NIGHT OF A THOUSAND STARS

The A-listers were out in force for the 30th Critics' Choice Awards in LA, and there were a few surprises

- SHELLEY SPADONI

The star-studded Critics’ Choice Awards, which celebrates critics’ top picks of the best in film and television – widely regarded as the most accurate predictor to The Oscars – finally took place on Friday 7 February.

The 30th edition of the glamorous ceremony saw comedian and actress Chelsea Handler, 49, return to host for the third year running – and as per previous years, she went down a storm.

After being postponed not once but twice, due to the recent devastating California wildfires, the show went ahead at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, with the crème de la crème of Hollywood dazzling on the red carpet.

The woman of the night, Demi Moore, tapped into the trend of the season with a black Schiaparelli dress that included an embellished corset bodice.

And she must have been walking on air, as she continued her winning streak with a Best Actress award, having already won a Golden Globe for her powerful turn in The Substance, a quirky film that explores the grim reality of ageing in Hollywood.

Now there are serious whispers that Demi’s barnstorming performance, as a faded star who discovers a black-market drug to create a younger model of herself, is a hot favourite for an Academy Award.

Accepting her Critics’ Choice Award, after a supportive squeeze from co-star Margaret Qualley (