A stunning Nicole Kidman wowed guests at Friday night’s Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser held at Venice’s famed hotel The Bauer. The antipodean beauty joined event chair Dame Elizabeth Taylor, supermodel Claudia Schiffer and a host of other celebrities in raising upwards of $700,000 for all-important AIDS research at the 2nd annual bash.
“We are doing everything in our power to find a cure,” says Elizabeth Taylor, Founding National Chairman of the American Foundation For AIDS Research (amfAR). “It is the most powerful thing in my life and I will fight until there is a cure.”
Claudia's contribution to the evening’s auction was the donation of a Bulgari white gold, topaz and diamond necklace which she paraded around the gala as potential buyers eyed the merchandise. The sparkler was later snapped up for $27,000 by Fabrizio Lombardo of film studio Miramax, who was urged on by dinner companions Nicole and Elizabeth to keep bidding.
South African star Charlize Theron, in town to promote The Curse Of The Jade Scorpion,Ally McBeal actress Portia de Rossi, Lady Helen Taylor and the cast of the controversial film Bully were all on hand for the festivities. “We should always all help,” says Claudia.
“I think anything you can do to help is important,” echoed Nicole. “Obviously I was here and I was happy to come along.”
Nicole arrived in the historic Italian town on Wednesday to the delight of her gathered fans. The Australian beauty has two films screening at the world’s oldest film festival, including the well-received thriller The Others, for which she’s already drawing Oscar buzz.
The Moulin Rouge actress gave a single press conference on Saturday as 500 reporters packed a small room. And while most of the questions concerned her future in movies – she’ll next star in Danish director Lars von Trier’s upcoming project before returning to the London stage – one cheeky journalist asked the statuesque beauty if like a Chekhov heroine she preferred tall men. “I’ll take a tall man,” she joked.
Nicole was last at the Venice Film Festival two years ago to promote Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut in which she co-starred alongside her then husband Tom Cruise. Their divorce was finalised just three weeks ago just as The Others, directed by Spanish wunderkind Alejandro Amenabar, premiered in Hollywood.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
