Lady Bird star Saoirse Ronan has been cosying up to ballet dancer Calum Lowden after meeting through friends
SHE may not have walked out with the Best Actress gong, but at least EE Baftas nominee SAOIRSE RONAN left with a smile on her face.
I can reveal the talented Irish actor — who is also up for an Oscar for Lady Bird — consoled herself by cosying up to her new love interest, acclaimed ballet dancer CALUM LOWDEN.
Sources say the pair have been growing close for several weeks after meeting through mutual friends.
An insider said: “Saoirse didn’t win on the night but couldn’t have looked happier.
“She headed from the awards to the official dinner at Grosvenor House on Park Lane and hooked up with Calum again. They looked like things are going great between them.”
As a rising star of the Royal Swedish Ballet, it must have made a nice change for Calum to find himself propping up the bar rather than practising at the barre.
My source added: “It’s early days and they have been keeping things low-key, but there was no mistaking the spark between them.”
Calum had attended the awards at the Royal Albert Hall with his actor brother JACK LOWDEN.
They were pictured larking around on the red carpet before taking their seats just a few rows away from guests of honour WILLS and KATE.
Saoirse is one of the most respected young actresses in the business, with three Oscar nominations, four Bafta nominations and a Golden Globes win under her belt.
Yet she reckons she’s rubbish when it comes to men.
On ELLEN DE GENERES’ US chat show a month ago, she insisted she had never managed a serious relationship, explaining: “I don’t know how to date.
“I don’t date. I’m not into the whole, ‘Let’s go out for dinner’.
"I don’t even know how to talk about it.”
It looks like she’s a fast learner.
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Jen keeps a law profile
JENNIFER LAWRENCE kept a low profile skipping the official dinner and after-party circuit to avoid her ex NICHOLAS HOULT.
She was notably absent as A-listers gathered at nearby Grosvenor House hotel while Nicholas attended the meal before partying until 4am at Chiltern Firehouse.
The couple dated for five years and split in 2014.
Jen also cleared up accusations she was rude to JOANNA LUMLEY for saying her introduction was “a bit much”.
She told RONAN KEATING on Magic radio: “I couldn’t have just walked out after she was like, ‘biggest movie star in the world’ and gone ‘Thank you, Joanna’.
“It would have been like, ‘So you agree?’” She has a point.
baftabit
RISING Star winner DANIEL KALUUYA said of Uber: “Yo, I get that Prius everywhere. I’m not even Uber Lux, I’m Uber X.
"It’s easier to get from A to B. I’m a Londoner, I’m grown up, I don’t want to be at the flipping bus stop.”
Plume raider
NAOMI CAMPBELL wasn’t going to let the Baftas upstage her during London Fashion Week – her dramatic white feathered Dior Couture cape and gown made sure all eyes were on her.
She was celebrating with boyfriend SKEPTA, KATE MOSS and a bunch of Bafta stars at Vogue and Tiffany’s fashion and film party at Annabel’s in Mayfair.
LILY JAMES popped in then dashed off to the Chiltern Firehouse to meet boyfriend MATT SMITH, who was dressed down in a hoodie.
He needs a word with Naomi’s stylist.
baftabit
CELIA IMRIE fell in love with swanky members’ club Chiltern Firehouse after downing several glasses of bubbly there with pals.
She was spotted asking staff to sign her up to the haunt in London’s Marylebone while exiting at 1am.
Still moves like Jagger
MICK JAGGER was the star attraction at one of the after-parties.
THE ROLLING STONES frontman lapped up the attention of eight beautiful women at London’s Chiltern Firehouse in the early hours of Monday.
And that meant ALEXA CHUNG couldn’t get a look in.
A partygoer said: “Mick was surrounded by models and spent most of the night in conversation with LILY JAMES.
“Alexa came over to try to join the group but she was ignored. She looked really embarrassed. She tried to sit nearby but she wasn’t getting very far.”
Best Actor winner GARY OLDMAN was also there, dancing with Jagger-style moves and his trophy into the early hours.
The partygoer added: “At one point he was even using his gong as a dumbbell.”
If he carries on his winning streak, his biceps will explode.
Joanna was a fab host
JOANNA LUMLEY did an incredible job hosting her first Baftas.
And it wasn’t unnoted by STEPHEN FRY, who presented the ceremony 12 times, when he watched yesterday.
He tweeted: “Finally caught up with last night’s #BAFTAs – brava bravissima @JoannaLumley – wonderful & charming, you owned the evening.” Perhaps his tips came in useful, as Joanna revealed before the bash: “He said that no one has ever complained an awards ceremony was too short, and just keep it alive.”
I don’t think she needed Stephen’s help, as Joanna won praise from fans and celebrities for her delivery of hilarious gags including her pre-show skit featuring HUGH GRANT.
She should be a fixture from now on.
Piping hot Billie
BILLIE PIPER would have turned heads in this outfit at the Baftas.
She avoided any KATE MIDDLETON-style sneers by wearing the light pink dress to the Vogue London Fashion Week party on Sunday.
She was joined by Stranger Things’ CHARLIE HEATON and also ROBERT PATTINSON. Three Billboards winner FRANCES McDORMAND didn’t make it.
Nobody would dare try to change her thinking.
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Kendrick Lamar to perform at the Brits
HE’s travelling Europe with his sell-out The DAMN. Tour but KENDRICK LAMAR has one more gig to add to his 17 dates – the Brits.
I can reveal that the hip-hop heavyweight will be the surprise performer tomorrow, taking to the stage with rapper RICH THE KID.
A show insider said: “Having Kendrick on the line-up will be a big step in making the ceremony more diverse.”
Also on the bill are SAM SMITH, STORMZY and JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE.
Allison support for Kate
BEST supporting actress winner ALLISON JANNEY has doubled up as a supportive mate to KATE MIDDLETON.
After being recognised for her role in I, Tonya, Allison defended the Duchess of Cambridge – who was branded disrespectful by luvvies for wearing green at the bash, rather than black in solidarity of the Time’s Up movement.
Backstage at the Royal Albert Hall, Allison said: “I would never judge anyone’s choice, she looked absolutely beautiful.”
She added: “She can wear whatever she wants.”