The invasion of the bodies beautiful

Should I make it sound like a burden that John Hamm, Javier Bardem and Clive Owen will be in my town for at least several out of the next eleven days? Nicole Kidman, Colin Firth, Marion Cotillard, Bruce Springsteen, Natalie Portman– I could go on.

Yes, Toronto International Film Festival begins today. In the past, the event has yielded sightings of Sean Penn outside the Gap, Colin Farrell at my local bakery.


Today, I sat in a
café and saw six impossibly perfect 20-something people enter. It took a few seconds to register that I was in the midst of a Hollywood coven, but $400 jeans and Balenciaga bags on women under voting age are a reliable tipoff. Toronto people can look good in a Banana Republic way, but you generally don't see blinding beauty in droves.

Jane, of our famous all-girl poker group, works for TIFF. She tips us to the worthiest flicks and tells great TIFF stories. Here's one:

Catherine Deneuve attended last year (and will be here this week). She was spotted smoking in the green room, a big no-no for which Sean Penn had already been busted, resulting in a shouting match.

"Go over there and tell Ms Deneuve to put that damn cigarette out right now", the brass told one underling.
He approached her, and said, "Miss Deneuve?"

She turned, regally, and replied, "Ouiiiiiii?" The eyes, the hair, the utter smoky goddess presence.


"I just came over to say...
"

"Ouiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii?"

"Welcome to Toronto!"

Comments

Susan B said…
What a cute story! Hope you enjoy your star sightings, and the films.
Oh I do wish could hang out in your city with my camera!
If you get a chance please take my crush, Colin Firth's photo...and post it!
Did I actually just type this?
I need some coffee....
Have fun!
Belle de Ville said…
La Deneuve, isn't she amazing?
Rubiatonta said…
Something tells me that Catherine Deneuve pulled this off with a lot more class than Sean Penn!

If you figure out where I can ambush Javier Bardem, please do let me know!
Duchesse said…
Pseu: Some of her stories are outrageous, this one is cute. What a dream job: watching movies all over the world to select for the Festival. Wonderful woman.

hostess: It's a big buzz and the fun thing is that "faces" truly show up all over the city.

Belle: Sublime!

Ribi: Hands off, he's mine.
materfamilias said…
Great story! And if you see Javier, perhaps you could send him my way . . .
Duchesse said…
materfamilias: Will do, once I have had an opportunity to get to know him well.
s. said…
In past years, I've seen a few stars at my gym, which is just around the corner from TIFF HQ. Incentive to get my rear to the treadmill?!

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