So what’s it really like going to the BAFTAS?

The inside scoop of a pleb

The Corinthia Hotel has both been a hotel for a very long time and not very long at all. Opened in 1885 as the Metropole, it hosted upper crust dinners and entertained royalty until the First World War, where it was commandeered by the Government. By the time the second world war ended, it had been repurposed permanently as Government buildings until 2007, where it was sold and reopened, this time under Crown Estates, (which is indeed the royal family’s ‘public’ estate and uses the money it makes to partially fund the monarchy, at least according to Wikipedia). It is a tall triangular white and terracotta wedge sitting only a couple of minutes outside of Embankment station, and while it looks nice in the bright Sunday morning sunshine, it doesn’t stand out too much among the riverside’s numerous elegant historical buildings. I trawl my suitcase in search of the door, which is also surprisingly discrete, one one set of rotating glass doors above a couple of white marble steps.

Walking across perfectly polished floors, I expect to be tackled by security at any moment. Despite it only being just past ten, I have already been awake for almost four hours, my hair a mess of artificial half curls and leftover sweat and hairspray.  I am wearing a vest and repurposed pyjama shorts as I accidentally left my only other pair of shorts behind. I ask for directions in my least poor accent, and all the staff are perfectly nice, quietly gesturing me upstairs with only a gentle hint of concern on their faces (and one cleaner who just so happens to ask me which room I am going to).

I arrive at the room and a woman I don’t know opens the door. She is young, stylish with a blunt bob I have yet to pull off. They guide me through into the room, where one woman is working closely at a sewing machine; another is doing Emma’s makeup by the light of the open window. I make light, just-about coherent chitchat before placing my suitcase down. I’ve got just over two hours; it is time to get ready for the BAFTAS.