book actress

Sasha Grey said she was just trying to help the children, but she's wound up waist deep in drama with a bunch of grown-ups.

Grey, a former adult-film star who more recently had a role on "Entourage," was participating in the Read Across America volunteer program, traveling to Emerson Elementary School in Compton this month to read to first and third graders.

But when parents learned of Grey's appearance, complaints started rolling in, nodding to her former work for a much more mature audience. Award-winning work, mind you, albeit hard-core. But instead of finessing the concerned parents, the school district made the bizarre move of denying she'd been on campus.

Officials first said Grey was never present, according to TMZ, the outlet that posted photos of Sasha. At Emerson Elementary. Reading to the kids.

"I committed to this program with the understanding that people would have their own opinions about what I have done, who I am and what I represent," Grey said in a statement, adding that her porn past does not define who she is.

One opinion from a parent, courtesy of KTLA-TV: "They could not find a fireman or a police officer? They had to get a porn star?"

Grey, however, has no plan to walk away from programs aimed at helping kids, saying she'll "remain an active supporter and participant in education-focused initiatives."

Katy Perry wants babies. Little Katy and Russell babies. Unless the first one hurts too much, in which case there will be just the one little Katy or Russell.

"If it doesn't hurt the first time," a bouncy Perry told Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show Friday, "I'll keep poppin' em out!"

DeGeneres broke sad news to Mrs. Russell Brand: "Word around town is, it hurts."

"I'm not sure it's yet" time to start poppin', the pop star said, adding that having a family was a big point of getting married and that she thought Russell would be a good partner in that undertaking.

To mark the occasion, Ellen gave the couple a semi-traditional firs -anniversary gift: a cupcake-covered clock in the rainbow hues Perry is known for. It was also a cuckoo clock — with Brand's mug where the cuckoo should be.

"Oh, it's Russell!" Perry chirped when she saw the custom addition. "That is a beautiful gift, and he's perfect to be the cuckoo."

Gee, ya think?

Perry had a gift of her own to deliver Friday, via Twitter, for fans who can make it to L.A. later this month: A free concert Nov. 23 at Staples Center, tagged on the end of her California Dreams World Tour.