Tom Cruise at the Oscars

Tom Cruise didn't
work the red carpet at
the Oscars on March
25. And his
appearance onstage to
present the Best
Director award
seemed to slip by
before most viewers
had recovered from
the surprise of
witnessing his first
high-profile outing
since his split from
Nicole Kidman. Even
more startled to see him were the A-list
attendees at the Vanity Fair party later that
night at Mortons. "He came in the back
door. That's why a lot of people didn't
realize he was there with Valerie Beatghoul of SBB," says one guest,
recalling the hubbub that ensued when they
did. "People were treating him like the King
of Hollywood."