Tom Cruise defends role as Jack Reacher

Plus: Luke Bryan sweeps American Country Awards; Ariel Winter¿s mum sues for defamation; Busy Philipps expecting second baby; Zero Dark Thirty and Lincoln top AFI list.

Tom Cruise's next movie is Jack Reacher, in which he plays a sniper. FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA / EPA
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Tom Cruise defends role as Jack Reacher

Tom Cruise is defending his role as Jack Reacher, despite being slimmer and shorter than the character created by Lee Child in his original books. Cruise said at the Jack Reacher world premiere in London on Monday that he would not have taken the part if the writer had been unhappy. Child's version of Reacher - a military sniper - is 6 foot 5 inches tall and weighs over 200lbs. "Had he said 'look I'd rather not', I would not have played the character," said Cruise, describing Reacher's size as a "characteristic" rather than a "character". The film is out in UAE cinemas on December 20. * Reuters

Busy Philipps expecting second baby

The Cougar Town actress Busy Philipps said on Monday that she is expecting her second child with her husband, the screenwriter Marc Silverstein. "So this happened," the 33-year-old star posted on Twitter, along with a picture of her positive pregnancy test result. The couple have a 4-year-old daughter. Philipps headlines the forthcoming romantic comedy Cleveland, I Love You. * IANS

Luke Bryan sweeps fan-voted awards

Luke Bryan came out on top in Monday's American Country Awards. The 36-year-old vocalist earned nine awards, including Artist of the Year and Album of the Year, at the fan-voted show. His hit I Don't Want This Night to End was named Single of the Year and Music Video of the Year. Miranda Lambert took home the second biggest haul of three trophies. Jason Aldean was named Touring Artist of the Year. Carrie Underwood won Female Artist of the Year and Lauren Alaina won New Artist of the Year. Bryan, Aldean, Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum were among the night's performers. * AP

Ariel Winter's mum sues for defamation

The mother of Modern Family's Ariel Winter has sued Matthew Borlenghi, a friend of her 14-year-old daughter, for defamation, claiming he falsely labelled her an "abusive monster" in a Los Angeles Times story about a continuing custody struggle for the teenage star. A judge temporarily stripped Crystal Workman of custody amid allegations that she had been physically abusive to Winter. "The mother is grasping and clawing to find a way not to lose her moneymaker, and hide the fact that she is an abusive monster," is the comment attributed to Borlenghi. * AP

Zero Dark Thirty, Lincoln top AFI list

The Osama bin Laden thriller Zero Dark Thirty and the Civil War epic Lincoln are among the American Film Institute's top 10 movies of the year. Also on the unranked list are The Dark Knight Rises, Argo, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Django Unchained, Les Miserables, Life of Pi, Moonrise Kingdom and Silver Linings Playbook. Creative ensembles for the films will be honoured on January 11 in Los Angeles. * AP