Last night’s (September 12) bash of the night during the Toronto International Film Festival was the gala party celebrating the very gritty film Precious, held at the Royal Ontario Museum.

Her royal highness Oprah, who’s a producer on the Oscar-bound drama, was there in person. She was joined by the film’s stars Paula Patton, Mariah Carey and Gabourey ‘Gabby’ Sidibe, who plays the titular abused teen mom who gets inspired by her teacher (Patton).

In comparison to previous past, T.I.F.F. has been rather quiet. Mariah, who typically incites rather excited responses from fans, has kept a low profile while promoting her. The 39-year-old diva, who plays a dowdy counsellor in the film, loved the book and jumped at the opportunity to shed her glamorous onstage persona.

“A lot of people tell me they don’t recognize me,” she said. “That, to me, was a great gift.”