The most memorable celebrity moments from Flemington’s Derby Day Birdcage
In a normal year, some of the world’s biggest stars would flock to Flemington on Derby Day. Look back at the most memorable celeb visits, and watch Confidential’s virtual Birdcage chats with Jon Stevens, Danny O’Brien, Rob Mills and Nadia Bartel.
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Derby Day is usually the best star-spotting day of the four race days that make up the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Superstar guests are paid top dollar to attend on the carnival’s first Saturday, which kicks off the biggest week of socialising on the A-lister calendar.
Over the years, big names have swarmed into the Birdcage enclosure.
CONFIDENTIAL AT DERBY DAY: Watch our virtual Birdcage chats with rocker Jon Stevens, Melbourne Cup Carnival ambassador Nadia Bartel, horse trainer Danny O’Brien, Fashions on Your Front Lawn ambassador Rob Mills and stylist Victoria Latu above.
And to mark the beginning of our Herald Sun Confidential in the virtual Birdcage livestream series, in conjunction with Grainshaker Vodka, take a look back at some of our favourite unforgettable Derby Day guests.
EVA LONGORIA, 2005
She was the hottest star in the world at the time and there was a massive entourage fussing around the tiny Desperate Housewives star.
The only thing was they missed the black-and-white memo. She was Myer’s big international guest and made a whirlwind 24-hour trip to Melbourne.
“You always hear about this country called Down Under and all the cliches, like how everyone looks like Crocodile Dundee,” Longoria said.
“That’s the only correlation we Americans have so it’s nice to come here and know it’s totally wrong.”
Longoria also judged Fashions on the Field.
NAOMI CAMPBELL, 2013
Like a true supermodel, Campbell stole the spotlight as the biggest guest of the week.
She arrived late to the Lexus marquee just as the main race was being run, but her style made up for the wait.
Nailing the black and white vibe, she looked classic cool in a strapless Christian Dior black and white dress and Philip Treacy hat.
It’s believed she pocketed an eye-watering $75,000 for her brief appearance.
LIZA MINNELLI, 2009
The fabulously talented performer made a lasting impact on the Carnival.
Arriving armed with her list of diva demands, which included “not doing stairs”, she had to be carried up to the Myer marquee by some burly bodyguards.
The intimate concert she did at Luminare in South Melbourne for racegoers at the Myer Derby After Dark party, was described as brilliant and authentic. A true star.
KATE BOSWORTH, 2006
Movie star Kate Bosworth channelled the 1920s with a draped gown and beaded headpiece that divided fashionable opinion.
She was Motorola’s face of the spring racing carnival, and the Superman Returns actor kept a low profile during her visit.
“I’m a normal person. I don’t have a different outfit for every day of the year,’’ she said.
NICOLE KIDMAN, 2012
The cameras gathered like never before when the Oscar winner’s star power graced the Birdcage in 2012.
The Australian star was a picture of elegance in a My Fair Lady-inspired L’Wren Scott figure-hugging white-lace gown, paired with wide-brimmed hat made from recycled plastic bottles by British milliner, Stephen Jones.
She was all smiles, chatting with guests in the Swisse marquee and staying trackside longer than expected.
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