Big-name celebrities turn out in force to help raise thousands of pounds at Lord’s auctionSTARS of stage and screen came out in force to bolster the coffers of one of Camden’s most prestigious theatres.Ewan McGregor, Tom Conti, Maureen Lipman and Patricia Routledge were among the 500 guests at the Hampstead Theatre Spring Gala, held at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Thursday.As the champagne flowed, supporters of the theatre in Eton Avenue, Swiss Cottage, enjoyed musical entertainment from 1940s-themed swing band The Blonde Bombshells, a lavish three-course meal and a selection of comic scenes from past and future Hampstead Theatre productions.Lord Archer then took up the auctioneer’s hammer, proving his considerable skills as a salesman with the quick-fire auction of 10 lots.Bids on a week in Tuscany, dinner with acting couple Alison Steadman and Michael Elwyn, and drinks at Claridge’s with the author Penny Vincenzi raised more than £53,000 from the celebrity-packed audience.Comedy actress Maureen Lipman, who called one of the lots, also came under the hammer, offering her services as a fundraiser for a charity of the bidder’s choice.While Mrs Lipman fetched a grand total of £4,000, that figure was pipped by the bid of Hollywood actor Ewan McGregor. The Train­spotting star paid £5,000 for a photograph of Elvis Presley and Muhammad Ali, signed by the three times world champion boxer.But it was lot 9 that proved the evening’s biggest money-spinner. The tour of Pinewood Studios with actress Emma Thompson was sold to one generous party-goer for £8,000.Other lots under the hammer were art tours of London, the rare auction catalogue of Princess Diana’s dresses and tickets for some of the top theatres in London, including the Hampstead Theatre.The night, hosted by actress Lynda Bellingham, was rounded off by the “Queen of Burlesque” Immodesty Blaize with her Swarovski-encrusted rocking horse act.Source: www.thecnj.co.uk

“Thank you very much. Thank you very much. I would really like to have a round of applause for Chiwitel’s beard that we just saw which has sadly gone now, it was quite a monster. I worked opposite for three months and we watched it grow, how wonderful his beard was.”In my second year at drama school, I saved up and brought two tickets to see a play at The Old Vic, my mum came down to visit and I took her to see a play called A Flea In Her Ear that Jim was in and after it I remember saying to her – I was absolutely blown away by it, it was an incredible performance. Afterwards I remember saying to her, ‘Mum, can you ever imagine working with an actor like Jim Broadbent, wouldn’t that be amazing’. Some years later, I was sitting in an airport lounge waiting to go over to Australia waiting to do my first wave of rehearsals on Moulin Rouge and Jim tapped me on the shoulder. I said to him, ‘Jim where are you going?’ He said, ‘I’m going to Australia’. ‘What Sydney?’ ‘Yes, I’m making a film with you, you cunt!’… And indeed we did.”I’ve been so lucky to work with a great many talented and passionate actors and directors and occasionally producers and so I’d like to thank you all. I’d like to thank everyone at Empire who have been so kind to me over the years and I’d like to thank your readers.”I married just after we finished making Trainspotting and she’s been with me throughout this entire journey and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you so thank you very much.”Lastly but not leastly, as an actor you’re lucky if you form creative partnerships, sometimes you can work with a director over and over again but it’s rare, sometimes you do and then you don’t any more. In my career, the one lasting partnership I’ve had since I left drama school at 19 to this day and onwards is with my wonderful agent Linda King who can’t be here tonight, I’d just like to say that I love her and I thank her very much. Thank you very much.” Source: www.empireonline.com

London boasted its very own Highland fling last night as Texas frontwoman Sharleen Spiteri, actor Ewan McGregor and Lady Helen Taylor hosted their annual charity fundraiser Not Another Burns Night at the St Martin’s Lane Hotel in Covent Garden. With guests such as KT Tunstall, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Chrissie Hynde attending the delayed celebrations, it was a case of better late than never.Source: www.thefirstpost.co.uk