GOSSIP columnists and paparazzi across the world love a good Hollywood feud.

Since the days of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, who were alleged to have detested each other, the media have revelled in stories of spats, tiffs and rows between rival Hollywood stars.

In an industry where back stabbing, bitching and cat fights are part of every day life, and that's just the blokes, celebrities seem to have a knack for speaking out of turn and upsetting each other.

Be it J Lo's questioning of Madonna's musical talent or Posh's rendition of Who Let The Dogs Out when Jordan entered the Old Trafford Players' Bar, celebrities just can't seem to help themselves disrespecting the competition.

The latest reported incident was this week at the Venice Film festival where 79-year-old Lauren Bacall questioned the legendary status of her co-star in the film Birth, Nicole Kidman.

When asked by a GMTV reporter what it was like to work alongside another screen legend, Bacall snapped: "She can't be a legend at whatever age she is. She can't be a legend - you have to be older."

The film veteran Bacall, who was thrust into the Hollywood limelight after having been spotted on the front page of a fashion magazine, is no doubt a legend of the silver screen. The image of her smouldering green eyes and her sultry looks in film greats such as To Have And Have Not, The Big Sleep and Key Largo, will live on for ever.

But what defines a screen legend and does it really have anything to do with age? The dictionary definition of a legend is someone or something very famous and admired, with no reference to having to be 40, 50 or 60 plus to fulfil the criteria.

Having typed the words "screen legend" into my Google search engine, the only individuals who popped up were deceased film stars such as Marlon Brando, Gregory Peck and Katherine Hepburn. Rightly or wrongly, it seems you have to be either dead or aged to earn the title of legend.

Nicole Kidman has had a most glittering career and seems to be improving by the year. There is no doubt her split from Hollywood heart throb Tom Cruise has benefited and boosted her status as an actor in her own right. She no longer has to play second fiddle to her husband, and more importantly, is free to wear high heels once again.

Although Kidman, 37, is in her prime in terms of her acting ability and at the pinnacle of her career, it seems legendary status will remain elusive, at least for some time. The crazy thing is, like most female Hollywood stars, when Kidman reaches her forties, the cynical film making world will no doubt deem her unemployable. It will only be at the age of 70 when she is viewed as "seasoned" that she will be allowed to work again and play someone's mother or eccentric old aunt. Then perhaps she will become a legend.

This is how the careers of many female film stars seem to pan out, including Bacall herself. Perhaps the smoky-voiced star thinks Ms Kidman should have to endure long periods of employment and a bit of hardship before she earns true legendary status.

To me it seems bizarre that you have to be way past your prime before the movie industry sees it fit to call you a legend.

Despite this episode, both Lauren and Nicole insist they remain good friends and continue to promote their new film Birth, where Bacall plays Kidman's mother. Let's hope there are no hard feelings, as this is perhaps more an issue of respect for your elders rather than the cattiness of a Hollywood diva.

Updated: 09:08 Saturday, September 11, 2004