Los Angeles, September 20, 2006 – We met up with the elusive Gwyneth Paltrow twice on Wednesday. The London-based Oscar-winner deigned to mix with the Yanks – Angelenos, even! – first at a luncheon on a private estate celebrating her limited edition Pleasures fragrance collection by Estee Lauder. The proceeds go to breast cancer research, and guests included Laura Dern, Nicole Richie, Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon and cancer survivor Sheryl Crow.

Later that evening, Paltrow hit the Beverly Hills Hotel for Premiere magazine’s Women in Hollywood Icon Awards. The long day must have given her a headache, so Gwyneth tied a ribbon around her head and bravely carried on. (Must be that British stiff upper lip.) By the way, Gwynnie’s long blonde locks appear to be the real thing – no extensions for her.

A host of powerful Hollywood women came out for the icon awards, including Cate Blanchett, Judi Dench, Annette Bening, Sofia Coppola and Anjelica Huston. While this award gala is all about talent, Rachel Griffiths and Christina Applegate experienced that age-old female nightmare: wearing the same dress to the same party.