Space-age Hawko's stellar night at 11th annual Astra awards

Jennifer Hawkins at the 11th Annual ASTRA Awards. Picture: Richard Dobson Source: DailyTelegraph

 

Jonathon Moran, The Daily Telegraph, reports

For someone with a history of wardrobe malfunctions, Jennifer Hawkins chose a daring design for the ASTRA awards last night.

The newlywed wore an exceptionally low cut white cutaway Galanni dress with a Barbarella-style clear and black plastic arrangement to protect her modesty.

She completed the look with white heels and a gold bracelet to match her Givenchy clutch and looked simply dazzling on the red carpet.

The star of Australia’s Next Top Model was joined by a number of her catwalk hopefuls and the pick of subscription TV stars at the Sydney Theatre, in Walsh Bay.

"This is my first ASTRA's," she said. "I have heard they are a lot of fun."

Megan Gale wore a pale pink Alex Perry creation the designer "whipped up in just two days".

"He has killed it," she said. "He always does. It is going to be a great night. I missed the after party last year but I heard it was a blast."

Of the dress, Perry said: "It is not hard, you could wrap Megan Gale up in a plastic bag and she would look amazing. It is the ultimate job dressing her."

As for the actual awards, it was a strong night for local production Tangle,  which scooped the pool with three major ASTRAs.

As well as being named most outstanding drama, up against big budget international productions The Walking Dead, Justified and Dripping In Chocolate, the show scored two other awards.

Catherine McClements won most outstanding actress for her portrayal of Christine Williams on the critically acclaimed show.

And 21-year-old Lincoln Younes beat industry veterans David Wenham and Dan Wyllie to win his first major award, named most outstanding actor for his performance on the show.

"It was the first ever job and the first audition I did so I obviously have a lot of good memories with this," Younes said. "To just be nominated in that class of actors is an honour so I'm very happy."

Working with the likes of Justine Clarke, Kat Stewart, Matt Day, Don Hany and Ben Mendelsohn on the show was a daunting prospect for the young actor, who is now a regular cast member on soap, Home and Away.

"It was intimidating but it made me step up quicker," Younes said. "I learnt fast but I also learnt from the best. I'm very grateful for having been around such amazing actors."

Tangle ran over three seasons and 22 episodes on Foxtel's Showcase channel and is now being repeated on Soho. Unfortunately for fans, the show has run its course.

"Everyone in the cast wished there was a fourth season and a lot of the audience did as well but I think it is done and dusted now so tonight is like the last hurrah," Younes said, wearing a loaned Burberry suit he said made him "feel like a fraud because I've never worn anything that expensive or cool before".

The popularity of home renovation shows was also confirmed by a bumper haul last night as Selling Houses Australia trumped its rivals to take home three major gongs.

It won favourite Australian program, as well as scoring best male and female presenter nods respectively for Andrew Winter and Shaynna Blaze.

"It wasn't that long ago that a lot of the property shows were being cut back," Winter told The Daily Telegraph.

"The Block disappeared and came back. They've bounced back now (to better ratings) than they ever were."

The 46-year-old real estate agent was up against some fairly high-profile competition in subscription television's annual night-of-nights, including Rove McManus, Paul Murray, Matty Johns, Peter Maddison and Danny Clayton.

After the UK version of Selling Houses was axed, Foxtel commissioned the Australian series, which is now in production for its seventh season.

"The passion people have for these shows is increasing, especially in the tough times for property," said Blaze, an interior designer and also a judge on The Block, who beat the likes of Deborah Hutton, Megan Gale and Carissa Walford in the category.

"People don't want to make mistakes so they are looking at these shows to give them guidance and to see you can add value to your property."

Grand Designs, presented by designer and writer Kevin McCloud, rounded out the home renovation whitewash by nabbing Favourite International Program. The result comes at a time when Seven's House Rules and Nine's The Block: Sky High have been ratings winners on free TV.

Veteran film critic and television presenter Bill Collins was honoured with the inaugural ASTRA lifetime achievement award.

 

 

 

True Blood's Joe Manganiello with Bridget Peters at the 11th Annual ASTRA Awards. Picture: Richard Dobson Source: DailyTelegraph

Aerial intruder at Jen Hawkins' wedding brought to ground

 

Jennifer Hawkins and Jake Wall wed at Semora Uluwatu in Bali / Pic: Channel 7 Source: The Daily Telegraph

         

 

 

The Daily Telegraph reports

Creating part of the colourful tropical diorama which offset the romantic Balinese wedding ceremony of Jennifer Hawkins and Jake Wall this week were the keystone cop antics of a paparazzi photographer who was determined to get rebel pictures of Hawkins in her bridal gown.

Sydney freelance photographers - some of the best celebrity gossips on the east coast, it should be said - report a helicopter drone, for one brief shining moment, became a sideshow attraction at the Uluwatu resort where Hawkins married her chippie partner.

That was until it was discovered by a crack squad of Balinese security guards.

The luckless photographer, having spent $2000 on the drone, hadn't quite anticipated the gunpower of the local guards or the determination of media managers looking to preserve a six-figure magazine exclusive.

Specifically, what he hadn't planned for was the arrival of guards willing to shoot his drone.

"The local cops descended on him after he sent it up on a test run and demanded that it be brought down immediately," we were excitedly informed. "He was told 'Land it, pack it up, or we will shoot it down."'

In an out-of-character move, the photographer agreed.

We hear this may have been due to the fact that he'd already done $2000 when a similar drone went MIA while preparing for its Balinese tour of duty.

Apparently during a test run, the photographer entrusted the controls to a novice operator, who took the drone up too far and lost it in high winds.

Australian actor Hugh Jackman tops the 'which-famous-person-would-you-invite-to-dinner' list

Hungry Hugh? Jackman has been chosen as the celebrity we'd most like to have dinner with. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

The Daily Telegraph reports

It is the question that pops up constantly (even if it's just in your imagination) - when planning a dinner party, who is the most fabulously famous person one could invite over?

And, as it turns out, Australians are after a mix of good looks, witty banter and talent, which explains why triple threat Hugh Jackman has topped a new survey endeavouring to find the nation's most loved and engaging star.

The list, called the Australian Celebrity Report and set to be released today, has been compiled by Southern Cross Austereo and Nine Rewards over two years.

While Nicole Kidman and - surprisingly - Delta Goodrem came close, Jackman says he was chuffed to claim the inaugural title.

"Just to be clear ... is this as a guest or the waiter?" Jackman joked.

"As an actor the idea of lots of great food thrills me to no end."

Kidman's hubby Keith Urban, actor Russell Crowe and model Miranda Kerr are also hot property at the dinner table according to the 40,000 Australians surveyed.

The report also featured a separate list of our favourite comedians, naming Hamish Blake, Adam Hills, Andy Lee and Rebel Wilson, as well as sporting stars, with Shane Warne, Eddie McGuire, Mark Webber and Ricky Ponting making the cut.

Australia's Top 10 dinner party guests:

1. Hugh Jackman 2. Nicole Kidman 3. Delta Goodrem 4. Kylie Minogue 5. Miranda Kerr 6. Russell Crowe 7. Hamish Blake 8. Keith Urban 9. Jennifer Hawkins 10. Adam Hills

Stateside nuptials rumoured for Jennifer Hawkins and Jake Wall

Jennifer Hawkins modelling Cozi on location in South Africa for Myer Spring Summer campaign 2012/13. The shoot took place in Palace of the Lost City, Sun City, a few hours from Johannesburg. Jen wears Blue Leopard Bikini Top ($59.95), and Blue Leopard Bikini Top ($59.95). Pic. Alex Coppel Pic. Alex Coppel

The Daily Telegraph reports

With her hens party done and dusted, Jennifer Hawkins is not expected to be one of the long list of brides who opts for a wedding in beautiful Bali, or possibly even Thailand - no matter how sublime such a setting would be.

In fact the latest rumour is that Hawkins plans to wed Jake Wall in the US at the beginning of next month.

Could that be just over a week away, with a date of June 8 suggested?

The former Miss Universe must be feeling very, very nervous and excited.

Sadly for all of those who were still wishing and hoping for an invite to the Australian wedding of the year, it looks like the intimate guest list is definitely closed.

Hawkins and her fiance have kept details of their impending nuptials a secret, having signed a lucrative deal with a women's magazine for the exclusive - believed to be more than $100,000 and brokered by manager Sean Anderson, who also manages Jodi Anasta and was behind her magazine deal when she married football star Braith Anasta in Bali.

Of her upcoming wedding, Hawkins has said: "There are rumours about the location and what dress I'll wear, but the only people that know are my family."

She's also hired a wedding planner to ensure her big day runs smoothly.

"You don't hire a planner for your life, but you hire a wedding planner to handle all the stressful moments for that," Hawkins said. "Everyone keeps asking me, like in the street, 'are you really stressed?', but all I keep thinking is bringing all the family together and being with Jake on the honeymoon."

Hawkins, 29, celebrated her hens party in Sydney recently.

"This is such a busy period," she said. "I've had my hens night, Jake's 30th and my best friend's birthday party, so it's been hard. For my hens, my friends organised cocktails and a few cheeky male dancers. It was crazy fun and I had the time of my life."

A day in the life of Australia's Next Top Model judge and model Jennifer Hawkins

A day in the life of Jennifer Hawkins. Source: The Daily Telegraph

Joel Christie, The Daily Telegraph, reports

It’s 9.30am on Cockatoo Island, the former convict establishment and shipyard sitting on the Parramatta River, and Jennifer Hawkins is on the set of her first major challenge as the new judge on Australia's Next Top Model.

Sparkling in a Toni Maticevski ensemble, the 1.8m glamazon stands much taller in Giuseppe Zanotti heels at the edge of a canal before a narrow plywood plank, which the top 25 contestants are about to attempt in nothing but bikinis.

Hawkins jokes with the crew, many of whom she knows from her days roving on The Great Outdoors, and laughs loudly while trading memories ("Remember that time in Bangkok?").

The alarm went off at 4.45am and hair and make-up knocked on the door of her North Curl Curl compound about 15 minutes later, at which point she pumped up music on the speakers throughout the house and breakfasted on a coffee and half a banana. Yes, half. But later in the morning there is poached eggs and avocado.

It's her first TV gig since Channel 7's disappointing Make Me A Supermodel in 2008, so perhaps nerves ate her appetite.

"I'm not that nervous at all actually - it all feels really comfortable," she says.

"I like being busy and work so much better under pressure, so it's a really happy and exciting time."

With Hawkins known for her thought-out business strategies, encompassing real estate, beauty endorsements and modelling and merchandise deals, where does Top Model fit into the mix?

"I have a greater plan and a bigger picture of what I want to achieve in the long run.

"The main thing we had to consider (about Top Model) was whether we could fit it in. I have a really busy year with Myer and the wedding. But the great thing is that it's so quick. Three months and we're done."

Hawko uses her lunchbreak for a fitting for Myer's autumn/winter fashion parade - in Melbourne on Thursday - and for the Foxtel programming launch happening later on, but squeezes in a chicken salad.

After shooting all afternoon, she is rushed to rehearsals for the night's proceedings.

She squeezes into a hot orange number from French designer Thierry Mugler in time for the 6.20pm red carpet appearance with Charlotte Dawson and Sam Worthington.

Hawkins allows herself a glass of red after the show and chats to me about fiance Jake Wall and their impending nuptials, thought to be taking place in Bali in July.

"He's great, he's doing really well," she smiles. "We can't wait to get married."

A hire car comes about 9pm and whisks her back to the northern beaches.

Has anyone seen Gemma Ward lately?

Gemma Ward. Picture: Colin Murty Source: The Daily Telegraph

The Daily Telegraph reports

She was set to make her long-awaited return to Sydney's social scene this week but elusive model Gemma Ward made an 11th-hour withdrawal from her homecoming.

Once a regular on the party circuit, the actress - who last year was an extra on The Great Gatsby - was confirmed to attend the AACTA awards on Wednesday night, as well as the opening of the new Christian Dior boutique in the city last night. However, Confidential understands her new agency, IMG Models, spoke with organisers of both events and cancelled Ward's appearances.

It was reported this month that, after signing with IMG, the doll-like Ward was returning to the runway after more than five years. There are rumours she will join new host Jennifer Hawkins on Australia's Next Top Model.

"It's been a long time but Gemma is on her way back. I don't know what happened this week with the no-shows, but we will be seeing her very soon," a source said.

"She's ready for her close-up, so to speak."

Ward's hiatus has been well documented. Following the death of boyfriend Heath Ledger in 2008, the Perth-born beauty shunned the spotlight while living in New York. Ward then made a triumphant return in 2011 during a three-month stint at Western Australia's State Theatre Complex in their production of The Ugly One, as well as appearing as queen of the mermaids in Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

It was then that Ward opened up about Ledger's death and the effect it had on her, saying they were both "going through hard times" and agreed to be there for each other, without having a serious relationship. Two months later Ledger died.

Marquee's anticipated celebrities go missing

Chace Crawford, Jennifer Hawkins and Jake Wall at The Star New Year's Eve party. Source: The Daily Telegraph

The Daily Telegraph reports

It was billed as the biggest celeb event on the New Year's Eve calendar but Marquee's star-packed bash didn't quite happen as had been hoped - despite early reports Leonardo DiCaprio and Jamie Foxx would be in attendance.

In fact the A-listers were nowhere to be seen, with partygoers reporting the glitterati were whisked away to Sydney Harbour for a cruise during the evening's celebrations and were not, as expected, among the hundreds partying at The Star's rooftop nightclub.

It's understood DiCaprio and Foxx, as well as portly Superbad star Jonah Hill, were later transported to a private airfield and flown via helicopter to Canberra, where they boarded a chartered flight to Las Vegas to repeat the New Year's Eve festivities.

A few of the clubgoers at Marquee, who had been hoping to clap eyes on the two Django Unchained stars, were disappointed.

Meanwhile, Confidential spied more than a few famous faces amongst the revellers including Jennifer Hawkins and fiance Jake Wall, Glee star Matthew Morrison and Gossip Girl's Chace Crawford.