Forget the frocks ... it's time to reclaim the red carpet, says Jennifer Saunders
Frances Hannon (L) and Mark Coulier (R), winners for the Best Makeup & Hairstyling Award for "The Grand Budapest Hotel" pose in the press room with actress and presenter Reese Witherspoon (C) during the 87th Oscars on February 22, 2015 in Hollywood, California
Jennifer Saunders attends the Elle Style Awards 2015 at Sky Garden @ The Walkie Talkie Tower on February 24, 2015 in London
/
Showbiz events must stop being like beauty pageants, according to Jennifer Saunders, who said: "We have to reclaim the red carpet."
The Absolutely Fabulous actress said it should be about stars' work and not all about what dress they are wearing.
Asked at the Elle Style Awards in London about famous women always being questioned about their appearance and clothes, Saunders (56) said: "Yes it's awful, so we have to reclaim the red carpet. It has to stop being just a beauty pageant.
"It's almost taken over from Miss World."
Job
"It should be more about the person's work I suppose. They're on the carpet for a reason. They're not on the carpet because they're wearing that dress.
"They're on the carpet because they've done a good job at something," she said.
Her comments follow a Twitter campaign around Sunday's Oscars ceremony under the hashtag #AskHerMore calling for questions to cover careers and aspirations, rather than their partner or outfit.
Oscar nominee Reese Witherspoon posted sample questions on Instagram ahead of the ceremony to helpfully advise those interviewing the stars as they arrived for the ceremony.
See page 15