Jeremy Irons, who plays the world-renowned photographer Alfred Stieglitz in Lifetime's September 19 "Georgia O'Keeffe," comes to the defense of the man with whom O'Keeffe engaged in a turbulent 20-year-relationship.

The Oscar, Emmy and Tony-award-winning actor declares, "Steiglitz was difficult, but forgivable. O'Keeffe loved him until the day he died. I do think creative people like she need a partner who excites them deeply, and that person does not have to be the easiest to live with. I wonder if she would have become a great artist without him. Sometimes, we need a thorn to make us realize our greatness."

Irons continues, "Granted, Stieglitz was difficult to live with. He had a record of picking talent for his art gallery and controlling them until it got so bad, they moved on. Georgia had to go to New Mexico to get away from him but she never stopped loving him."

Irons has nothing but kudos for his leading lady. "Joan Allen was born to play Georgia O'Keeffe," he says. And, he adds, the story of O'Keeffe and Stieglitz was born to be made. He just can't understand why it took so long to make it.

"It was shopped around for about seven or eight years as a motion picture, and could never find a taker," he reveals. And then, he notes, "It was offered to HBO and they turned it down. That was a shame. It was a big mistake. I must tell you, when I saw the completed film I was thrilled."

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL: Cody Linley of "Hannah Montana" and "Dancing With the Stars" fame tells us he's game to dance with fans Thursday (9/10) when he appears at Disney's D-23 Expo.

"It's going to be awesome -- a huge event designed for the fans," he says of the star-filled, four-day extravaganza at the Anaheim Convention Center. It sounds like a Disney-tween answer to Comic Con. "I'm going to be there for a few hours, sign some autographs, meet the fans," says the affable 19-year-old.

And, as far as dancing, "If there are some fans who want to dance with me, I'm always going to be breaking it out. It's a new love for me."

MEANWHILE: It's not announced yet, but Linley reveals that he'll be going right into rehearsals for his own Disney Channel Original movie, "Starstruck" -- in which he'll play a pop star.

"Basically he's into this plain Jane chick he has an adventure with and they have a cool friendship that happens. He starts to realize lots of things about himself and it has a cool message," says Cody, who'll start shooting in about a week.

"I've been singing every day. I'm recording six songs for the movie," he says. And, they'll be shooting him performing at the Sunset Strip's Key Club.

FROM THE INSIDE LOOKING OUT: Corey Reynolds went from starring in "Hairspray" on Broadway to big-budget Hollywood movies to a starring role on the popular TNT drama "The Closer," all in the span of a few years. The Virginia native tells us he wouldn't have been able to keep his ego in check without the help of some very well known co-stars.

"I think it would have been very easy for me to come out to L.A. and allow my ego to swell. It's something that happens with a lot of young actors that find success relatively early.

"I got here from Broadway and then worked directly after with Steven Spielberg," he says of his role in "The Terminal." "I got the chance to watch Steven and Tom Hanks and they were the most gracious, compassionate that I think I've encountered out here, and I've had that same experience with Kyra [Sedgwick]. She's very smart and very funny. She makes the rest of us shine," he adds. "They all definitely set an example of how to handle success."

Reynolds, who plays Sergeant David Gabriel, certainly realizes how lucky he's been to have such positive experiences in his career, and for now he's just continuing to enjoy the people he gets a chance to work with everyday.

"I do believe part of our success of the show is our energy of being loving and generous towards each other," he says. "You've got to really love acting to get through the hard times in this business and there are many of them, but I certainly have been blessed."

With reports by Emily-Fortune Feimster