Following the event on Saturday night (30Jan16), a picture emerged of Kate posing alongside Susan and Boardwalk Empire actor Michael Shannon.

In the shot, Kate is seen gasping as she places her hand on Susan's chest.

Asked to explain the picture during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Monday night (01Feb16), Kate laughed: "I can tell you, I'm feeling Susan Sarandon's t*ts.

"I didn't ask (her) permission. I know, I'm shameless. I think I might have touched Kristen Wiig’s butt too!"

Susan defied her 69 years at the annual awards, looking incredible in a white trouser suit with just a black bra underneath.

Kate is a regular fixture on the red carpet during awards season, with her nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Steve Jobs marking her sixth nod from the Academy. She also won a prestigious golden statuette in 2009 for The Reader.

But this year, Kate is feeling somewhat competitive.

"It's such a strange and wonderful time, awards season," she said. "I suddenly realised recently that we find ourselves in this incredible situation, to have entered a competition that we did not choose to enter. And then, you find yourself really wanting to win."

She has also been seen at catching up with her Titanic co-star Leonardo Dicaprio at the awards ceremonies this year (16), with the actor nominated at most events for his role in The Revenant.

After the recent SAG awards, the pair being seated next to each other caused something of a storm on social media, which Kate admits is "endearing" considering they made the movie back in 1997.

"People are always so excited to see Leo and myself in the same space, which at the end of the day, that's so lovely," she said. "It's been 20 years and people still get such a kick out of it. It's really quite endearing."