2009 BAFTA/LA Tea Party
The Brits took over the Crystal Ballroom in the Beverly Hills Hotel for BAFTA/LA's 15th annual Tea Party. A sophisticated afternoon affair that featured smoked salmon tea sandwiches, raisin scones, and-of course-an array of delightful teas, was attended by stars like Clint Eastwood, Freida Pinto and Marisa Tomei. "I'm here for the scones," joked Pinto, who isn't a tea drinker herself. "I think it's a lovely association. They supported Slumdog Millionaire, and I came here to give back."
-Lindzi Scharf
Golden Globe nominee Marisa Tomei arrived at the Tea Party looking chic in a black Giambattista Valli dress and Jimmy Choo satin peep-toe pumps. And when was the last time The Wrestler star had high tea? "Two months ago at the Four Seasons in Istanbul."
Leonardo DiCaprio joined the Chairman of the BAFTA/LA Board of Directors, Peter Morris at the annual event that honors the year's awards nominees. The Revolutionary Road star went silent auction slap happy-bidding on a pair of plane tickets to London, earrings for his mother, and a signed Muhammad Ali photo. In fact, he got positively giddy as they counted down to the auction's conclusion.
"I have about eight cups of tea a day-I'm addicted to the stuff," said Kristin Scott Thomas, who was nominated for her performance in I've Loved You So Long. As for award-season jitters, the actress finds it less stressful the second time around. "I’ve really only been involved in one before and I was much younger. It was much more complicated then. Now it's easier. Probably because I'm all grown up!"
"I have been known to do the high tea thing at least once a year," says The Office star Kate Flannery, who fit right in at the BAFTA/LA Tea Party. "My sisters and I are totally into it, and we take my mom. Also, when I lived in Chicago, I used to go to high tea with my girlfriends all the time."
