Rowling Awarded France's Highest Honour
04 February 2009
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French President Nicolas Sarkozy has bestowed Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling with the honorary title of knight, the country's highest honour.
Rowling, 43, became an honorary recipient of the country's Legion d'honneur (Legion of Honour) in a ceremony at the Elysee presidential palace on Tuesday (03Feb09).
The British writer's seven-part series about the boy wizard Potter has sold more than 400 million copies worldwide and inspired a series of blockbuster films, launching Rowling to international fame.
Rowling's fifth book in the series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, became the first book in English ever to top the French best-sellers' list in 2003 - before it was translated into the country's native tongue.
If we do it in Boston (Massachusetts), I would say there'd be a lot more family members, so there'll be some fighting
Foreigners cannot be officially inducted, though they are routinely made honorary recipients.
Other foreign recipients include American actor Jerry Lewis, director Steven Spielberg, singer Barbra Streisand and Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer.
Meanwhile the Hollywood action star Mark Wahlberg will marry his longtime girlfriend Rhea Durham in a Catholic ceremony in August (09).
The Shooter actor has three children with Durham - Ella Rae, five; Michael, two, and four-month-old Brendan Joseph - but the couple has only now decided to make their romance official by exchanging vows in a summer ceremony.
However, Wahlberg admits they have yet to finalise the plans - they are still debating over whether to have a big party with friends and family, or just have the kids in attendance.
He says, "If we do it here (in Los Angeles), it'll probably be just us and the kids.
"If we do it in Boston (Massachusetts), I would say there'd be a lot more family members, so there'll be some fighting."
But, he adds it will "definitely (be) in a Catholic church".
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