Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Letter from the editor: The Oscars 2011

 

Stefano Hatfield
Tuesday 01 March 2011 01:00 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Did I mention I was once on polite nodding terms with Colin Firth at the school gates? Or that I almost had a blind date with Helena Bonham Carter?

Unwittingly, she blew me out for an audition. But it’s my Six Degrees of Separation!

Feel a little jaded today. I made a big mistake when I got home from i the other night — which at least marks a change from making them at work. I turned on the telly, which I do most nights to see how i fares on the 11.30pm Sky News paper review (a touch sad, grant you, but i is still a baby that needs nurturing).

Then I settled down to Sky Living’s Oscars Red Carpet Live 2011. Come on, all this “no celebrity gossip nonsense” has to find a release. Suddenly, it’s 3.15am and the self-satisfied, cringe-makingly embarrassing Oscars ceremony is only halfway through, with none of the biggest prizes even in sight. It was all what my girls call “try-hard”.

The talented presenters James Franco and Anne Hathaway were stuck with a self-conscious script in an attempt, they said at least 15 times, to present “the young and hip” Oscars. Cue Franco with BlackBerry, tweeting mid-show, and telling us to “Google it” while Anne H gushed about movie “classics” that were ten years old.

So I gave up, missing Colin Firth’s typically understated acceptance speech and Bonham Carter’s cheeky Union flag garter. If you went to bed even earlier than me, the winners are on page 9 and all the fab frocks on pages 10-11. They come with typically pithy reviews from i’s esteemed fashion editor, Susannah Frankel. This time I’ve even promised not to over-rule her, as long as she’s not mean about Helena. I wonder if she had that garter 20 years ago?

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in