Entertainment | Film & Cinema

Swooning on the edge

The red carpet looked plush after having been vacuumed and vacuumed again in anticipation of the hallowed heels expected that night.

  • By I-Cheng Chan, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 23:21 December 10, 2007
  • Tabloid

  • Sharon Stone and George Clooney at the Madinat Jumeirah.
  • Image Credit: Vazhisojan/Gulf News

The red carpet looked plush after having been vacuumed and vacuumed again in anticipation of the hallowed heels expected that night.

Stilettos sank into the deep-pile scarlet while TV presenters touched up their make-up and media members jostled for the best vantage point.

With two hours to go before the gorgeous George Clooney set foot on the carpet, there was already a buzz in the air. The author Paulo Coelho was the first star to arrive at Madinat Arena at 7.30pm on Sunday before being followed by the stars of Taj Mahal – The Eternal Love Story, Kabir Bedi, Pooja Batra, looking radiant in an emerald green sari, and the director, Akbar Khan.

Then came singer Gloria Estefan and her husband Emilio, in Dubai to support his film and her album, both called 90 Millas, in the festival's first Rhythm and Reels show on Thursday.

Not disappointing

At 7.45pm, after numerous false starts and practice runs, the star of the opening night's gala film Michael Clayton finally arrived, to the great delight of hordes of eager fans. Looking dapper in a black tuxedo with patent black shoes, 46-year-old Clooney did not disappoint. Sharing the red carpet with Sharon Stone, Clooney was not offended that she had been introduced as a "super, super, super star" over the Tannoy, and jovially concurred: "She is the bigger star."

Among the mere mortals who had gathered to see their screen idol were friends Amanda Maxwell, Helena Gammon and Bella Hamilton. Even after he disappeared as a dot in the distance, they remained visibly overwhelmed at their brush with George who shook each of their hands and came back as promised after being called away.

'Worth every second'

"It was worth every second. He is a gentleman." said Maxwell, 28, from Sydney. Gammon, 27, from England, pledged never to wash her hands again, and said Clooney was charming, handsome and "looks better the older he gets." Hamilton, aged 22, swooned as she admitted he left her "flustered" and said: "He made me melt."

It was the least we could expect.

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