September 22, 2008

Sophia Loren drag queen fooled Emmy party-goers

A drag queen who was the spitting image of Italian screen legend Sophia Loren fooled many guests at the Entertainment Tonight Emmy party with her convincing cleavage-and-glasses ensemble. The impersonator, who was accompanied by a less convincing Dolly Parton lookalike, was spotted wandering around Walt Disney Concert Hall where the post-Emmy bash was held. There were murmurs and double-takes among the crowd as she stood chit-chatting with "Dolly", watching Billy Idol perform.
Many were taken in by Loren's doppelganger, including one TV presenter who introduced herself to the drag queen as a huge fan. The fake Loren merely nodded and carried on walking.
A phone call to the PR firm that handled the party confirmed the truth: alas, the Sophia Loren we saw was not the real thing.
"We first saw her walking around First Street and Grand," said the publicist, who said she was concerned to see the septuagenarian icon hitting the pavement in downtown L.A. "Then we realized it wasn't her."
Other party-goers included the very real Brooke Shields, Amy Poehler, Kristin Chenoweth and the cast of "Mad Men", Larry Birkhead, Carrie Underwood and the whole "Entertainment Tonight" and "Insider" teams. The Stylephile chatted with "Desperate Housewives" costume designer Cate Adair, who had designed the one-of-a-kind $500,000 diamond and platinum clutch carried by Lara Spencer. We also said hello to L.A. fashion designer Kevan Hall, who had dressed Vanessa Williams that night, and Paula Abdul who was her usual agreeable self.
The Spanish tapas-style nibbles were by Joaquim Splichal's Patina Catering (major thumbs up to the paella and truffle butter mash). The 25lb gift bag, which contained vouchers for a weekend at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica, a month's membership at The Sports Club/LA and a Flip mini camcorder as well as countless other trinkets and fancies, was worth more over $1,000. "We're not getting taxed on this, are we?" asked one Endeavor agent. Let's hope not.

(Photo is of the real Sophia Loren)

September 22, 2008 in LOS ANGELES | Permalink