Walking out on that stage in front of so many peers, and with half the world watching, must be incredibly dautning. Which makes Alicia Keys even more of a trooper in my eyes having learned that she snapped a heel as she dashed towards the stage to present Zac Effron with his award.

The misshap apparently happened on the way from the green room, but she soldiered on undeterred as her long dress hid the wardrobe malfunction.

Must admit it would have put me right off my stride - and not just literally!

So that's why Jennifer Aniston looked so good at the Awards. Her music man beau revealed she spent three hours getting ready. There's something to make us mere mortals feel better! I wonder if John Mayer got into trouble later for letting that one slip?

Maybe not. Backstage at the ceremony Jennifer was apparently overheard whispering: "I really love you, every part of you."

Now how sweet is that?

Scanning around the fashion reactions from last night, I see that Reese Witherspoon has come in for a bit of flak for her asymmetric blue and black affair.

 

The gown was designed by a relatively recent American label called Rodarte. And I loved it! 

I have to confess to being slightly less enthusiastic about the acid yellow number chosen by the usually immaculate Dita Von Teese to attend Elton's 'after' party, though.

It got the cameras clicking alright, but the combination of that strong hue with an overload of structural effects didn't quite work for me... 

With their sizzling red carpet chemistry and on-screen romance, speculation that Slumdog Millionaire stars Dev Patel and Freida Pinto had become an item in real life was inevitable I suppose. Apparently though, they're not.

Heading into the Kodak Theatre on Sunday night they both denied that they're dating. "No, no, no," insisted Frieda.

Such a shame, they make a lovely couple.

 I know all eyes were on Kate Winslet -as indeed they should have been -  but did you see those enormous emeralds Angelina Jolie was wearing? Gives a whole new meaning to the term 'rocks'.

I wonder whether they were borrowed for the evening or a present from doting partner Brad?

Sean Penn was great in Milk, but I have to admit I was desperately hoping that Mickey Rourke would be the one taking home the best actor gong.

Not only because he's battled back from nowhere to give an Oscar-worthy performance in The Wrestler, but because he lost his beloved little dog Loki - the one he took to recent premieres - last week.

Seeing him wearing a photo of her round his neck on the red carpet choked me up, but then when he admitted, "I said to myself I'd rather have Loki for another two years than an Oscar and I told her that. But she stayed as long as she could", I just about lost it.

That's so very sad. Not that an Oscar would have taken away the pain of losing her. But losing out on top of losing her must have been very hard indeed.

I'm not quite sure why Hugh Jackman worried so much about presenting the Oscars, as with the new format, apart from a couple of song and dance routines, he was only called upon to do the odd link. Mind you, he was as undeniably easy on the eye as always, which is not to be sniffed at

What absolutely fantastic news! I'm so glag Slumdog Millionaire triumphed. It really deserved to win. Eight awards. Wow, how amazing is that!?

And I loved Danny Boyle's 'Tigger' acceptance. If his kids are older now they probably were cringing, but it's nice that he remembered the promise...

Kate getting best actress was the icing on the cake. After being nominated so many times it was great that she finally got to take the trophy home.

In the light of recent emotional outpourings I'd thought she might lose it at the podium, but she was lovely - light, appreciative and funny. Once classy lady...

Despite being unconvinced that Slumdog Millionaire really merits the feel-good tag that it seems to have picked up, there was one undeniably heart warming piece of news about the film this week.

The fact that two of the children who star in it, real life residents of the Mumbai slums, will be attending the Oscars ceremony. Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Ismail, who are both under ten, will be joining their castmates in LA apparently.

A nice treat - but even better is the thought that they're also getting an education, as apparently they're now both enrolled in school with the film's director Danny Boyle and its producers picking up the tab.

Did you know the elderly version of Cate Blanchett's character in The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button wasn't a pensioner actress, it was Cate Blanchett in some seriously amazing prosthetic make-up? How that one got by me I don't know, but it was news to me.

And I'm totally blown away. I loved the movie, and though I don't think it'll get the best film Oscar - my money's on Slumdog for that one - it deserves to win the best makeup gong on the strength of 'old Cate' alone.