Mr Showbiz does Cannes
Monday 19 May 2008
Saturday
Apart from the sheer fact that it rained pretty much all day yesterday, my first night in the south of France was extremely successful. I attended the Usonian organised Partouche Celebrity Charity Poker event at the Palms Casino just outside of Cannes.
The rules were simple for the bash – eight A-Listers fly over on a private jet from LA and take part in a poker tournament whilst 50 or so cameras catch every moment for people at a cocktail party to be able to view on TV screens. It made for great television as Tim Robbins, Ed Norton, Salma Hayek, Woody Harrelson, Dennis Hopper, Goldie Hawn, Adrien Brody and Alice Taglioni sat down for a game. Woody won the competition after the game reached 1am and he won £1 million for charity.
Naturally I managed to wangle my way into the A-List’s nest. I hung out where the friends and family watched the event. Each time a contestant was wiped out we clapped them in. Dennis Hopper sat with his wife and his entourage on the next table – despite there being a strict no smoking rule inside in France he freely sparked his cigar up! Well the Hollywood legend was turning 72 last night. And to celebrate the Palm Beach owner presented him with a cake themed on all the flicks he’s ever made. Hollywood stars with his hit films branded the outside of the monstrous 100kg strawberry sponge cake and a clapper board saying Easy Rider made of icing graced the top. It was truly spectacular!
Elsewhere it was interesting to see Ed Norton and Salma Hayek – who split up in 2003 – in the same room. Ed has a pretty new girlfriend nowadays. He sat munching pesto pasta next to me after he finished the game whilst Salma took a back seat squatting three tables back. The pair didn’t speak at all after the game – and when Salma left she slipped out not even looking his way.
Salma is looking beautiful since giving birth to her first child– she has an amazing figure and immaculate skin. Salma did go over to Ed Norton’s girlfriend and say it was “exhausting” playing the game. There was no bad blood between them….that’s for sure.
Tim Robbins sat down after his match on my table and said: “Triple vodka!” to the waiter. He looked relieved to have come out of the game a little earlier. Goldie Hawn was clearly tired out by the end of the evening. She’s been partying hard in Cannes – attending the Quintessentially bash the night before……
Goldie, who wore a stunning Roberto Cavalli gown, and Adrien Brody both kept their shades on for much of the poker game! On the way in Goldie told reporters: “My eyes are the window in to my soul and I can’t lie. I need them to keep a poker face.”
I also managed to catch up with Lady Victoria Hervey – who was responsible for much of the Partouche event’s celebrity organisation. She’s ready to party in Cannes so the rest of my trip is going to be a whole lot of fun!
Sunday
Yesterday was pure bliss in Cannes. The sun was shining, people were out and about and I kept bumping into incredibly random celebrities. Very random.
Firstly Sanjay from Eastenders (his name slips my mind) seems to be going wherever I go. I saw him on a boat party I popped too in the evening and then he appeared on the croisette too. Is he my stalker? That wouldn’t be cool would it!
My next random sighting came as I stumbled out of the Boujis party at 3am on the beach. Somebody asked me what time it was and a voice suddenly went: “It’s Chico time.” I looked round and it was X-Factor contestant Chico. How weird is that? I didn’t realise Chico the movie was launching at Cannes!
Then on the beach that morning I looked up from above my refreshing Fiji water and spied Abs from Five. Two seconds later he was perched on the end of my sunbed telling me he was staying with his pal Lisa Voice in Hotel Du Cap. Get him. He has a tattoo on his neck now that says Delicious…..
I had a phone call telling me Kelly Brook and Billy Zane were on the beach at the plush Century club around 3pm. I guess they are back together properly then…..
At about 6pm I popped over to see Lady Victoria Hervey and up-and-coming actor Tim Wade at a boat party to launch a new film called Catwalk. It was a small little affair - with lots of cool London people swanning around. Tamara Beckwith called Victoria as we sat enjoying the sun to say she was on Valentino’s boat five down from us and that she’d get changed and join us. I shot off for dinner at London’s exclusive Hospital club before that! The posh club in Covent Garden have set up shop in Cannes for a few days and they do a great burger!
Then it was over to the Boujis party where something weird happened - I met a celebrity who I never ever really wanted to meet but I was always intrigued about. The boxer Mike Tyson. He’s in town launching a film and was in Boujis to party I guess. He shook my hand and it was the biggest hand in the world. Freakishly large actually and yet he had a surprisingly soft grip. We chatted for a few minutes and I eventually left him to it - he wanted girls on his lap, not a pretty blonde thing like me! It was very strange meeting him though - usually I try and hold my judgement back until I’ve met someone. I got an instant vibe from him that he was a scary and dodgy guy. His aura was intense.