EMMA THOMPSON - EMMA THOMPSON LOVES HAPPY HOLLYWOOD

British actress EMMA THOMPSON jumped at the chance to present at the Golden Globes on Monday night (16JAN06) because it gave her an excuse to leave miserable England.

The SENSE + SENSIBILITY star hates the British winter and couldn't wait to touch down in Los Angeles after a Christmas spent peeling potatoes and picking headlice out of her daughter's hair in remote Scotland.

Appearing on Thursday night's (12JAN06) THE TONIGHT SHOW in America, the actress said, "I can't tell you what a thrill it was to get off the plane in Los Angeles and suddenly see lovely, shiny orange people, all brown and tanned... and looking as though they'd slept.

"Our country... at the end of the year, it just becomes a very tragic little grey place with little people all wandering around feeling bitter and twisted about the fact that they've had to spend all their money of Christmas presents and the family have been misbehaving.

"The weather's foul. Thank God I'm here."