Golden Globes: Jeff Bridges turns heads at a star-studded BAFTA Tea Party

The cucumber finger sandwiches couldn't compete with Jeff Bridges and Ben Affleck, as the actors provided the most head-turning entrance at the BAFTA Tea Party in Beverly Hills on Saturday.

On an 80-degree day, a powder-keg's worth of star power and a bar full of gin made for an eventful gathering as the British Academy of Film and Television Arts held its annual awards-season event at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills.

Bridges and Affleck laughed and chatted as necks craned and servers in black ties passed by with silver trays filled with fish and chips in paper cones. Bridges' appearance was purely ceremonial, as "True Grit" is not nominated for a Golden Globe this year. Still, last year's best actor winner said he was looking forward to presenting the best actress award at Sunday's ceremony.

"It's a nice tradition," said Bridges, doing the honors this year after taking home last year's trophy for his raw performance as a fading, alcoholic country singer in "Crazy Heart."

"And it's good to see so many friends here."

Meanwhile, Aaron Eckhart talked with a table of agents about his ambition to direct. "I want to make movies about men and families and children that the whole family can see," he said. "I don't think Hollywood has covered that niche yet."

A few feet away, Nicole Kidman -- dressed in casual pants, with her long red hair swept neatly around her slender shoulders -- chatted with friends and studiously avoided the party photographers.

Around the corner, in front of an elaborate table of tea cakes, Mark Ruffalo and Evan Handler hung around together fairly exclusively, taking a break from their conversation only to talk to the occasional lanky blond or brunette.

BAFTA/LA Chairman Nigel Lythgoe made the rounds and happily played the congenial host.

"I love how terribly British this all feels," he told Wall Street Journal film critic Joe Morgenstern. "The room is elegant and the chef is British. It feels as if you're at the Ritz. No awards are being given, but everyone is being rewarded by a cup of tea."

A few tables over, Kathy Griffin, dressed in a form-fitting Oscar de la Renta dress, sipped her drink and watched the proceedings with a wry smile. When asked what she had in her purse on this particular day -- last year at the Emmys, her answer to this reporter was "crack cocaine" -- she said, "A Shake Weight to keep my arms in shape."

And the highlight of her day? "I thought Jeremy Renner was handsome, but he looked like Rob Lowenstein in 'St. Elmo's Fire.' "

Click the pics for more photos from the red carpet.

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-- Jessica Gelt

Photos, from top: Jeff Bridges, Nicole Kidman and Jeremy Renner arrive at the BAFTA Tea Party held at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills on Sunday. Credits, from top: Dan Steinberg / Associated Press; Dan Steinberg / Associated Press; Frazer Harrison / Getty Images.

'TRON: Legacy': Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde hit the grid [pictures]

"TRON: Legacy" opens Friday, splashing stars Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Jeff Bridges, Jeff Bridges and Jeff Bridges -- we'll explain that later -- on big screens nationwide. But the team hit Hollywood first with a blue carpet premiere Saturday at the El Capitan in Hollywood.

With wife Susan Geston as his date, Bridges, who plays game designer Kevin Flynn both past and present, as well as the perfection-seeking Clu, met up on the carpet with Bruce Boxleitner. Boxleitner, who had the title role in the 1982 "TRON," which became a cult classic, shows up as Alan Bradley and Tron in "Legacy.")

"House" star Wilde rocked a feminine, futuristic, glam-oozing gown, in stark contrast to the boyish, futuristic, action-oozing look she sports in the movie. No martial arts-type fighting was required of her on the blue carpet, fortunately.

Cast members making the scene included Michael Sheen, Beau Garrett, Anis Cheurfa and James Frain, plus "Sirens" Elizabeth Mathis, Yaya DaCosta and Serinda Swan. Daft Punk, the French duo who did the original music for the film and play its masked DJs, also showed -- masked, of course.

Jeff Bridges, Josh Brolin bring some 'True Grit' to Beverly Hills

Jeff Bridges was nothing but smiles Thursday night at an industry screening of his new movie “True Grit” at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills. 

The Oscar winner was surrounded by family members -- including wife Susan, daughter Hayley and actor brother Beau Bridges -- as he made his way to seats in the center of the theater, greeting well-wishers along the way.

In the remake of the 1969 classic western, Jeff Bridges plays Rooster Cogburn, a role originated by John Wayne for which he won his first –- and only –- Oscar. The story revolves around a 14-year-old girl who enlists the help of U.S. marshals to help track down the man who killed her father.

Josh Brolin, who plays the murderous Tom Chaney, sat a few rows behind Bridges with actress wife Diane Lane, while other cast members and crew -– teen standout Hailee Steinfeld, who plays central character Mattie Ross, veteran actor Barry Pepper and co-director Ethan Coen, and cinematographer and longtime Coen brothers collaborator Roger Deakins -- were also in the house.

Also spotted: “The Social Network” star Justin Timberlake; Kim Darby, who played Mattie in the 1969 film; Catherine O’Hara; Timothy Olyphant of "Justified"; and Anton Yelchin, who will be appearing in the Jodie Foster movie "The Beaver" alongside Mel Gibson. Click the pics above for more photos from the screening.

"True Grit" is scheduled to open Dec. 22.

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-- Lisa Fung

Top photo: Brothers Beau Bridges, left, and Jeff Bridges at a screening of the latter's remake of "True Grit" in Beverly Hills on Dec. 9, 2010. Credit: Angela Weiss / Getty Images

Left photo: "True Grit" stars Josh Brolin, left, Hailee Steinfeld and Jeff Bridges at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to see the film. Credit: Angela Weiss / Getty Images

Drake, James Franco, Jeff Bridges, Stephen Colbert named GQ's men of the year

Not so fast, Scarlett Johannson. You may be Babe of the Year, but GQ ain't done handing out accolades.

James Franco, Drake, Jeff Bridges and Stephen Colbert have been named the magazine's men of the year, an annual list of guys who capture attention through their art or activism (or, in most cases, both).

Rapper Drake's 2010 appeal is undeniable, with his self-starter back story and brief Rihanna romance (then later collaboration on "What's My Name"). Cover boy Bridges, specifically named Icon of the Year, was a shoo-in after his long-time-coming Oscar win in February for "Crazy Heart."

His successor very well may be Franco, who is getting swamped with reviews of a "career best" performance in Danny Boyle's "127 Hours."

Comedian Colbert, the tongue-in-cheek parody pundit, successfully pulled off his and Jon Stewart's Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear and maintains cable ratings relevance.

Stay tuned to the Ministry, as we'll have a full dispatch from GQ's Men of the Year celebration, being held Wednesday at West Hollywood's Chateau Marmont.

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— Matt Donnelly
Twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photos: Drake, left, and James Franco, right. Credits: Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin / GQ

 

Betty White, Jeff Bridges scoop up Britannia Awards

Brits know true royalty when they see it, so naturally they're just as wild about Betty White as we are. Before she received a standing -- and cheering -- ovation at Thursday's Britannia Awards, host Stephen Fry declared her "one of my absolutely all-time favorite people on the surface of this planet."

White added the latest bauble to her ever-growing stash of trophies at the top awards event of the British Academy of Television and Film/Los Angeles, where honorees Jeff Bridges, Michael Sheen, "Inception" director Christopher Nolan and the directing and producing brothers Scott -- Ridley and Tony -- also took home the gold from the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel.

White received the Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy from fellow "it" girl Jane Lynch and "Hot in Cleveland" costars Wendie Malick, Jane Leeves and Valerie Bertinelli. She chalked up her winning streak to passion. "I wouldn't be the lucky old broad that I am -- I mean 'old' in a facetious way -- if I weren't so passionate about show business, about animals," she said, looking sparkly in a red jacket and black trousers.

The parade of presenters also included Dakota Fanning, Rosario Dawson, Marion Cotillard, Jerry Bruckheimer, Cillian Murphy and the suddenly ubiquitous Carey Mulligan. (Click here to launch a gallery of pictures from the event.)

Stars galore at the 2010 Academy Awards Governors Ball

"How can the governor have a ball? California's out of money, isn't it?" We definitely heard that crack more than once Sunday at the Academy Awards.

No, sillies, it wasn't Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's ball -- rather, it was the official after-party presented annually by the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. And this Sunday night the 1,500-capacity ballroom, glowing in gentle purple tones, was packed. Definitely a larger turnout than last year, event staff said.

It was good to be Jeff Bridges: Once the best actor winner made it into the party, flashes were popping like mad as he clapped chef Wolfgang Puck on the back and they both smiled broadly for the cameras, talking all the while.

When Bridges was whisked away for more interviews -- glass of water in his hand, though he'd been sipping Champagne during his victory interview backstage -- a pack of photographers floated along in his wake like a train on a diva's gown. He appeared to be enjoying the ocean of congratulations -- can you blame him? -- and was spotted later, out of the crush ... 

Oscars 2010: Let the post-game party coverage begin!

"The Hurt Locker" was Oscar's big winner Sunday night, taking its best picture honors in a wow-did-they-just-give-an-award flash at the close of the show. So, why the rush?

The logical explanation for the broadcast's abrupt end might be that presenter Tom Hanks was under pressure to wrap it up quickly. The Ministry, however, prefers to imagine they sped things up so that everyone could head straight for the parties that followed.

The stars had places to go and people to schmooze: James Cameron and Suzy Amis were about to spend a couple of hours on their feet holding court with the "Avatar" gang and other admirers at the Governors Ball; Jennifer Lopez had to manage a clothing quick-change into party black for the Vanity Fair soiree. Taylor Lautner and Zac Efron, Jeff Bridges and Sandra Bullock were among those whose presence would be demanded in at least two places at once. And Woody Harrelson was about to arrange a late-night foodie call with a rather large bowl of Wolfgang Puck pasta.

The Ministry's party coverage is incoming; until then, check out Oscar's red carpet arrivals (so in love with Zoe Saldana's exciting purple Givenchy, not to mention Bullock's silver sheath) and highlights from the show itself ...

Jeff Bridges: After his Oscar win, the actor -- and Dude -- abide

As in charge as Mo'Nique was backstage, best actor Oscar winner Jeff Bridges was just that laid-back. Present, alert but definitely the essence of the Dude -- even in talking about his career.

"Well, you know, [it's been] up and downs, strikes and gutters, man," Bridges said, carrying Champagne rather than a White Russian. "That's about it."

But now that he's officially an achiever, Bridges revealed the secret of his success: his wife. "She holds that kite string that lets me go -- woo -- way out there. And I love coming home. She pointed out the other day we've been apart 11 of the last 14 months, so I was -- woo -- really far out there.

"But my wife and my girls -- I guess the girls are the tail on the kite that kind of keeps me centered like that. My girls, my darlings."

As grounded as Bridges seems, he said he was able to identify with his "Crazy Heart" character, Bad Blake, most in terms of music. "I've been writing and playing music since I was a kid, and I'm sure that's what happened to Bad."

So does that mean we'll be seeing more music from the actor?

"I don't know about forming a country band; it sounds like a good idea, maybe," said Bridges.

Later, when asked what he would do with his "newfound power" after winning, he said: "Yeah, that's uh ... certainly, the music. That's gonna bloom for me. That's something I've been doing for a long time, and this is going to help me continue that.

"But there's upsides and downsides of fame -- downsides, you lose some of your anonymity, and for an actor that's kind of tough. But the upside is that hopefully this award will help bring peace and understanding and prosperity to our world. No, really, movies are more than just entertainment. They're connecting us. And music is the same way."

And at the very least?

"I hope a lot of people are going to see 'Crazy Heart' because of this."

-- Scott Sandell and Amy Kaufman

Photo: Jeff Bridges appears to be contemplating the Oscar as he and wife Sue arrive at the 82nd annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre on Sunday. Credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times. 

A new Times database puts readers on the sidewalks of Hollywood, using more than a century of archives to track the lives of the stars, including current Oscar nominees Jeff Bridges, James Cameron, Matt Damon, Morgan Freeman, Sandra Bullock and Meryl Streep.

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Can we all have Jeff Bridges' it-takes-two marriage to Sue?

"Jeff Bridges loves his wife, and that makes him even better."

That was a tweet of mine from the Ministry's live coverage of the Golden Globes last week, after the actor thanked his wife Sue Bridges so beautifully in his acceptance speech.

Saturday, he kicked it up a notch, bringing her up on stage with him, behind the scenes at the SAG Awards, when asked about what it was like to raise three girls.

"My wife did such a wonderful job, but like my dad, I was gone for a lot of the time. I love my girls very much, and my wife has raised them beautifully. Sue, why don't you come out here for a second?

"Ladies and gentleman," he said, "Sue!"

And he didn't leave her out on a limb: "The question is about raising daughters -- what did you do?," he asked, his arm around her under the spotlights. "I said most of the time you were there. I did my bit, but I blame you ... "

"He was fun," said Sue, "and I was constant."

Well, there you have it: No question, Sue is the glue.

What's it like when the two get ready for an event like this? "Oh, he had a massage," she said. "I had, like, the troops in."

"I get a bit of narcolepsy at times like these," Jeff said.

As Sue said, he's the fun one. Looks like the family is constant.

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Photo: Jeff and Sue Bridges arrive at the 16th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium on Jan. 23, 2010. Credit: Robyn Beck / AFP / Getty Images.