(1/15/03)
In the Public Eye

Cartier International Polo Day
Guards Polo Club, Windsor
28 July 2002


Royalty and celebrities mingled at the most prestigious date in the polo calendar—the Cartier International Day at the Guards Polo Club in Surrey. Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of York were the guests of honour to enjoy a match for the Coronation Cup between England and the Commonwealth.

"Bridget Jones's Diary" hunk and one of PEOPLE's 50 Most Beautiful People of 2001, Colin Firth, 41, who normally shies away from celebrity parties, couldn't resist the invitation to join his current "American Girl" costar Kelly Preston....Basking in the uncharacteristic 80-degree heat, Firth, 41, joked...that last year's PEOPLE honor was "the crowning glory of my career. Whenever I am interviewed I am asked about it." Well, at least by PEOPLE he is.

The prestigious Cartier International Polo Day was the sport's way of saying "thank you" to Her Majesty for her 50 years on the throne and was the last great event of the British summer social season. But it was all new to Firth. "I don't normally do events like this but I am working with Kelly Preston, and she got invited and called me up and gave me a badge, saying it would be a lot of fun."

And can Firth explain polo? "I have never seen it before," says Firth.... "It seems like lots of men on horses riding around dangerously." (by Stephen M. Silverman And Simon Perry)

On GMTV, Colin was asked if he had ever been to a polo match before. He replied, "No, I never have. I’m a polo virgin."

Also in attendance was his co-star from American Girl, Amanda Bynes, pictured at right.
 

"The luckiest woman of all—in the view of some at least—was Kelly Preston, John Travolta's wife who got to sit next to actor Colin Firth." (Evening Standard)

"The classiest act was the exclusive Cartier tent, where Kelly Preston beamed as she was seated next to Colin Firth." (Hello!)

 

Colin and his co-stars, Kelly Preston  (bottom left and center) and Amanda Bynes (top left);
posed with GMTV reporter Carla Romano (right)

Many thanks to AAALM (Allison, Aishling, Amy, Linda and Meredith] for their contributions


English PEN: A Celebration of Italo Calvino
16 July 2002


English PEN sponsored a evening at St. Paul’s Church in Covent Garden to celebrate the works of the late Cuban- born writer, Italo Calvino, which featured a discussion by Gore Vidal and Tom Rosenthal, his publisher.  After a break, a number of actors, including Sam West, Elizabeth McGovern and Dame Eileen Atkins, and the director of the Italian Cultural Institute in London all read selections from his works.

At the end of the program, PEN's director announced that Colin’s filming schedule had prevented him from arriving in time for his reading. There was a huge roar of disappointment from the audience.  He did however manage to attend the party held afterward and is pictured with Sam West at right.

Many thanks to Allison and Antonella.


 
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