It was so terrific to interview some of Hollywood's leading ladies last night at The Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. I chatted up Women In Hollywood honorees Lauren Bacall, Kate Bosworth, Jennifer Connelly, Amy Adams and Diane Lane as they made their way into the event.
"It's nice to have so much energy and excitement for women in Hollywood," Adams told me.
I was curious, how is Adams, largely unknown until her Oscar-nominated performance in "Junebug" a few years ago, handling her new high-profile career which includes starring opposite Meryl Streep in the film adaptation of "Doubt."
"I can't stop and think about it because I have to do it," she said. "For me, it's just about buckling down and doing the work and making good with the opportunities that have been set before me."
Lane, a child star who co-starred with Laurence Olivier in "A Little Romance" and was Oscar-nominated for "Unfaithful," was pleased to be among those honored:"It's the best. What a wonderful thing to be accepted by your peers and to have a slot in the halls of glamour forever."
Bosworth was accompanied by her mother and grandmother to the event and said the biggest key to surviving in Hollywood - especially as a young actress - is to have that kind of strong support system:"I'm surrounded by family and my mom and my grandmother are two very strong women and I have the benefit of having them in my life."
But even their presence weren't enough to calm her jitters over having to take the stage to accept her award: "It's so exciting and very surreal. I'm really nervous. Everyone always thinks that being an actor you like speaking in public but I'm terrified...but it's a warm room, we are in the company of people who are in support of women in Hollywood."
Jennifer Connelly walked the red carpet with her actor husband Paul Bettney who would interject funny remarks during her interviews. She didn't seem to mind one bit, remaining serene and calm despite the chaos around her.
"I'm not nervous but I'm trying to get nervous," she joked.
Connelly had to be back on the set early today to shoot scenes for "He's Just Not That Into You" and also has "Reservation Road" opening in theaters on Friday.
"Most of my scenes so far have been with Ginnifer Goodwin and Jennifer Aniston and they both have been fantastic and I think I work with [fellow honoree] Scarlett [Johansson] tomorrow. I haven't spent any time with her yet so I look forward to that experience."
Bettney was asked what it was like to be at the event, supporting his wife: "I love it actually because I think I'm sort of like the eye candy. As we walk down the red carpet, I know everyone is kind of looking at us thinking, 'How did she snag HIM?"
Screen legend Bacall, still stunning at 83, seemed bored with questions about what she was wearing and what receiving the award meant to her: "I'll have to let the evening progress and then I will discover it myself."
But the actress perked up when asked about Al Gore winning the Nobel Peace Prize: "Gore. Fantastic. I'm so thrilled. As well he should have won. It's time the public stood up and took notice I'll tell you."

I gotta say, me and some of the other print reporters were fortunate to get who we got for interviews since we had to deal with one of the worst red carpet situations I've ever endured. We were in a separate, darkened area away from photographers and TV crews (seriously, NO lights) so when the star emerged from all the flashbulbs, they literally didn't know we were there. And often we didn't know who had emerged until they were practically past us.
Stars like Topher Grace and Emile Hirsch looked at us confused when we tried to call them over and we later figured out why: they thought we were FANS! I then realized we'd have to get aggressive and announce our presence to stars like Ben Foster, Alyson Hannigan, Melissa George, Jennifer Beals, Tracee Ellis Ross and Amber Tamblyn who did stop and chat.
I was complaining to someone about it when one of flaks handling the event whispered to me that he would appreciate it if I didn't complain in front of the client (ELLE editor in chief Robbie Meyers was being interviewed only inches away.)
Sorry pal, I can't do MY job, if you don't do YOUR job.