Rehna’s red-carpet roundup

I’ve walked a great number of red carpets already in 2023 and several in the last couple of weeks. So, here are a few highlights:

I know next to nothing about rugby but recently I ended up at the Rugby Legends dinner at the JW Marriott Grosvenor hotel on Park Lane. It was indeed attended by legends from the game but I only recognised Mike Tindall. Now famously married to King Charles’s niece (daughter of the Princess Royal, Princess Anne) he is a former rugby union player who won 75 caps for England. He was a member of the England squad which won the 2003 World Cup.

Here he is talking about rum that he and Zara might be moving the family to Australia:

The EE Bafta rising star award is voted for by the public for the film actor or actress who has made the most impact in the past year.

Past winners include James McAvoy in 2006. Eva Green, Shia LaBeouf and Kristen Stewart

Four of the 2023 nominees attended at the Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square for a special talk, and QandA .

Naomi Ackie for I wanna dance with somebody Sheila Atim for The Woman King

Emma Mackey for Emily

Daryl McCormack for Good luck to you Leo Grande

All four were so incredibly eloquent about their craft and their hopes and wishes for the future trajectory of their careers, that I can’t possibly choose a winner! Good luck to them all for 19th February when the awards ceremony takes place before the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Here’s Naomi Ackie talking about playing Whitney Houston:

The London film critics awards are my favourite ceremony of award season. Held at the Mayfair Hotel, they are a relaxed, informal affair although suitably glamorous as befits a movie event. The star power varies from year to year. This year was a particularly great one for big name wattage. Cate Blanchett, Michelle Yeoh, Florence Pugh, Bill Nighy, Paul Mescal, to name just a few, were all present and mingling with the non celebrity guests. Florence even joined the after party. Looking, in her words, like ‘a bottle of Tabasco with a Puss in Boots hat’ she seemed to be enjoying herself immensely, not least when she picked up the award for best British actress of the year. She looked stunning. And for the record she also has a very handsome brother.

Cate Blanchett continued her inexorable march towards her third Oscar by picking up yet another best actress gong for Tar. It’s undeniably deserved. She carries the film and cinema in general with a performance that will be studied in acting classes for decades to come. Like Florence, she, too, chatted with the guests, not just the other actors, took selfies with everyone who asked and looked to be having a good catchup with friends. 

Michelle Yeoh was the third part of the glamorous and friendly trio. She is having a ball finally getting her due close to her 60th birthday. Here’s a lovely video I got of the three having a catchup:

If you read my review of the stage play a streetcar named desire, you know that I met Paul Mescal after the show. I told him that he would be nominated for the big awards for his turn in Aftersun. Sure enough, he is nominated for an Oscar. I reminded him of my prediction and got a photo with him as a reward!

Who is director and after sun, Charlotte Wells was on able to collect her award is best newcomer and sent in a letter which Mescal read out not knowing its contents. In it she mischievously referred to “Academy award nominee Paul Mescal” and joked that he would be squirming as he read that bit out. He certainly did lots to cheers from the audience.

Next up was Oscar nominated documentary ’Stranger at Gate. it’s executive produced by Malala and she chaired a Q+A with the director. Malala revealed that she intends to be colourful on the Oscars red carpet and eschew a black outfit.

My final red carpet, for now, was for the stage play The Lehman Trilogy about the rise and collapse of Lehman bothers. the red carpet notables included director Sam Mendes and actors and actresses not in the play but keen to see it. Kit Connor and Joanna Scanlan were among the guests anticipating a great show. Reviews have been ecstatic .

Yours editorially

Rehna