Articles | Film / Television
How the Stars Got Ready for the SAG Awards
By: Clare Kleinedler
TV Guide
The Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills was the place to be for SAG swag last Friday through Sunday. With gifts including a L'Oreal Paris goodie box, on-site manicures and makeup makeovers, Rembrandt teeth-whitening products, bottles of Moet & Chandon champagne, Guitar Hero 3 video-game sets, and eyewear bling from Ilori Luxury Sunglasses, the celebs came out for a day of fun freebies and pampering in the comfort of the hotel's suites.

Debra Messing had the right idea by stopping in early Friday afternoon with husband and Damages writer Daniel Zelman. By avoiding the crowds, Messing got one-on-one attention at the Boiron suite. The homeopathic medicine company is a favorite of Messing's, who lauded the brand's Oscillococcinum flu medication as, "Something I can't live without!" Messing also picked up a pair of Persol sunglasses at the Ilori suite, while her husband collected Guitar Hero 3 for the couple's young son. Though Messing was wearing no makeup ("I just had a facial," she explained), she allowed photographers to snap away while she perused the other suites.

The Sopranos' Tony Sirico, sporting Paulie's signature white loafers, congratulated Golden Globe winner Jon Hamm while the two passed each other in the hallway. "I haven't missed an episode!" said Sirico, as he warmly hugged the surprised actor. Meanwhile, in the Moet & Chandon suite, which featured custom-decorated bottles of champagne for each SAG nominee (names were written out in gold, Swarovski crystals on the bottles) was the place for Juno director and Oscar nominee Jason Reitman to share pointers with actor J.K. Simmons on how to deal with awards shows. "There is an eight-minute DVD on what to do when you are nominated for an award," said Reitman, laughing. "It tells you how to look, what to wear, what to say if you win, what not to say."

Also at the Moet & Chandon suite was Grey's Anatomy doc Erica Hahn, played by Brooke Smith. When she was offered a mini-bottle of bubbly, Smith waved it away, saying, "We just did a juice fast."

For the cast of The Office, the Luxury Lounge was a reunion of sorts. Oscar Nunez, who plays Oscar on the sitcom, was surprised to see castmate Angela Kinsey sporting a baby bump. "I didn't know you were pregnant!" he exclaimed. The two hung out with fellow Officemate Kate Flannery while watching Californication star Madeline Zima ("Mia") duel it out with a friend on Guitar Hero 3. Waiting in the wings to play the popular video game was Ugly Betty's Tony Plana and his two children.

Allison Janney gabbed with a gal pal and sipped a mini-bottle of Moet & Chandon while getting foundation matched for her skin color at the L'Oreal Spa Suite. Also getting pampered in the salon were The Sopranos' Aida Turturro and fellow castmate Sharon Angela. Though not interested in any makeup for himself, 30 Rock actor Jack McBayer strolled into the spa suite and joked, "Hook me up!"

Really hooking themselves up in the Ilori Luxury Sunglass suite were actors Hector Elizondo, Rich Sommer (Mad Men) and Dan Grimaldi (The Sopranos). The trio tried on several pairs of sunglasses while snacking on premium chocolate truffles provided by Ilori reps. "Thank you for the chocolates," said Elizondo. "They were sweet."

It's a sweet life, indeed. — Clare Kleinedler