Academy Award-winning actress Charlize Theron took on one of her most serious roles yet, as she appeared before lawmakers Thursday morning to talk about her work fighting AIDS.

The South Africa native and founder of the Africa Outreach Project discussed the crisis there, saying, “Achieving the end of AIDS means we all must be responsible.”

Appearing slightly nervous at times, the statuesque “Cider House Rules” star and face of Chanel spoke slowly and deliberately, saying, “We may come from different countries, races, or political parties, but this morning we are here and we are one in this fight.”

Donning an all black outfit and super short tresses, Theron, 37, exchanged a few words and smiles with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who exclaimed to the attendees at the Capitol Visitor Center event, “This is a room full of hope.”

It’s not an American lawmaker or celebrity who “House of Cards” creator Beau Willimon dreams of recruiting for a cameo role on the popular Netflix show — it’s Kim Jong Un. 

Speaking Wednesday as part of the “Sidecar Conversation Series” with the Bipartisan Policy Center in downtown Washington, the executive producer said with a faint chuckle that he’d love to have the North Korean dictator appear on the second season of the Kevin Spacey-starring series about a fictional, corrupt House Majority Whip.

The conversation on the intersection of Washington and Hollywood also featured “Chasing the Hill’s” Brent Roske. The executive producer had a slightly different idea for great “gets” for his Web series.

More than 40 members of Congress unleashed their best recipes Wednesday in a competitive cook-off for charity at the National Museum Building in Washington.

During the 31st annual March of Dimes Gourmet Gala, senators and congressmen strapped on aprons and served up their most delectable dishes to delighted guests. Five local chefs and restaurant founders roamed around the purple and lavender accented room, grading the hors d’eurves in six categories: Best Presentation, Health and Happiness, Regional Cuisine, Easiest Preparations, Best in Show, and the coveted, People’s Choice.

“You never know how things will turn out when you just hand over your recipe to someone else,” said Vicki, wife of Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), while serving her pistachio lamb dish. “But this is very good.”

Lawmakers submitted their recipes to a team of chefs who prepared all the food. Not all of the competitors were as pleased with the outcome as Risch was though.

Rep. Ted Yoho thought he had the competition in the bag when a constituent of his in Florida provided him with an award-winning crab bisque recipe.

“I don’t think he put in all of the ingredients — the secret spices,” fretted the Florida Republican. “I was worried that would happen.”

Members of Congress did their best impression of the '60s girl group The Ronettes as they sung (or in some cases, warbled) “Be My Baby” in front of Jennifer Hudson and a packed audience Wednesday at the annual Grammys on the Hill.

The lawmakers — including House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), along with Reps. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), John Conyers (D-Mich.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), and Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.), among others —  bopped and swayed from side to side during the impromptu performance.

By the end of the rendition, Hoyer grabbed the mic and said, “Joe Crowley told us all to keep our day job!”

Buzzfeed is offering some counterprogramming to the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, the biggest social event in Washington.

The media company is holding a BBQ at the Jack Rose Dining Saloon on April 27 -- at the same time the annual dinner takes place. 

"No WHCAD tix, no problem!" the invitation reads. It will broadcast the dinner, which airs on C-SPAN.

Read more...

CHANCE TO STARGAZE: Academy Award winner Charlize Theron will be sitting alongside a panel of top AIDS officials from the ONE Campaign, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and UNAIDS at an early Thursday morning Capitol Hill breakfast briefing.

The “Cider House Rules” star, founder of the Africa Outreach Project, will discuss her work fighting the global epidemic at the “Together We Will End AIDS” event at the Capitol Visitors Center.

Photo: Wikimedia

The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner — considered the glitziest and most buzzworthy event of Washington’s party season — appears to be a bit more low-key this year.

Between the guest list absences of some of Hollywood’s brightest stars and a more subdued party scene, many folks working behind the scenes agree this year’s dinner will be decidedly more subdued.

One shindig noticeably void from the soiree circuit this year is Funny or Die’s annual First Amendment Party. Last year’s high-caliber bash on the eve of the dinner had partygoers bumping and grinding at the event’s huge downtown space well into the wee hours of the morning.

The Hollywood Reporter, which last year held star-studded affair with Google at the W Hotel, is also ducking out of the Correspondents’ dinner limelight this time around. A publicist tells us “we aren’t doing anything this year.”

“I don’t know if it’s toned down or not,” Hollywood on the Potomac editor Janet Donovan said of the mood in town, “but it feels that way.”

Donovan pointed to the lack of Anthony Weiner-sized headlines as a possible reason for the drop-off, saying that “perhaps because Hollywood celebrities are now more frequently in town, and we don’t really have a huge ‘five minutes of fame’ scandal-type this year.”

When Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) woke up in the hospital after being injured in Iraq, one of the first things she heard was that Gary Sinise had called.

And, on Tuesday night, she finally got to thank the actor for reaching out.

Duckworth lost both legs in Iraq in 2004 when the helicopter she was piloting was shot down. Sinise was friends with one of the guys in her unit, who told the actor about her.

"I was paying attention to what was going on. I had different units I was staying in touch with and one of them was hers," Sinise said.

On Tuesday night, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) took time out from the Gang of Eight’s immigration reform push to roast as well as praise a former campaign adviser and prominent lobbyist.

Charlie Black, chairman of Prime Policy Group, was awarded the 2013 Business-Government Relations Award from the Bryce Harlow Foundation, which promotes high standards for the lobbying trade. McCain was on hand at the group’s annual awards dinner to introduce Black, a long-time friend and a close aide during the Arizona Republican’s 2008 presidential campaign.

“Of course, he was the reason why I lost. I probably would have won if it hadn’t been for Charlie’s advice and counsel,” McCain told the packed dining room at the Capital Hilton.

“But after I lost, Charlie consoled me and I slept like a baby. Sleep two hours, wake up and cry. Sleep two hours, wake up and cry,” McCain said to laughs.