Kidman, Urban say G'Day USA in LA

Australian TV producing whiz David Hill poked fun at Donald Trump at the G'Day USA gala

Australia's stars, lubricated perhaps by plenty of Aussie wine, shone bright and poked and praised each other at the G'Day LA Gala in Hollywood.

The annual event also included a few digs about US President Donald Trump and honoured multiple Oscar winner Catherine Martin, trailblazing TV producer David Hill and Emmy Award-winning actor Ben Mendelsohn.

"Here I am barefoot and ready to talk," Nicole Kidman, who presented costume designer Martin with a lifetime achievement award, told the guests at the Dolby Ballroom in the complex that will host next month's Oscars.

Martin's filmmaker husband Baz Luhrmann, actors including Paul Hogan and John Travolta, chef Curtis Stone and super producer Brett Ratner were also in the audience.

Kidman praised Martin for transforming her into the beautiful lead of their hit film, Moulin Rouge.

"You gave me a 24 inch waste," Kidman said.

"You gave me boobs - big cleavage - something I had always wanted.

"You covered me in jewels."

Kidman and husband Keith Urban met at the 2005 G'Day gala and have been regular visitors since.

Urban presented Hill with a lifetime achievement award.

Hill, with Kerry Packer, transformed the way cricket was broadcast, then with Rupert Murdoch changed the way the NFL, NASCAR and other sports in the US were aired.

"According to the Trump White House there are 17 million people here tonight - largest audience ever," Hill told the audience of about 300.

"I am a former Mr Universe, a former Nobel Peace Prize winner and I've just turned 32 and I love alternative facts."

Mendelsohn was presented with an excellence in film and TV award from Gareth Edwards, his director on the latest Star Wars blockbuster, Rogue One.

Edwards joked how Mendelsohn had really made it because Target sells socks with the Australian's face on it.

The English director then pulled up his pants to show Star Wars socks with Mendelsohn's face on them.

The G'Day USA, in its 15th year, is Australia's premier public and economic diplomacy program in the US promoting Australian trade, tourism, film, food, wine and other business.

It is produced by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Tourism Australia and Austrade.


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Published 29 January 2017 6:40pm
Source: AAP


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