Spy: Susan Sarandon went 'commando' on the red carpet

Susan Sarandon on the red carpet in Wellington for the premiere of The Lovely Bones. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Opinion

The stars came out to play at The Lovely Bones premiere in the capital on Monday night, or, in the case of All Black captain Richie McCaw, just peered at the red carpet wistfully from a nearby building. Where was his invite, he must have wondered.

Brendon Pongia, host of a cheesy morning telly show, got one. He walked slowly down the red carpet with his co-stars, posing for cameras and waving to fans.

Craig Parker and Craig Hall were there. So too was Kerre Woodham and her daughter Kate, who, in a gorgeous, sparkly micro mini and teeming with confidence, is getting more and more a chip off the old block.

Peter Jackson and his wife Fran Walsh arrived with their beautiful 13-year-old daughter Katie to large roars from the 5000-strong crowd that flocked to Courtenay Place, lining up behind the barriers to get a glimpse of the stars.

Rhys Darby proved popular with the fans on the red carpet too. Even the movie's lead actress - fifteen-year-old Irish darling Saoirse Ronan - noticed. She later told a newspaper: "Is it wrong to say this is my favourite premiere so far? Even though everyone is screaming for Rhys Darby."

The young starlet is expected to receive an Oscar nod for her portrayal of murder victim Susie Salmon, but she's taking it all in her stride. Wearing the charm bracelet that was a prop from the movie (given to her after filming wrapped), the actress signed autographs on the red carpet like a pro.

She reportedly spiced up her media interviews by improvising random words into sentences like "eyeball", "anthropology" and "steamboat" and competed with Susan Sarandon - who played her brash and boozy grandmother in the flick - on who could use the words most. Anthropology was fine, but steamboat proved rather difficult, apparently.

Oscar-winner Susan Sarandon, 63, was the only big international star to make an appearance at the premiere. She did it in true Hollywood hippie style - without shoes, bra or underwear. "Going commando" never appeared so sexy for the sexagenarian generation.

The weather proved too much, though. Covered in goose bumps, Sarandon cut her media interviews short and went inside The Embassy Theatre for warmth. Perhaps that explains her curt responses in some red-carpet interviews. She was a no-show later at the after-party.

Kiwi actresses Rose McIver and Carolyn Dando blossomed on the red carpet wearing royal blue and black chiffon. They were Spy-ed cutting up the dance floor later at the very private after-party attended by all the 758 guests who were shuttled there by coach.

They weren't the only stars to embrace their inner dancing queen. One prominent celebrity got the party started with his very unique moves to the soundtrack Footloose, but you'll have to read my Herald on Sunday column for those juicy details and all the other after-party shenanigans.

- Rachel Glucina