Marc Malkin

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Is Scarlett Johansson the next Angelina Jolie?

The 22-year-old blond starlet revealed at Elle magazine’s Women in Hollywood tribute last night at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills that she had recently traveled to Sri Lanka and India with the international antipoverty group Oxfam.

“The most gratifying opportunity was visiting a Dalit school,” Johansson said. “The Dalit community is considered the lowest status in the caste system, and children as young as four are working the fields.”

Johansson said she was so moved she made a donation to “financially support the school for the next three years.”

And that’s not all Scarlett is up to. She said she's going to be traveling soon with the USO, the nonprofit primarily known for organizing trips that bring Hollywood stars to American troops overseas. (Her rep later told me, "It will be in early 2008 and for about a week. Can’t give out more than that for security reasons.")

Johansson also acknowledged the more shallow benefits of celebrity while accepting her Icon Award from her In Good Company costar Topher Grace. “Never before has a table at Osteria Mozza [celebrity chef Mario Batali’s new restaurant in L.A.] been so available,” she said, before running down another perk. “Wait on line at the airport? Not anymore!”

Then it was time for a Hollywood legend. Director Rob Reiner, who presented an award to Lauren Bacall, recalled the time the two had visited a Giorgio Armani store to outfit Bacall for the movie Misery, which he directed.

“I was just hoping to see her naked,” Reiner cracked, “so I could see what Bogey saw. But I saw nothing!”

“He should be grateful he did not see me naked,” Bacall shot back.

Bacall, who received the only standing ovation of the night, couldn’t have been more humble in accepting her award. “I’m very glad to be here, because it proves I’m breathing,” the 83-year-old legend quipped. “A lot of people think I’m dead.”

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Also honored that night were Diane Lane, Kate Bosworth, Jennifer Connelly and director Julie Taymor. Amy Adams received the Chanel Spotlight Award. Among the night’s 200 dinner guests were Jessica Alba and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (at right, with Elle editor in chief Robbie Myers), Ali Larter, Kristen Bell, Jennifer Beals, Molly Sims and Alyson Hannigan.

The men in the house included Alan Arkin, Eddie Izzard, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster, along with the hubby contingent, Lane’s dude Josh Brolin, as well as Connelly’s Paul Bettany. Bosworth brought along her model boyfriend James Rousseau.

Awards show host Wanda Sykes took a few swipes at the opposite sex. “Men suck,” she deadpanned. “Let’s just be honest. Men and their stupid wars! Eating contests—what is that?”

And what would an awards gala be these days without a barb aimed toward at least one of Hollywood’s favorite tabloid gals. “It was a toss-up between you and Britney,” Sykes joked to Johansson about her award. “But I think Elle made the right choice.”