2 Feet from Leo

Recapping my night at the SAG Foundation's 30th Anniversary.

(event images by Getty Images)

wearing Christine Alcalay dress. Sarah Magid cuffs. Nicole Miller Blazer (similar here). Kurt Geiger heels. Salvatore Ferragamo bag.

It's basically girl code to never turn down an invitation to be in the same room as Leonardo DiCaprio, which is where I found myself at the SAG Foundation's 30th Anniversary Celebration with Champagne Taittinger. The evening honored Leo with the Actors Inspiration Award, preceded by a montage presentation of his best work since he was a babyface (cue major swooning). But let's rewind just a bit --

The freshly opened Wallis Annenberg Center For The Performing Arts in Beverly Hills was transformed into a relaxing yet glittering red carpet scene for the VIP cocktail reception hosted by Champagne Taittinger. Actors made their way off the step-and-repeat to sign the huge Champagne Taittinger bottle for charity benefitting the SAG Foundation; I was just 2 feet from Leo when he signed the bottle! I only ever get starstruck with a select few in the world and Leo has that highest honor. The night began with toasts of Taittinger Brut La Française, poured by Taittinger Ambassador Jordane Andrieu (who has the best hair ever). Jordane is also the owner of Heritage Fine Wines, a lovely French wineshop and bar just across from the Wallis Annenberg Center that I must visit soon. After a short time of mingling and getting to know my co-blogger Marissa Ross by seeing how much champagne we can down before the show starts, the show starts! An uplifting jazz performance segued into opening speeches by the SAG Foundation and onward to dazzling performances by artists like Darren Criss and Estelle. There were infomercial-like video here and there about everything cool the SAG Foundation does for their members, which I found fascinating as I'm a wide-eyed newbie in the world of acting. In addition to Leo, the SAG Foundation also honored Empire's Lee Daniels, American Hustle producer Megan Ellison, and Into the Woods director Rob Marshall with the Patron of the Artists Award. Each of the recipient's speeches was super inspiring and thoughtful, words you rarely hear on TV broadcasts. The show finished after Leo (because who can follow up him?) and the crowd parlayed their way back to the reception where dinner was served and the bubbly endlessly flowed for a Thursday night. I slept very soundly that night, a little because of the champagne, and mostly because 2 feet from Leo was already everything.

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