STAR TREATS: CELEB FREEBIES

Sunday Mirror, Jun 8, 2003 by Words: Elaine Lipworth.

Lucy Liu is leaping up and down delightedly, acting more like an eight-year-old than a movie star - you'd think she'd just won an Oscar. In fact, the actress is squealing with excitement because she's just been told she's getting a free Hello Kitty toaster and sandwich maker. Lucy, along with her Charlie's Angels co-stars, Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz, are presenters at the Kids' Choice Awards in LA. And freebies are one of the perks of the job - stars who give up a couple of hours of their time get a huge pile of presents to take home as a thank you.

'I love Hello Kitty so much,' gushes Lucy. 'Come and look, they're sooo cute,' she shouts to Cameron and Drew. The three stars crowd around the accessories and gadgets, oohing and aahing. Marie Griffin, the Hello Kitty PR, is thrilled with the attention and hands over huge pink gel bubble rings as an 'extra special little something'. More gasps and squeals from the Angels, who slip them on to beautifully manicured fingers. 'Save me a phone,' pleads Lucy. 'Don't give them all away, we have to go back on stage,' adds Cameron, pulling a piece of spaghetti out of her long blonde hair. (The spaghetti is a tradition at this particular awards show - the stars have to smile while they're pelted with bucketloads of wet pasta and feign horror while the kids in the audience go wild with delight.)

The awards are held at an aircraft hangar at Santa Monica airport and the freebies are in a big tent round the back, where stars help themselves to the latest Moroccan sandals from Skechers, pounds 450 Italian charm bracelets, the grooviest new Donna Karan sunglasses and triple deluxe sets of Indiana Jones video games. Far more enticing than the buffet, and much less fattening.

In the main marquee, the show goes on all day. Geared to kids and teenagers, the whole affair is light-hearted with awards like best on- screen fart (which goes to Matthew Lillard for his memorable moment in Scooby-Doo). Every year, one star is treated to a 'slime shower' - today Jim Carrey receives the honour. 'It's all about love, man,' he laughs. 'Slimy, gooey love, the only kind there is.'

Backstage, master of ceremonies Rosie O'Donnell compares notes on kids' schools and homework with Michelle Pfeiffer, while Kelly Osbourne is having an animated chat with Mike Myers. Will Smith, picking up an award for best kids' role model, is chatting to fans and signing autographs with sons Jaden and Trey. 'My kids insist I come,' he says.

Even Brad Pitt, looking gorgeous in dark glasses, is here, but without wife Jennifer Aniston, who's busy furniture-hunting for the couple's new Beverly Hills home. She'd probably love the free jeans and jewellery, but her hubby doesn't even venture into the 'retreat'. Well, there's not much for men.

Melissa Joan Hart from Sabrina The Teenage Witch, however, has had no choice. She's being dragged round the tent by her two younger sisters as they try on space age watches and bracelets. She stops for a chat with Brittany Murphy, who has spotted her ex, Ashton Kutcher, come in and is studiously pretending not to notice him.

Next in the gift tent is Michelle Pfeiffer, looking fabulous in a sleeveless red dress. She doesn't bring her own two children or her husband (he's babysitting). 'I like to keep them out of the spotlight,' she explains. She's here to present Amanda Bynes with her best actress award for Big Fat Liar. Michelle picks up a clutch bag by New York designer Tulci. After Sarah Jessica Parker carried a Tulci bag on a recent episode of Sex And The City, the label is now rivalling Prada and Gucci in desirability. 'They're so pretty, aren't they?' sighs Michelle. Seeing her at the Tulci counter, Brittany and Britney Spears rush over, followed by Jennifer Love Hewitt. They're restrained and pick out just one of the pounds 85 bags. But Lucy Liu can't resist asking for two - and of course gets them both. Tulci designer Anjali Kumar explains, 'If stars are wearing it, everyone else thinks it's hip and will run out to buy it.'

Michelle also snaps up a pair of beaded flip-flops by Skechers and a pounds 150 rhinestone-studded giraffe motif T-shirt. Like most of the stars, she stops at Hello Kitty before leaving. 'Is this really for me?' she smiles shyly, as PR Marie Griffin offers her all the toys and gadgets she can carry. 'Are you sure?' she repeats, as though she's never been offered a freebie in her life. Perhaps she's just polite.

Hardly any stars go home empty-handed. 'They all love the gifts,' says Marie. Drew, Cameron and Lucy are among the highest-paid women in Hollywood, reportedly earning more than pounds 18 million each for Charlie's Angels 2, but it's one of Hollywood's ironies - the more rich and famous you are, the more you get given. And here it's clear that no matter how much money you have, getting something for free is always fun.

Celeb freebies are nothing new - for years designers have pleaded with A-listers to wear their gowns and jewellery to the Oscars. But these days goodie-bag mania is sweeping through Tinseltown. The swag bags are supposed to be a token of appreciation, but the whole thing effectively amounts to ruthless product placement, with companies giving away electronics, clothes and jewellery in exchange for free advertising. When Gwyneth Paltrow was seen wearing Birkenstock sandals from last year's Oscar basket, sales went through the roof.