Annette Bening Feted in Ferretti

Still basking in the glow from the warm reception of her latest film "The Kids are All Right," a radiant Annette Bening was in Washington, DC Sunday evening to accept a prestigious award for her contributions to Shakespearean theatre.

Ms. Bening, who has played some of the Bard's best known leading ladies such as Lady Macbeth and Juliet, seemed to instead channel perhaps her most popular role as Sydney Ellen Wade, the elegant lobbyist girlfriend of the commander-in-chief she portrayed in the 1995 hit "The American President."

She was no-frills chic in a simple black dress by Alberta Ferretti, but accessorized with delicate diamond earrings and sexy eyewear at the annual Harman Center for the Arts Gala benefit for Washington's Shakespeare Theatre Company.

While Ms. Bening chatted with guests as if they were old friends, her Hollywood legend hubby Warren Beatty was in a tight huddle with fellow power couple Andrea Mitchell and Alan Greenspan.
There have been numerous media reports of late indicating that the Bening-Beatty marriage is on the rocks, but the duo seemed happy and relaxed working the room together.

At the end of the gala, Ms. Bening accepted the William Shakespeare Award for Classical Theatre and closed her remarks with a stirring soliloquy from "Romeo and Juliet".

She returned to her seat in the audience and received an affectionate embrace from her real life Romeo at her side.