Inside the Oscar Afterparties!

Sean Penn gets a free ride thanks to Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi at Elton John’s soiree. And the ladies had an equally laissez-faire approach to the night. “We didn’t make a big deal of it this year,” DeGeneres, who hosted last year’s Oscars, told PEOPLE. “It was very relaxing.”

At the Governor’s Ball, Anne Hathaway congratulated Best Original Screenplay winner Diablo Cody telling her, “You are so great. I am such a fan. I so adored [Juno].” Earlier, Cody had only one thing on her mind. “I have to eat so badly,” she told PEOPLE. “I’m going to faint.”

Eva Longoria Parker braves a late night to catch a performance by Prince at the funk star/Citizens of Humanity post-Oscar party at the 77, his new Beverly Hills home. Inside, the Desperate Housewives star fielded greetings from Diddy and the man of the hour himself.

It’s time for a toast! George Clooney and Sarah Larson raise their glasses to a glamorous evening at the Governor’s Ball. The ever-excitable Clooney was heard asking throughout the night: “Who wants champagne?”

Done with his Oscar hosting duties, Jon Stewart is free to relax and share a drink with Best Supporting Actor nominee Casey Affleck at the Governor’s Ball. But it didn’t turn into a late night for Stewart, who left with his wife just after 11 p.m.

Best Actor winner Daniel Day-Lewis proudly shows off his trophy on the way into the Governor’s Ball. Oscar aside, the Irish actor made his priorities for the evening known: “I have to get in to see my wife,” he told PEOPLE. “She’s been waiting!”

Javier Bardem celebrates his Best Supporting Actor win with a toast with friends, including girlfriend Penélope Cruz at the Miramax/Audi party at Bar Marmont.

At the Miramax/Audi party at Bar Marmont, No Country for Old Men‘s Josh Brolin and wife Diane Lane are inseparable – all night they held hands, cuddled and smooched. “They look happier than ever,” an observer tells PEOPLE.

With their kids at home with “the nannies,” Heidi Klum and Seal chat up Josh Groban at Elton John’s party. “It was a little crazy in our house getting ready for the Oscars,” Klum tells PEOPLE. “It takes a village – literally.” Groban was honored to be seated at the host’s table. “These are the legends,” he says of Elton and other stars. “I try to keep my jaw from the floor.”

Former Best Actress winner Helen Mirren greets Pride amp Prejudice star Rosamund Pike at the Governor’s Ball, where stars stopped by after the Oscar telecast.

At the Governor’s Ball, Jonah Hill connected with Sissy Spacek. Asked what he was wearing under his tux, the funnyman tells PEOPLE, “Just me, au naturel.”

Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart make a unified front at Elton John’s party. Their goal for the night? “We want to go see Elton,” Ford told PEOPLE excitedly.

Seal turns the tables – er, lens – at Elton John’s bash, capturing the action on his personal camera. The singer toted the camera in a plastic bag all night long.

After picking up the Best Actress award, Marion Cotillard takes her prize to Elton John’s annual bash at the Pacific Design Center, where she bumps into Entourage star Jeremy Piven.

Elton John makes sure guests Petra Nemcova and Sean Penn are enjoying his AIDS Foundation benefit, which, he says, almost didn’t happen. “A cancellation of the Oscars would have been a completely disastrous thing for us,” John told PEOPLE. “We gambled that it would happen, and we were very lucky that it did.”

Best Supporting Actor winner Javier Bardem squeezes in a little face time with Best Actor nominee George Clooney (and his girlfriend Sarah Larson) at the Governor’s Ball. At the bash, a jubilant Bardem headed straight to Clooney’s table, set down his Oscar and accepted congratulations from passersby.

Later, Bardem clutches his Oscar as he arrives at the Bar Marmont for the Miramax/Audi after party. Overwhelmed with emotion, the No Coutnry For Old Men star jumped up and down uncontrollably, holding his statue in the air as the partygoers raised a glass in his honor.

Best Actor nominee Viggo Mortensen warmly greets his female counterpart, Best Actress nominee Cate Blanchett, following the Oscar telecast. Although neither took home the prize, Mortensen tells PEOPLE, “I’m just very glad to be here, I’m just so proud of our moment.”

Kate Beckinsale, in Versace, has the best seat in the house – husband Len Wiseman’s lap – at Elton John’s party, which raised a total of $5.1 million. “Living in England, we get up at 4 a.m. to watch [The Oscars],” she tells PEOPLE. “It’s always been something I watched since I was a child.”

Upcoming Dancing with the Stars contestant – and Oscar winner – Marlee Matlin scopes out the scene at Billboard magazine and Children Uniting Nations party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. And the actress was in good company: DWTS pro Cheryl Burke and fellow season 6 contestant Cristién de la Fuente also attended.

Amy Adams, who performed “Happy Working Song” from Enchanted during the ceremony, finally takes a break from her crazed Oscars day, heading out of the Governor’s Ball. “I was in rehearsals all day from 9 a.m.” she tells PEOPLE. The highlight? “When I finished singing! It was such a relief! It’s been the only thing on my mind for a while so it’s nice that that’s behind me now.”