Hollywood stars spend Oscars eve at annual Chanel dinner
LOS ANGELES (AP) – The night before the Oscars, many of Hollywood’s biggest stars were in no rush to go to sleep before the show. Instead they were chatting all night, martinis and champagne in hand, in The Beverly Hills Hotel’s storied Polo Lounge for the annual Chanel and Charles Finch dinner, an invitation that’s harder to come by than a seat at the Academy Awards.
The patio where the likes of Clark Gable and Darryl Zanuck once dined was filled with the industry’s brightest talents, many of whom were dressed head-to-toe in Chanel, including Kristen Stewart, Marion Cotillard, Nicole Kidman and Camila Morrone.
On the red carpet, Kidman and Stewart ran into each other to grab, hug, and pose for photographers.
“It’s been such a long time,” Kidman said.
Cotillard would join in moments later. Later in the courtyard, Kidman, emerging from a conversation with Idris Elba, could be seen hugging Ariana DeBose as Tessa Thompson spoke with Best Actress nominee Andrea Riseborough.
“I’m sure you must be tired,” said Thompson.
Elsewhere Spider-Man had a meeting as Andrew Garfield approached Tobey Maguire, sipping one of the venue’s iconic martinis.
“you you!” Maguire said, as Garfield went in for a hug. After this he started talking to Darren Aronofsky, the director of ‘The Whale’.
Several feet behind them, Jonathan Majors was deep in conversation with Riz Ahmed, while Best Supporting Actress nominee Kerry Condon tried and failed to get a drink from the bar, which closed in an attempt to usher the chatty celebrity into the dining room Was.
Inside, they were treated to a surprise performance by “The White Lotus” actor Beatrice Grano.
Other attendees included Michael B. Jordan, Danielle Deadweiler, Hugh Grant, Brie Larson, Sigourney Weaver, Vicky Cripps, Minnie Driver, Patty Jenkins, Sarah Polley, Lily James, David O’Russell, Jerry Bruckheimer, Sofia Boutella and Ted Sarandos.
Morrone, star of “Daisy Jones and the Six,” has been going to the event for years and said it’s one of her favorites.
“It’s like a really glamorous sleepover,” Morrone said. “I love it here. I love seeing all the people who work in the entertainment industry that are being honored tomorrow. You’re in a room with really artistic and incredible human beings, so you can totally enjoy it.” Soak that in. And I’ve won some pretty incredible Chanel pieces here over the years.
For actor Whitney Peake, who is the brand new face of Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle fragrance, the event was a chance to chat with some of her favorite filmmakers.
“There have been such great movies this year and so many of the people responsible for making those movies are in the room today,” Peake said. “Daniel Quan is about to come here and I’m like, how do I tell him I’ve been a fan of his since the Lil Jon music video?”
Chanel and cinema have been intertwined since the fashion house’s early days. In 1930, Samuel Goldwyn invited Gabrielle Chanel to Hollywood to dress film stars including Gloria Swanson. Upon her return to Paris, Chanel collaborated with French filmmakers such as Jean Renoir and dressed many new wave actresses such as Jeanne Moreau and Romy Schneider.
More recently, the channel has supported independent productions including “Annette” by Leos Carax and “Bergman Island” by Mia Hansen-Lowe. The channel provided funding for Olivier Assayas’ 35mm camera for “The Clouds of Sils Maria” and has for over a decade supported programs for emerging filmmakers and cinematic conservation and restoration.
Not every attendee plans to make the trek down the champagne carpet to the Oscars on Sunday, but one person who definitely does is filmmaker Ava DuVernay, who is on the Academy’s Board of Governors.
“I look forward to seeing a quiet, normal Oscars,” DuVernay said. “I went there last year and it was a little painful. I just want it to be calm and uneventful. He’ll be good.”
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