run a 10K when he turns 90. Maybe that's when he can do the remake, as the Six Million Dollar Nonagenarian. Few dance moves. Turned out to be a sneak preview of his Broadway run as Australian performer Refer Allen in The Boy From Oz. HeU be singing and dancing until next fall.

Justin Tim-berlake was a per whether he was wearing anything underneath If Johnny Depp has told us once, he's told us a thousand times how wonderful France is: He lives in Paris with his French girlfriend and their kids, and returns to the States only to see family and friends. Else where, he compared America to "a dumb puppy that has big teeth that can bite and hurt you aggressive." Ouch! In September, he apologized. Our series on American icons featured AI Pacino in an intimate talk with Ken Burns, calling his kids "the best thing that ever happened to me." Alas, a custody battle with Beverly D'Angelo for their 2-year-old twins ensued weeks later. Paula Abdul, who made nice with all the American Idol contestants, advised stage parents in a musicians have suffered as much political backlash as country singer Toby Keith. His Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue got him nixed from a July Fourth special with Peter Jennings and fueled a feud with the Dixie Chicks' Natalie Maines.

Whafs more, he ruffled feathers by walk i 6 fect judge for the 2003 USA WEEKEND-John Lennon Songwriting Contest for Teens. He told us, "I don't think writing a song is about dictating what the song is." Seems to have worked for him. He co-wrote his first solo CD, Justified, now up for a Grammy. But he's definitely not staying solo for good in or out of the studio. He reunites with his Sync mates next year for another album.

And he's been linked romantically with Janet Jackson, Alyssa MOano and, for months now, Cameron Diaz. Looks like Britney is really Gone. Her 19th-century garb was left tattered in The Missing, but fashion mags continue to applaud Cate Blanchett's elegant sense of style. December's Vogue named her their "Girl of the Moment" Work it! Brendan Fraser always wanted to become the Hollywood player he is today, especially with Looney Tunes: Back in Action. "I had the focus and drive, and I wanted to be a part of this business very much," he told us as the animated slapstick fest was set to open.

Speaking of cartoons, he's contemplating playing Superman, but "the actor who plays that role is forevermore identified as MM July issue. The Grammy winner knows "firsthand that the entertainment industry is such a cutthroat business." Still, she's working on a CD. Heartthrob Brad Pitt bulked up by weight lifting and sword fighting ing out of this year's Academy of Country Music Awards show before he won Entertainer of the Year. "I was zero for six that night," Keith explained to us. "I never expected to get it." Sticking around doesn't necessarily pay off: He sat through the entire Country Music Association Awards show and left zero for seven.

Keyshawn Johnson was riding high when he posed with Oscar host Steve Martin for a March cover on America's two top entertainment events: the Super Bowl and the Academy Awards. Johnson had just earned his first Super Bowl ring. It turned out to be a brief celebration. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers stumbled into mediocrity this season, and the wide receiver clashed publicly with his coach, resulting in his deactivation Kate Hudson was enjoying wedded bliss with rocker husband Chris Robinson when we spoke with her, and it showed. She glowed, and the giggles just rolled.

Now, with a baby due any day, mom Goldie Hawn says, "We're that character," he told us. Hey, we figure after getting upstaged by Daffy Duck, a close association with the Man of Steel would be an upgrade. As her blockbuster Legally Blonde 2 bit theaters, we learned Reese Wrther-spoon had increased her paycheck, from $1 million to $15 million a movie. to play the Greek hero Achilles in next summer's epic Troy. But his skinny legs didn't size up, and a leg double was called in to complete the look of the leather skirt and high boots.

Uma Thurtnan was mute about her strained marriage to Ethan Hawke in our pages, but it has since been made official that Kill Bill's Bride is separated. Back in July, Linkin Park was being compared to even bigger groups, like Limp Bizkit Today the rockers are headlining their own tour, rejoined by now-healthy vocalist Chester Bennington, ca 10 USA WEEKEND Dec 26-28, 2003.