This year’s awards were a family affair

My hometown of Glasgow has one thing in common with Hollywood there are only two seasons.

In Glasgow, it’s either raining or it isn’t. Meanwhile in Hollywood, it’s either awards season or it isn’t.

It’s been like a flood here in La-La Land as the red carpet events flow thick and fast. Last week we had the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. And the hangovers from those events had barely cleared when the Oscar nominations arrived in the post.

Glancing down the list, I was delighted to spot Alan Partridge star Steve Coogan’s name. He’s nominated, along with writing partner Jeff Pope, for their screenplay for the moving drama Philomena.

I spoke to Steve at the Bafta Tea Party event here in Hollywood and he summed up how massive the Oscars are. No matter what happens, he’ll always be “Academy Award nominee Steve Coogan” now.

We had a chat again after the nominations were announced. He may be known for his biting satire and caustic sense of humour at times, but Steve is a softy at heart. He rang his mum and she was so happy she started crying. You never forget your old mum, do you?

Leonardo DiCaprio certainly didn’t. He was at the Golden Globes with his mum. She told me she was delighted for her wee boy, while he said he wouldn’t be there without her. Quite literally you wouldn’t, Leo!

To continue the family theme, Michael Sheen took his daughter to the Golden Globes as his date. He was nominated for his role in Masters Of Sex and his ex-wife Kate Beckinsale was presenting an award. Michael said he was having a great time with his perfect date.

I was beginning to get worried Hollywood isn’t usually this nice!

I asked Chiwetel Ejifor, who put in an amazing performance in 12 Years A Slave, who he’d called when he was nominated for his Best Actor Oscar and he said no one. Once the news had broken, his phone had been tied up for two hours by family and friends calling to congratulate him. If anything, I told him, that would save a few quid on his international minutes.

British actress Sally Hawkins was nominated for her role in Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine, which surprised even Sally herself. Despite being wonderful in British movies like Made In Dagenham and Happy-Go-Lucky, Sally has gone under the radar a bit, so it’s wonderful to see her recognised by the Academy.

At the Golden Globes she ran up and gave me a cuddle. “Hi Ross, I look wonderful, you’re such a big fan,” she said. It took her a moment to realise she’d got her words mixed up. I couldn’t stop laughing but she was right the first time she did look wonderful and I am a big fan of hers.

Sally is a wonderful wee chameleon and I think we can expect to see her in some monster films soon. Quite literally she’s starring in the big-budget Godzilla remake, due out this summer.

She praised her Blue Jasmine co-star Cate Blanchett and very humbly said her own nomination was all down to Cate. I’m speaking to the wonderful Ms Blanchett soon, so watch this space. I’ve made a few Oscar tips but if you’re fond of a flutter then back Cate to win the Oscar for Best Actress on March 2.

The Best Movie category is too tight to call at the moment I expect 12 Years A Slave, Gravity and American Hustle to each grab a few Oscars rather than one to sweep the boards completely.

The special Ross King Stunner of the Night Award at the Golden Globes could only go to Lupita Nyong’o, who is simply remarkable in 12 Years A Slave. She wore an incredible Ralph Lauren dress that looked like a cape. I asked her how she was, and she said: “I feel golden.” She looked like a superhero.

It wouldn’t be awards season if there weren’t a few technical hitches. At the Golden Globes, things went swimmingly . . . almost literally. A sprinkler malfunction at the venue meant the red carpet started to flood. As the water levels rose, so did an interesting smell.

I’ll not say what the odour was, but let’s just say a lot of people think Hollywood is absolutely full of it . . .