The Academy Awards. Undoubtedly, Hollywood’s biggest night. And I got to be a part of this amazing event. So much fun! Not just for the glitz and glamour, but also for the insane energy of it all. As soon as you step onto the red carpet, you feel it. The reason why people get so excited to see their favorite stars get decked from head to toe and take that walk down the step and repeat. The fans seated around the bleachers were going bananas, screaming for everyone from Steve Carrell to Jennifer Aniston.
And as I arrived, Felicity Jones was making her way down the carpet, in that stunning powder blue Alexander McQueen gown. The back….to die for! To see it up close was something else. Carrell quickly glided by reporters, while Ethan Hawke revealed in chatting with the media, and John Legend and Chrissy Teigen made their way up to the platform to chat with Robin Roberts. And by the way, Roberts looked stunning in a beaded maroon number. She was placed only a few feet from Michael Strahan who was easily the tallest man in the vicinity, towering above the rest.
Dakota Johnson and her mother, Melanie Griffith, arrived arm-in-arm. Dakota seemed to cause the most flashbulb frenzy of anyone, even causing supermodel Karolina Kurkova to turn her head when hearing all of the commotion. Upon entering the lobby, there were many Oscar statues to pose with, of all different heights. And then we made our way to the bar area for delish refreshments, prepared by Wolfgang Puck, and flowing Piper-Heidsieck champagne. While mingling with other guests, a super svelte (she had twins boys only 3 months ago!) Zoe Saldana entered the party with hubby Marco Perego. Besties Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer palled around all night, even when making their way to the Governor’s Ball.
Once the show started, the excitement only heightened from the moment Neil Patrick Harris took the stage. The highlights of the show for me were Lady Gaga’s Sound of Music performance, followed by Julie Andrews congratulatory hug, Patricia Arquette championing for women’s rights, and Graham Moore’s acceptance speech in which he revealed his bout with depression and subsequent, and thankfully, failed, suicide attempt. The tears were rolling down my face, as well as those seated around me in the Dolby Theater. It really was the night of great speeches. JK Simmons addressed the fact that everyone should reach out and call their parents if they are so lucky to have ones who are living, and “tell ‘em you love ‘em, and thank them, and listen to them for as long as they want to talk to you.” Great advice! And the best part of the night? All of it! Until next awards season….
