Actress Uma Thurman waves to the crowd gathered at London's Hyde Park as guests, like herself, arrive for a formal dinner party in celebration of former South African president Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday, Wednesday, June 25, 2008.
Actor Denzel Washington, right, escorts his wife, Pauletta, to a birthday dinner for former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela in London's Hyde Park on June 25, 2008. Washington revealed he was old friends with Mandela. "It's a celebration as well as, obviously helping to raise money. That's why we're here," he said. Proceeds of the events being held in Mandela's honor will benefit his 46664 charity.
Actor Forest Whitaker and his wife, Keisha, were among the A-list stars at a dinner for Nelson Mandela, in central London's Hyde Park, Wednesday, June 25, 2008. The dinner kicked off a week of events celebrating the former South African president's 90th birthday.
Actress Uma Thurman, left, and Arpad Busson arrive for the birthday dinner party for former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela in central London's Hyde Park, Wednesday, June 25, 2008.
Actors Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith arrive for dinner in honor of former South African president Nelson Mandela in central London's Hyde Park, Wednesday, June 25, 2008. The formal dinner kicked off a week of events, including an outdoor concert in Mandela's honor at Hyde Park on Friday to raise money for AIDS research.
Singer Joan Baez arrives for a birthday dinner party for former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela in central London's Hyde Park, Wednesday, June 25, 2008.
Irish singer and activist Bob Geldof arrives for the dinner birthday in honor of the former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, in London's Hyde Park, Wednesday, June 25, 2008. Mandela is in London for a week of events to celebrate his 90th birthday, including an outdoor concert in his honor at Hyde Park on Friday with proceeds going to Mandela's 46664 charity.
Singer Neil Diamond arrives for the dinner party celebratign the 90th birthday of Nelson Mandela, in central London's Hyde Park, Wednesday, June 25, 2008. A concert in Mandela's honor on Friday will benefit the former South African president's 46664 charity.
Oprah Winfrey gives photographers the thumb's up as she arrives for a birthday dinner for former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela in central London's Hyde Park, Wednesday, June 25, 2008. Winfrey, a strong supporter of Mandela's charitable work, said the 90th birthday celebrations were a chance for the world to thank the former president and Nobel laureate for everything he'd done.
British singer Annie Lennox arrives for a formal birthday dinner in honor of former South African president Nelson Mandela in London, Wednesday, June 25, 2008. A fierce opponent of apartheid during the 1980s, Lennox hailed Mandela as a symbol of hope. "Hope over despair, hope over impossibility, and it's just beautiful to see him at 90 years old," she said.
Actress Kim Cattrall arrives for a birthday dinner honoring Nelsom Mandela in central London's Hyde Park, Wednesday, June 25, 2008. Among the invitees to the celebration of the former South African president'a 90th birthday were political leaders such as former President Bill Clinton, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown - and a host of celebrities from the world of music and movies.
Actor Robert De Niro, left, and his wife, Grace Hightower, arrive for a formal birthday in honor of Nelson Mandela's upcoming 90th birthday, in central London's Hyde Park, Wednesday, June 25, 2008. Mandela is in London for a week of events to celebrate his birthday, including an outdoor concert in his honor at Hyde Park on Friday with proceeds going to his 46664 charity.
British model Naomi Campell, left, arrives for a birthday dinner party for former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela in London's Hyde Park, Wednesday, June 25, 2008.
British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, left, and girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger arrive for a birthday dinner for former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela in London's Hyde Park, Wednesday, June 25, 2008. Hamilton is among the stars scheduled to attend a concert at Hyde Park on Friday that coincides with the 20th anniversary of London's Free Mandela concert, held to demand he be freed from prison.
Oprah Winfrey arrives for a dinner party celebrating Nelson Mandela's upcoming 90th birthday in London's Hyde Park, Wednesday, June 25, 2008. Actors Robert De Niro, Will Smith, Pierce Brosnan, Denzel Washington and Kim Cattrall topped the bevy of A-listers gathered for the formal dinner for the former South African president.