LEARY LOVES GOLDEN GLOBES FREEBIES

Comedian DENIS (corr) LEARY was delighted when he was nominated for a GOLDEN GLOBE AWARD because he loves stealing items from backstage at prizegivings.

The funnyman, who was nominated as a Best Actor in a TV Drama Series for his part in firefighter series RESCUE ME, admits he grabs all the freebies he's offered, and then some.

He said, "I'm thinking about grabbing some free stuff and stealing ashtrays.

"They give celebrities all this free stuff but, here's the thing, in the rooms where you go to get the free stuff there's stuff that's not free that you can stick in the bags; they'll never notice.

"Plus, you're a celebrity; they're not gonna stop you... I take everything that's not bolted down."

Leary also hinted before last night's (16JAN05) ceremony that he might steal someone else's award - if he doesn't get one.

He added, "In that room, when you go to sneak a smoke with those other guys... there's gotta be a table full of those things.

"My award is up early and if I lose I go out, smoke a cigarette, fling - I got a Golden Globe. Three years from now no one's gonna remember."