Of course, the A List don't wake up red carpet ready. Just us like mere mortals, there's a sizeable chunk of time spent preening and prepping before big events to get the stars looking flawless from top-to-toe. Not like us, this getting-ready session doesn't involve a glass or three of red, a booming Taylor Swift playlist and hundreds of YouTube tutorials. Oh no, it happens behind closed doors at The Savoy hotel, where a trained glam squad team are on hand to get the stars ready for their close up with military precision.
I was lucky enough to sneak a peek inside the suite and try the treatments - and it's every bit as swanky as you'd imagine, yet the team promised me they could transform even my washed-but-not-styled, hastily-made-up self into an award winning screen queen. I was intrigued - my hair really did look terrible at this point. I had a chat with living hair legend, Charles Worthington, who's incredibly affable and funny, who suggested we use heated rollers, alongside his Charles Worthington Salon At Home BAFTA Limited Editon Body Boosting Mouse, £6.99, to create soft volume and defined, but loose, curls.
Charles has been the official hair stylist for the awards for seven years running now, so I just nodded and let him do his thing. He wetted my hair and blow-dryed it straight first - I'm a naturally curly girl - before popping the rollers into cool while I shuffled precariously into makeup.
At this point, the lovely Shehla Shaikh, Head Makeup Artist For Lancome got to work on my face. In her words, “ I created a flawless complexion with Teint Visionnaire Foundation in Shade 005, and gave a natural contour effect to the cheeks with the Blush Subtil Palette in 01. This palette is a Red Carpet must have, as it can also be used for eyes as well. Using the nude shade I framed the eyes and finished with lashings of Grandiose mascara. To finish the look, I created a statement lip by dabbing L’Absolu Velour in Shade 493 and then blended out with my fingers.” In my words, she made my skin look incredibly radiant, and naturally sculpted. Top marks.
Finally, I donned a Reiss frock and belt, as well as a gorgeous pearl ring from Yoko London, shook my hair loose, and I was ready to accept my award (for Best Resting Sad Face When Actually Happy.) The stars would also have a slick of tan and a neat mani to complete the look, but I felt pretty glammed up already by this point.
It's worth noting that I'm wearing considerably LESS makeup than normal here - I'm a fan of a slick (or eight) of mascara and would rather go out without tights in winter than without a cat eye, but maybe this is a wakeup call to put down the bronzer. Or maybe not. But this look was definitely more English Rose than my normal look, so hats off to the team.
