Brave Christina Applegate dazzles on the Emmys' red carpet

Christina Applegate bounced back from her recent breast cancer battle to grace the red carpet of the Primetime Emmys Awards in Los Angeles last night.

The 36-year-old actress looked dazzling in a one-shouldered, sky blue Reem Acra gown as she arrived at the Nokia Theater in Hollywood.

Just a month after she had announced she had beaten breast cancer after undergoing a double mastectomy, Applegate showed she was fighting fit and back in action.

Grecian goddess: Christina Applegate bounced back from her recent health problems to look stunning in a blue and gold gown at the Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles last night

Speaking on the red carpet, she told reporters: 'Things happen, and you have to really, really embrace your life. It's a great day… I've got a pretty dress on and lipstick, and (it's) something I haven't done in two months... Things happen, and you have to sit back and really, really embrace your life.

'For me to have a voice and be the voice of a 30-something-year-old girl going through this and dispelling the misnomers that it's an older woman's disease is a big part of this for me.'

Applegate was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series, but lost out to 30 Rock star Tina Fey, who also took home a writing gong for the same series.

Larking around: The actress was in high spirits and joked on stage as she presented an award with Christian Slater

The king and queen of TV: Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin picked up the biggest acting awards of the night for their comedy series 30 Rock

The former Married With Children star did get her moment on stage, presenting an award alongside Christian Slater.

British stars only managed two wins last night - Dame Eileen Atkins was named Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie for the BBC drama Cranford, adapted from Elizabeth Gaskell's classic novel, while Tom Wilkinson took home the male equivalent for his portrayal of America's founding father Benjamin Franklin in John Adams.

John Adams also secured an Emmy trophy for Tom Hanks, who picked up Outstanding Series as an executive producer, and Laura Linney, for Outstanding Lead Actress In A MiniSeries Of Movie.

Winning women: Glenn Close picked up Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series for Damages, while Laura Linney

One of Britain's big hopes last night, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant went home empty-handed, despite being nominated in three categories for Extras: The Series Finale.

Sunday's Emmys turned out to be a big night for U.S. comedy 30 Rock, with Fey taking home two awards and Alec Baldwin winning Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series.

Meanwhile, Glenn Close was also honoured with an Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series accolade for Damages.

Desperately fashionable? (L-R) Marcia Cross, Teri Hatcher, Eva Longoria, Felicity Huffman and Nicollete Sheridan presented an award

Summer brights: Teri Hatcher looked sunny in a canary yellow Monique Lhullier gown

Close paid tribute to her fellow category nominees, Sally Field, Mariska Hargitay, Holly Hunter and Kyra Sedgwick, as well as Dame Judi Dench and Helen Mirren, saying: 'We're proving that complicated, powerful, mature women are sexy, high entertainment and can carry a show.'

Despite not being nominated in any acting categories this year, the cast of Desperate Housewives were definitely winners in the fashion stakes... at least most of them.

Marcia Cross, Teri Hatcher and Nicollette Sheridan went for colourful strapless gowns, while Felicity Huffman opted for a full-length silver glittery gown.

Shunning the housewife style: Nicollette Sheridan looked striking in a Angel Sanchez purple gown, while Eva Longoria Parker opted for a silver Marchesa flapper-style dress

Party time: Emmys host Heidi Klum poses with Marcia Cross, in an Elie Saab prom dress, at the post-Emmys Governors Ball

Bucking the red carpet trend for flowing couture, Eva Longoria Parker made a fashion faux pas in a silver Marchesa flapper-style dress with an oversized bow.

The distracting bow and loose-fitting dress will inevitably fuel the pregnancy rumours which have surrounded the actress over the last couple of months.

Desperate Housewives' Marcia Cross takes her twins out to play

Marcia Cross certainly looked far from desperate as she enjoyed an afternoon out with her twin daughters Eden and Savannah, 19 months.

Effortlessly carrying her twin daughters - one in each arm - she hoisted the children into the park's sandpit to play.

And clearly she intended to have some fun herself as she had also removed her own shoes, as well as the twins.

All aboard: Desperate Housewives star Marcia Cross takes the strain and carried her twin daughters Eden and Savannah into the sandpit

The actress took the twins to Brentwood Park near her Los Angeles home, and seemed to manage the girls just fine without the aid of that celebrity staple - the nanny.

Proudly pushing them along in their double buggy, the 46-year-old star of TV's Desperate Housewives looked suitably dressed down for a day at the park.

Her casual look was a far cry from the super-starched glossy look worn by her character Bree Hodges.

But refreshingly for the Hollywood star, there were no ridiculous six inch heels being worn for a day out with the children.

Marcia Cross takes her twin daughters Eden and Savannah to play in Brentwood Park

The 46-year-old who is married to stockbroker Tom Mahoney, is currently appearing in the fifth series of the hit show.

Marcia and her Desperate Housewives' co-stars, Dana Delaney, Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Eva Longoria Parker and Nicollette Sheridan will be presenters at the Emmy Awards on Sunday.

In sync: Marcia and the children's attention is swayed by a passerby

Marcia Cross found herself using the men's in a bathroom emergency

It's a familiar situation and it seems not even celebrities are immune.

Marcia Cross and husband Tom Mahoney spent a romantic afternoon strolling hand in hand around the Cross Creek market area.

But when nature called, it appeared the actress couldn't wait to go to the restroom.

Bathroom emergency: Marcia Cross can't wait for the ladies to become available

Seeing the ladies restroom occupied, she didn't hesitate to jump into the men's.

Moments later, a relieved Marcia emerged from the men's to happily go about her day.

A casually dressed Marcia was wearing a necklace depicting the Hindu god Shiva around her neck and then suffered a bout of 'bad hair' as the wind got hold of it.

Crossed wires: The actress emerges from the men's in relief

The desperate housewife, who plays BreeHodge on the Channel 4 show, has been enjoying some well-earned time off after wrapping the latest series of her hit US show.

The finale, which has already aired in the US, flashes forward five years, offering viewers a glimpse into the future lives of the Wisteria Lane residents.

Next season promises to be eventful for her character Bree, who, says Cross, makes "a big leap."

She's gone out into the world and she's become a bit of a success."

Happy couple: Marcia Cross and husband Tom Mahoney in Malibu yesterday