Baftas 2010: Awkward moments on the red carpet

Red carpet interviews are a bit like speed dating and, as such, things don’t always go quite to plan. Lines that would work on some misfire completely on others, and this is part of the fun. Hosting for E!, Duncan James had his best Ryan Seacrest impression on – but, occasionally, even the all-conquering ‘Crest gets it wrong. And so to the clangers…

• This was more of a curio – talking to Christoph Waltz, James remarked that it had been a ‘crazy year’ for the Austrian star of Inglourious Basterds, prompting the tri-lingual actor to philosophically ponder the meaning of the word ‘crazy’ in this precise context.
• A rather tricky joke about umbilical cords and saying the word ‘cut!’ to the pregnant Sam Taylor-Wood and her partner and directee for Nowhere Boy, Aaron Johnson. They didn’t play ball at all.
• When chatting to a bustily glamorous Anne-Marie Duff, James said: ‘obviously you’re pregnant aren’t you’, which didn’t seem to be quite what she was expecting to hear. A further question about whether her and husband James McAvoy were ready for the birth seemed a bit too personal for her – fair enough – but ultimately she seemed amused by the whole encounter.
• Speaking to Carey Mulligan about her guests, James remarked that she brought her ‘breast friend’ to the SAGs’, an easy slip that Mulligan gracefully let pass without comment.
• He also appeared to forget Up In The Air star Vera Farmiga’s name when doing her outro – apparently having to check it on the card before he said it – admittedly it’s not the most ordinary of names. 

Awkward moments on the Red Carpet: Screen Actors Guild Awards 2010

Questions that could have gone wrong No 1: ‘You steal every scene you’re in. Have you ever stolen anything in real life?’ Co-host Ross Matthews to the 11-year-old Rico Rodgriguez, young star of Modern Family.

Questions that could have gone wrong No 2: Co-host Giuliana Rancic to Modern Family’s Sofia Vergara, on learning that she is single – ‘Are you a cougar or a trophy wife?’ What a choice.

Questions that could have gone wrong No 3, Ross Matthews to Kevin Bacon: ‘Kevin Bacon, have you always been a ham?’ The effortlessly cool actor took it well, but looked like he was itching to get away from Matthews.

Be-humble-or-women-may-hate-you-question, Giuliana Rancic to Julia Louis-Dreyfus: ‘When you look in the mirror, do you feel sexy?’ ‘I actually didn’t.’

Awkward fashion moment of the night: Modern Family’s Sarah Hyland, not knowing who she was wearing when asked by Giuliana Rancic. Uh-oh.

Obsequious inquiry of the night: ‘How do you stay so real, Penelope?’ Giuliana Rancic to Penelope Cruz. Up there with this.

Snippets from the Red Carpet: Screen Actors Guild Awards 2010

Moments… Co-host Ross Matthews bigging up the possibility of ‘Steel Magnolias 2’ while talking to Carey Mulligan – an option for the young British star? Can she do a Southern accent?

Co-host Giuliana Rancic to Alec Baldwin: ‘Do you look in the mirror and think damn, I’m handsome?’ ‘Erm, no…Stephen does that. He wakes up and thinks ‘what a burden it is to be as good looking as I am.’ ‘

Tina Fey wanting to know whether Ms Rancic was one of those who took a ‘steaming dump’ on her Little Bo Peep look for the Golden Globes, last weekend. Feelings everywhere are still raw after the Globes fashion judgements, except with Penelope Cruz – who doesn’t appear at all interested that she came on top. Fey’s 30 Rock co-star looks the picture of diplomacy when Rancic asks her about the dress later.

On another note, Fey denies that she’s the secret ‘third host’ for the Oscars, something Alec Baldwin was keen on – it would save him 17 per cent of the work, he says.

Hangover star Ed Helms on his Office co-star Steve Carell: ‘Huge diva’. It’s like the to and fro between Ricky Gervais and Carell at the Golden Globes – it does the latter’s nice guy image no end of good, not that he needs it.

Crushes… Betty White admits her big Hollywood crush – Robert Redford. It’s an age gap of 15 years, not so much as you’d think (88 to 73).

Precious star Sherri Shepherd: ‘Alec Baldwin is looking really really yummy!’ Baldwin already had a hunted look about him – now he has a reason for it.

Glee star Matthew Morrison has a ‘man crush’ on Justin Timberlake – he also made amazingly cool Matrix-style use of the 360 degree E! Glam Cam.

Spotted… Benjamin Bratt looking like he’s having the time of his life, recognising the love in the crowd, blowing up the red carpet rocking the casual look and giving super quick handshakes with a massive grin on his face.