UK NEWS

BYRNE'S DELIGHT FOR TILDA AS SHE PARTIES WITH LOVER

DELIGHTED: Swinton (second left) with Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard and Javier Bardem

Tuesday February 26,2008

By Tom Fullerton

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TILDA Swinton woke her long-term partner John Byrne at their Scottish home to tell him she’d won an Oscar – after he slept through her big moment.

Paisley-born Byrne, 68, knew nothing about Tilda’s Best Supporting Actress win because there is no TV in the mansion he shares with Swinton and their twins, Xavier and Honor, in the Highland resort of Nairn.

Byrne didn’t attend the Hollywood ceremony because he was too busy working on his new play. Swinton, 47, took her young lover Sandro Kopp instead.

The 30-year-old German artist travels the world with her – with Byrne’s blessing.

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John said yesterday: “The first I knew of it was when my phone rang at two minutes past four. I was half asleep and could only hear this quiet voice on the other end whisper, ‘I’ve won!’ I am so thrilled for her. I couldn’t go because I am working on a new play, which opens in April, so Sandro went with her to the Oscars. We all love him dearly. I love him and the twins love him.”

Speaking about Byrne, Tilda said: “We are the best of pals and adore being parents and are devoted to that project. We ostensibly live in the same house, but I travel the world with another delightful painter.”