After the Awards, Time to Bask in the Golden Glow

If you feed them they will come. And so they did in hungry droves to the studio parties celebrating the winners of Sunday’s 56th annual Golden Globes. Of course in Hollywood the tastiest morsel is success which made the winners’ circles standing room only--in lines outside the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

The Paramount party, which feted dark-horse best dramatic actor Jim Carrey and supporting actor Ed Harris for “The Truman Show,” was so packed that guards temporarily blocked revelers from the bash. And Miramax, which boasted one of the evening’s biggest winners, “Shakespeare in Love,” quickly morphed into the ultimate hot party.

“It’s very crowded,” harrumphed Sean Connery, after toasting best comedic actor Michael Caine, who won for playing a sleazy talent manager in “Little Voice.” “The music’s too loud. It’s too hot. I have to go.”

Those who stayed were treated to a People magazine spread sprung to life, a tableau that included Gillian Anderson, Minnie Driver, Lauren Bacall, Noah Wyle, James Coburn, Christian Bale, Anne Bancroft, Faye Dunaway, Brenda Blethyn, Jodie Foster, Christine Lahti, “Shakespeare” producer Ed Zwick, Tina Brown and Cameron Diaz.

In a display of celebrity sisterhood, Diaz celebrated with Gwyneth Paltrow, who bested her in the race for best comedic actress. “Gwyneth is a very cool girl,” Diaz said.

A radiant Paltrow, who was besieged with well-wishers, returned the compliment. “I was sure Cameron was going to get it,” said the actress, who partied in different circles from Ben Affleck, reportedly now her ex-boyfriend. “I didn’t even prepare anything. I was absolutely blown away. I was totally inarticulate, and I tripped and I cried and it was a mess.”

Paltrow wasn’t alone. “I just cried my eyes out when Gwyneth won,” said Miramax chief Harvey Weinstein, whose love for “Shakespeare in Love” translated into his first producer credit.

“I’ve known her since she was 18 years old. She came to audition, and then she became great friends with us. And I wouldn’t let her do a movie she got cast in because they wanted her to take off her clothes. [Gwyneth and a friend at Miramax] were fighting with me, saying, ‘We can do whatever we want.’ And I said, ‘No, you can’t.’ But she’s old now. So now she tells me off.”

For “Shakespeare” director John Madden, the awards season love fest was a new experience.

“People are being very nice about the movie. Everybody wants to know what I’m doing next, as do I. But I’ll definitely be doing it with Harvey. He’s my man.”

Up on the roof of the garage, 20th Century Fox, which was shut out of the movie awards, quieted down after the cool TV kids left. Earlier, the studio celebrated its television bonanza in a party tent decorated with two kinds of screens that are big in L.A.--Japanese and TV. Party-goers clinked glasses in honor of writer-producer David Kelley, who scored Globes for two series, “Ally McBeal” and “The Practice,” which also picked up two acting awards.

“He’s extraordinary, and I guess this is his time,” said Camryn Manheim, who won best supporting actress for her role in “The Practice.” “He’s been recognized in dribs and drabs, but never with the full velocity that he deserves.”