SMARTEN UP, EWAN
January 20, 2002

Stars told to put on glam for Golden Globes

SCRUFFY screen hunk Ewan McGregor has been told to smarten up for tonight's Golden Globe awards.

The major film studios have ordered their top stars to put on a glittering show in defiance of terrorist threats.

Ewan, who is nominated for best actor for Moulin Rouge, turned up at the London premiere of Long Time Dead in jeans and T-shirt on Friday night.

But he is expected to wear a kilt to accompany co-star Nicole Kidman to the Los Angeles awards, seen as an indicator of who will triumph at the Oscars.

He will join a host of top stars who plan to put the glamour back into Tinseltown.

Stars dressed down at November's Emmy awards as a mark of respect to victims of the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center.

But they feel it is time to put on a show for the rest of the world.

Top movie wardrobe stylist Vincent Boucher said: "Hollywood is itching to get back to what it does best. Actors are going back to doing their job, which is to be glamorous and a little bit larger than life."

America is refusing to take any chances at the biggest gathering of stars since September 11. Police, FBI agents, bomb squads and special assault teams will be on full alert.

Everyone entering the Hilton in Beverly Hills will have their bags searched and will pass through metal detectors. Even stars like Russell Crowe, Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet will face rigorous security checks.

Airspace over Los Angeles has been restricted and surrounding streets cordoned off.

Eight Brits, including Ewan, have been nominated for awards. Dame Judi Dench and Kate Winslet are in the running for Best Supporting Actress for the portrayal of the old and young novelist Iris Murdoch in Iris.

Jim Broadbent, who played Iris's husband, has been nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

Julian Fellows is up for Best Screenplay for Gossford Park, a 1930's comedy of morals and murder. Co-stars Helen Mirren and Dame Maggie Smith have also received nominations.

Other British contenders include Tilda Swinton, for The Deep End, and Ben Kingsley for Sexy Beast.

A Beautiful Mind and Moulin Rouge lead with six nominations a piece, including Best Picture bids and honours for actors Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Nicole Kidman and Ewan.

David Lynch's Mulholland Drive and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring have snared four nominations each including Best Dramatic Picture.

Presenters include Tom Hanks, Benjamin Bratt, Renee Zellweger, Kelsey Grammer, Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Mel Gibson, Josh Hartnett, Kate Hudson, Martin Sheen and Sela Ward.

Harrison Ford is this year's Cecil B. DeMille Award winner for his "outstanding contribution to the entertainment field." It is rumoured he will arrive with new love Minnie Driver.

Source: Daily Record