Clooney Was Charming, Cate Was Divine — But I Was on a Mission to Catch Cruise
Brad and Tom were perfect gents, the Spencer twins wore scarlet, and Leslie Ash and Phil Daniels rekindled their Quadrophenia flame
I had to give myself a pep talk to get out to Kiln Theatre for the press night of The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs after another sweltering day at Ascot. I’m glad I did – Kilburn was centre stage for the night with Cara, Adwoa, Emma Corrin and Ellie Rowsell among the star-studded audience for the show directed by Hannah Hauer-King (daughter of Jeremy) and co-produced by Emma Hall (daughter of the legendary Peter).
It was an early showing for Pride on Saturday night with a dinner in the London Edition’s penthouse for the Pink Noise Foundation set up by the guys from Sink the Pink and Mighty Hoopla. They know how to throw a party – Gottmik, Violet Chachki & BOSS co-hosted and Beth Ditto and her partner Teddy Kwo, Sophia Hadjipanteli, Jodie Harsh and Bimini were all out in support after the recent Supreme Court ruling.
Hollywood heavyweights play nice
I found myself caught between a rock and a hard place on Monday at the premiere of F1: the Movie in Leicester Square. I shot Lewis Hamilton, Tommy Hilfiger, Damson Idris, Ed Sheeran, Gareth Bale, Will.i.am et al arriving and was asked to go and get some pics of the big shots from Apple TV. I happened to overhear someone say “when Tom arrives…” and clocked that Cruise was swinging by to see his buddy Brad. Cue a sprint back to the carpet just in time to catch the moment. The way those two are ageing, I’m starting to think Interview with the Vampire was a documentary.
From small screen to Serpentine dream
The TRIC Awards the following night is one of my favourites of the year where we lucky photographers are hosted among the best of television and radio talent. Lemar serenaded us at the Grosvenor House Hotel and I left well fortified ahead of the Serpentine summer party.
Cate Blanchett was hosting looking like Ariel via Boudicca, and posed alongside this year’s Pavilion architect Marina Tabassum, as well as the Serpentine’s Bettina Korek and Hans-Ulrich Obrist. Also spotted, Michael Bloomberg with Sadiq Khan – perhaps swapping notes on mayordom.
As ever, the leading lights of the creative industries took the chance to mingle, with Skepta, Daniel Lee and Lily Allen over here, Marc Quinn, Adot Gak, Yinka Ilori and Julian Knox over there, and designer David Koma on the arm of a beautiful women wherever you looked. Chet Lo and Harris Reed took lessons in being iconic from supers Jade Parfitt and Erin O'Connor, while La Roux and Conner Ives cosied up to the night’s DJ, Caroline Polacheck.
Of course, it being the Serpentine, high culture – Antony Gormley, Ruth Rogers, Paul Smith – collided with high society – Lady Kitty Spencer and her twin sisters, Amelia and Eliza in matching red, and Lord Freddie Windsor with Sophie Winkleman.
But quote of the night has to come from Baby Reindeer star Jessica Gunning, who after asking where a famous actress was, followed up with “I’m not a stalker”!
Spilling the tea: Tennis, Tracey, Twiggy and the Tate
The next day I discovered there are two Stoke Park tennis clubs, one down the M3 and one along the A40. I also discovered that if you drive a Mustang the guest list for the Boodles Tennis event is heavy on glamour and style, you can make it from one to the other with time to spare. There’s a lesson in there for all of us, I’m sure.
Then on to the Tate Modern’s 25th anniversary gala with Reese Witherspoon, Princess Eugenie and Daniel Craig gathered in a very dark Turbine Hall. Also in attendance were Grayson Perry, Tracey Emin, Sarah Lucas and Jeremy Deller but Naomi was so fashionably late I’d already gone on to the after show of Quadrophenia: A Mod Ballet – so I had to make do with her posting about it on Insta!
There was a magic moment when Leslie Ash and Phil Daniels were reunited at Sadlers Wells 45 years after The Who’s original film. The rest of the crowd was eclectic with both Baby and Sporty Spice, along with both Bobby Gs (Geldof, Gillespie) Twiggy and Pete Townsend himself.
Bang a gong: Sir Gareth’s first outing
Thursday started with the King’s Trust Awards at the Royal Festival Hall where it was great to see my old pal George Clooney back to his natural hair colour after a spell on Broadway and newly knighted Gareth Southgate, having got his gong the day before.
His fellow honouree Stuart Vevers was thrown a cocktail party by Coach, the US brand he transformed as creative director, to celebrate his OBE. Joining the Vevers family were Florence Pugh and Yasmin Finney, leather handbags very much in evidence.
Until next week for the Glasto lowdown and more…
Dave
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