Oscar winning actress Tilda Swinton talked to Hello! Magazine about her career and nontraditional living arrangement. Swinton, 48, lives in a resort town in northeast Scotland with her 11 year-old boy and girl twins, Xavier and Honor, and their father, John Byrne, 68. Swinton is outspoken about the fact that she also has a younger boyfriend she travels with, Sandro Kopp, 30, a German artist.

She says that despite the media’s attempt to sensationalize her life, she’s friendly with her ex and there’s nothing scandalous about the fact that they’re living together as friends and raising their children. Byrne even has a new girlfriend, and Swinton jokes that they’re “a foursome”:

Although she and John “haven’t been sweethearts for a while”, they live together amiably - while this year Tilda revealed she has a new romantic partner, German artist Sandro Kopp, 30.

The couple met in 2004 on the set of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, on which Sandro was an illustrator. “Our situation’s must more ordinary than the papers would like to think,” she said. “Often people have children with people who’re no longer their sweetheart then have a relationship with someone new. What rarely happens is they’re still good friends and continue to live in the same house.”

Sandro now accompanies the actress on her travels and to red carpet events - and John has a new romantic partner, too. “He has a ladyfriend. A friendly lady! A sweetheart! I think it’s a foursome now,” she jokes.

[From Hello! Magazine, print edition, December 9, 2008]

Those quotes from Swinton might not be directly from Hello! and it sounds as if she may have said that earlier this month. They do have a unique interview with her, though, and she expands on her situation and is matter of fact about it. She also gives kind of whimsical, off-the-cuff responses, and sounds as if she really is having fun with the interview and doesn’t care how she comes across. Swinton describes herself as lazy and says the only reasons she gets out of bed are for movies and her kids:

On her living arrangement
“I spend most of my time in Scotland with John and our children. I’ve known John since I was 24 - half of my life…

“There’s no need to have secrets about this - when I’m at home there’s John and when I travel I’m with Sandro. Sometimes, we’re all together.”

On preferring to stay in bed
“Most of all I like being at home, in bed. I’m terribly lazy.

“The things that get me out of bed are my children, shooting a film and a film I want to see in the cinema.”

On happiness
“I like silence a lot. Once it’s silent you have the possibility of finding yourself and can be along with yourself. That feeling comes very close to happiness.”

On how she would describe herself
“I feel like a rocket that’s getting rid of the fuel tanks - and even the basic rocket. Only the space capsule is flying towards a new goal, which I can’t see.”

[From Hello! Magazine, print edition, December 9, 2008, subheaders added]

Swinton usually doesn’t wear makeup and her fashion can be described as eccentric. She told Hello! that she’s often mistaken for a man and that “People call me ‘Sir’ in American hotels.”

Ever since I watched Swinton’s very funny and inventive Oscar acceptance speech, where she won best supporting actress for Michael Clayton, I’ve been a fan. I didn’t really “get” her just seeing photos at events. She’s a unique personality and is unapologetic and open about her life without seeming to have an agenda. I hope to see her in a lot more films, but if I don’t, I doubt it will affect her either way. Maybe she’ll get out of bed a little more though, if she’s to be believed.

Tilda Swinton is shown in a rare occasion wearing makeup at the BAFTA awards on 11/6/08. Credit: Juan Rico/Fame. She is also shown with Sandro Kopp at the airport on 3/12/08. Credit: Fame

Actress Tilda Swinton, 47, has a very amusing interview with Newsweek in which she kind of jokes around with the journalist, telling him she’s naked and acknowledging the rumors that she’s really a guy in disguise. She says that after she won the Oscar for best supporting actress for last year’s Michael Clayton she decided to give it to her agent. An Oscar isn’t that big of a deal in her household, she explains:

One of your fans writes about you online, “This dude is my favorite actor.”
Really? It’s a very nice compliment to be called a dude.

Is it true you don’t like wearing makeup?
Well, I mean, I love wearing makeup. But if you want to look like yourself, it’s not such a good plan. You end up looking like someone else.

Are you wearing makeup now?
Right now? Not a stitch. I’m not actually wearing any clothes right now. The man who’s driving the car is enjoying this very much. No, he’s enjoying the joke. There isn’t time. Think how much time it takes people to get made up.

I wouldn’t know. I’m a guy.
Well, so am I, then. And there are people who think I am.

Where’s your Oscar?
I gave it away to my agent.

Did you even keep it for a night?
I took it to Scotland, as some kind of proof mechanism, and everybody got bored with it after four or five hours.

Why?
Believe it or not, I feel it’s almost sacrilegious to say this, it really doesn’t mean that much to people where I live. In my house, they don’t even recognize the shape of it. We don’t even have a television. They were kind of intrigued with it, like they’d be intrigued if you had come in with a cucumber and put it on the table, and say, “This is interesting.”

[From Newsweek via Huffington Post]

Swinton definitely is a character and you can tell she doesn’t take herself too seriously - kind of like George Clooney. No wonder those two get along so well.

Earlier this year there were stories about Swinton’s relationship with a 29 year-old German artist who has been photographed accompanying her on the red carpet and at events. She still lives with the father of her 10 year old twins, a 48 68 year-old painter named John Byrne. Byrne is said to be ok with the situation, and Swinton’s younger lover has even been seen visiting the family home in Scotland. No wonder people joke that she’s a dude. There are plenty of men who would love to get away with Swinton’s arrangement.

Swinton stars with George Clooney, Brad Pitt, John Malkovich and Frances McDormand in Burn After Reading, which is currently number one at the US box office after its opening weekend.

Swinton is shown outside The Late Show on 9/3/08. Credit: Patricia Schlein/WENN

Last night Brad Pitt was given the trophy he won last year from the Venice Film Festival for best actor in 2007’s The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. The awards at the festival are handed out on the last night, at which point a lot of stars have gone home. Pitt had a run-in with a crazed fan at last year’s Venice Film Festival, which gave him even more reason to hightail it home. Usually the trophies are mailed to the stars, but it seems they held on to Pitt’s in order to make a big deal out of handing it to him:

Now back as star of the Coen brothers’ “Burn After Reading,” which opened the festival, Brad Pitt was handed the prize at last.

“I guess you forgot something here years ago,” said the mistress of ceremonies, handing him the gold cup.

“You can run but you can’t hide,” Pitt said accepting it. “It was an honor to receive this last year and it’s an honor to receive it this year. Thank you very much.”

It’s common for stars not to be present to accept the Venice Film Festival awards. The prizes are bestowed on the fest’s final night at which point most celebs have gone home. Sometimes winners turn around and hurry back to reap the honor, but often they can’t. That’s what happened to Ben Affleck. Two years ago he found out that he won best actor for “Hollywoodland” soon after he landed in Los Angeles after returning from Venice. Affleck scrambled to try to arrange flights to get back before the fest officially closed, but without success.

Last year Brad Pitt attended the Venice Film Festival to promote “Jesse James,” but left before awards night after being jumped by a crazed fan who pushed past his bodyguards and threw her arms around the heartthrob star. Pitt was obviously shaken by the ambush and said afterward, “I haven’t been jumped like that in a while. It tells me that we’re vulnerable. It’s something I have been thinking about, but I don’t want to change my life to avoid those kind of things. I’ve had break-ins in the house and I’m dealing with a recent one now. You also develop a radar. You feel it when you are approached by unbalanced people.”

It’s strange, however, that the Venice Film Festival didn’t ship the award to Pitt after he won. That’s how Affleck eventually caught up with his golden cup.

[From The LA Times]

The mistress of ceremonies also congratulated Pitt on his twins and handed him a yellow flower - saying it was for his “friend George.”

Some reviews are in for Burn After Reading and they’re disappointing. Variety trashes it, calling it “sophomoric,” “immature” and “silly.” The Hollywood Reporter says it’s a “minor piece of silliness” full of idiotic characters and that some may love it and others will want to leave it.

Here is some footage for a press conference for “Burn After Reading” in which Brad and George get asked those stupid questions that they joke about. It’s not as funny when you see it. You can tell Brad’s “two more kids by next year” was just a throwaway comment.

And here are pictures from the premiere at the film festival last night as well as the opening night party. Thanks to WENN.

Brad Pitt and George Clooney have brought their hotness, and in Brad’s case his two older sons, to the Venice Film Festival to promote their Coen brothers film Burn After Reading, which premieres tomorrow. Last night they attended a gala for their charity Not on Our Watch, which has raised millions for people in war torn Sudan and cyclone-striken Myanmar. The charity’s director explained their reasoning for having a fundraising event there, saying that it was hard to coordinate schedules and they may as well do something while the two were both at the same place.

Pitt and Clooney also had a photocall for Burn After Reading today, where they gave glib responses to reporters asking the same old questions. You can see how they encourage each other to joke around when they’re together.

Clooney on whether he’s ever going to get married
“I am so surprised to hear that question. This honestly is the first time I’ve ever been asked that question. I’m getting married and having children today.”

Pitt: “And until then, I’ll be sharing mine with him.”

Pitt on how many kids is enough
[joking] “I’ll have two more by next year.”

He also said “The twins are fine.”

Clooney and Pitt on politics and the DNC
Clooney: “I’m happy to be here. This is one of my favorite places in the world to be. I like to watch the conventions on TV. I think the stars of the convention should be the people who are being elected.”

I’m pessimistic, but I’m optimistic. I think it’s a very exciting time in American politics.”

Pitt: “I’m optimistic, too. It’s a vital time. It’s a defining time. I’m excited about where things are going.” [People]

There’s a palpable excitement when these two get together, and I love seeing the photos. Someone should make a comedy that has a solid plot and stick all the Oceans men together again. Oh wait - there’s Burn After Reading coming. Can’t wait for that movie.

Thanks to WENN for these photos from the photocall today. Also shown are Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand - love her!, Joel Coen, and Ethan Coen.

Tilda Swinton won the “Best Supporting Actress” category, which was generally considered to be wide open. The nominees also included Cate Blanchett for “I’m Not There,” Ruby Dee for “American Gangster,” Saoirse Ronan for “Atonement,” and Amy Ryan for “Gone Baby Gone.”

“Tilda Swinton’s soulless corporate drone was a marvelous performance; against all odds, you still feel something for her even though she so clearly deserves the fate that titular lawyer Michael Clayton orchestrates for her.”

[From the Chronicle Herald]

Tilda looked genuinely shocked when she was announced as the winner. Though her outfit left a bit to be desired, she was obviously thrilled to win – though it appeared she didn’t have a speech prepared. Swinton started her speech by saying, “Oohh, no.” She then looked down at her statue and noted:

“Happy Birthday, man. I have an American agent who is really truly the spitting image of this [her award]. The shape of the head… and it must be said, the buttocks. So Brian Swordstrom, I’m giving this to you.”

[From the Academy Awards]

Swinton then thanked George Clooney and his dedication to all his roles. She made a joke about the commitment George showed when he played Batman, noting, “George Clooney, you know, the seriousness and the dedication to your art, seeing you climb into that rubber batsuit from `Batman & Robin’ — the one with the nipples, every morning under your costume, on the set, off the set, hanging upside-down at lunch — you rock man.” It was pretty funny, especially because of her dry delivery. It led to quite the visual image. Congrats to Tilda!

Header image of Tilda Swinton leaving a pre-Oscar party at Mr. Chow restaurant in Los Angeles, California. Photo thanks to Splash.

Note by Celebitchy - Here’s Tilda’s acceptance speech

“Michael Clayton” and “Chronicles of Narnia” star Tilda Swinton has been enjoying an open relationship with the father of her children, playwright John Byrne, for quite a while. Tilda, 47, is living with Byrne, 67, with whom she has 10 year-old twins. But while she was filming “Narnia,” Tilda met 29-year-old Sandro Kopp, an actor and artist. She was very attracted to him, and with the blessing of the father of her children, Swinton now divides her time between the two men. Tilda takes her younger man with her to movie shoots, premieres and awards ceremonies, and even brings him to the home she shares with Byrne and the children. Apparently, Tilda’s live-in man isn’t so pleased with all the attention their arrangement has been getting.

If you didn’t have a Valentine Thursday, then perhaps you can blame Tilda Swinton: The greedy swine has two.

The Academy Award nominee is expected to attend the ceremony next weekend with her new guy, German artist Sandro Kopp, 29. Swinton, 47, played the White Queen and he a centaur-extra in 2005’s “The Chronicles of Narnia.”

But the ethereal British actress is also still with John Byrne, 67, the father of her 10-year-old twins, Honor and Xavier.

Swinton attended Sunday’s BAFTA awards - the British Oscars - with Kopp and her kids. Then they all went back to the large house she shares with Byrne in Scotland, where he greeted them at the door.

Questioned by a reporter about who gets the bedroom in that arrangement, Byrne growled, “I wouldn’t encourage you to ask anything like that.”

[From the NY Daily News' Gategrasher]

Byrne has also been quoted as saying that he and Swinton are “the best of chums” and that, “We love our children and our children love us. The rest is business.”

Open relationships fascinate me. On paper, they sometimes seem like they could really work for everyone, but I’ve rarely seen it happen in real life. Somebody always ends up getting hurt– after all, these are human beings we’re talking about. It doesn’t sound like Tilda’s live-in man is all that enthusiastic about the arrangement, but doesn’t want to lose his partner or break up the family. And Tilda? Well, she’s got the solid, older man at home taking care of their sons, and the yummy younger man to travel the world with. Sounds like a plan to me. But who knows how long it will all last?

Picture Note by Celebitchy: Tilda Swinton is shown at the Bafta Awards on 2/10/08, thanks to PRPhotos. People say how great it is that she’s an original and everything, but would it kill her to wear some makeup?