Aniston Jokes About Best Actress Bribe

By Stephen M. Silverman

10/09/2002 at 01:00 PM EDT

Monday's Hollywood Film Festival Awards gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel brought out more star power than any event since the Oscars.

The attendance roster included Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio, Warren Beatty, Cameron Diaz, Harrison Ford, Jodie Foster, Mike Myers, Billy Crystal, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Aniston -- who was in disbelief over being named best actress for her role in "The Good Girl."

Explaining her victory to TV's "Extra," the "Friends" star, 33, said, "I must have slipped someone a good 20 along the way."

There was fun to be had, for sure, Variety reports (which also pointed out that one way the event drew such big names was because nine of the 21 awards were for some kind of life achievement, and each honoree had brought along his or her own major-name presenter).

Accepting his movie of the year award for "Minority Report," Spielberg, 56, quipped: "A lot of unusual things happened this year. 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' outgrossed my big fat Tom Cruise movie."

Naomi Watts, 33, recipient of the Breakthrough Acting Award, pointed out with a sigh that the trophy was her latest in a long line of newcomer awards for a movie released a year ago ("Mulholland Drive"). She then asked the crowd, "Do I ever get to arrive?"

And Tom Hanks was pulled into action from his table to present a screenwriting award because original presenter Elizabeth Taylor proved a no-show.

The "Road to Perdition" star, 46, didn't fail to entertain. He stood at the podium with a cell phone and ad-libbed into it: "Yes, you have a sore throat, and a head cold and a vicious bloody nose ... OK, yes, thank you Mrs. Burton."