Who's that guy? Sandro Kopp!

Photo: Getty Images

Tilda Swinton's big coming out party at the Oscars -- just in time for her to appear in five more killer films in 2008 -- included one refreshing development not reported on by most red carpet commentators.

Swinton attended the show with her boyfriend, Sandro Kopp, a painter and her usual escort this year as she makes the celebratory rounds. Happily watching her win from home? Swinton's partner and father of her twin 10-year-olds, the playwright John Byrne. It was a happy little gift for the queer audience at my viewing party.

Swinton's open relationship arrangement recently made headlines in the UK -- typical tab sensationalism, of course, like "How Tilda Swinton stole my boyfriend for her menage a trois," and "White Witch shares her love potion with two men."

What's with all the hating on the (wo)man of the hour, who has not so surprisingly managed to score both an older and younger gentlemen companion? We cheered Ian McKellen when he brought a far junior date to the show, and we're cheering Tilda, too! She is, as they say, da man!

Plus, headlines aside, quotes from all parties involved tell a happy tale:

"We are all the best of pals," said Tilda. Sandro and Tilda travel the world, John, 67, keeps the home fires burning. It works, they explained, and everybody is happy.

The Daily Mail even coughed up a quote from Byrne extolling the virtues of polyamory:

Byrne agrees with Tilda's summation of their unusual relationship: "We're amicably living together in the same house, under the same roof. It's extraordinary.

"We love each other too, in an extraordinary way. We have always been the best of chums and will remain the best of chums for the rest of our lives.

"We love our children and our children love us. The rest is our business."

At least over at the LA Times' party blog, they're giving Tilda an enthusiastic high-five for her choice of dates:

By the way, I spotted Tilda at the Governor's Ball holding onto her Oscar and her handsome young artist boyfriend, You go, girl!

Apparently E! even popped the question in the press room:

A reporter from the "E!" network asked her about her about her "unconventional love life," referring to rumors that she has a husband and a boyfriend: "I don't have a husband. I've never been married. I have someone with whom I'm bringing up my children and I've lived with someone else. Maybe it's extraordinary that we're really all friends."

And she continued her long gender-bending tradition when asked if she was serious about giving her award to her agent:

"He deserves it more than me," she said. "I'm a man of my word."

Her acceptance speech (with bonus glimpse of the boyfriend as she stands up from her seat) remains the class act of the evening -- packed with a healthy dose of dry, sexy wit thrown in George Clooney's direction.

Previously > Tilda! > Dierks Bentley

Comments

[jessica b]

To further abuse an oft-overused gayism...FIERCE.