Continuing the Oscar season glory, we now have full coverage from yesterday’s Oscar Nominees Luncheon! Nicole looked gorgeous in a papaya silk chiffon with black fingerprint motif and a bow blouse halter dress by Yves Saint Laurent, with a Prada clutch. This is my favourite look of hers so far this awards season – the dress is classy and appropriate, and finally, she wears some colour!
As posted about yesterday while the event was streaming live, there was a short press conference in which all the acting nominees had a few minutes to answer questions from the press. After that, all nominees (150 out of 190 attended) posed for a group photo, and then were awarded their nominee certificates. Isn’t it wonderful to see Nicole back in the mix? She looks pretty happy to be there, and I think it must be a really fun event full of celebration.
Further down this post are articles and a few videos from the event, and in the Gallery you will find 60+ gorgeous HQs!
The livestream is being repeated on the link I posted yesterday (look a few posts back) so if you missed it yesterday you can watch it again. Nicole’s segment was very cute and she was very eloquent, gracious and surprisingly confident, so definitely worth a watch! I managed to record her segment, and although it’s very poor quality, it’s better than nothing so I will upload that once the livestream repeat is taken off. Though having said that, if anyone finds a full version of her press conference, or can record it properly from the livestream then please let me know!
Enjoy the photos!!
• Oscar Nominees Luncheon – High Quality x65
Natalie Portman, Nicole Kidman Discuss Awards Season Style Picks
Expectant mom and “Black Swan” star Natalie Portman has certainly been the talk of the fashion world for her style choices this awards season, but the 29-year-old seemed somewhat confused that style has become such a big deal in the industry.
“It’s certainly all about leaving space for growth,” Portman told the press at the 83rd Academy Awards Luncheon in Beverly Hills on Monday, when asked to elaborate on her fashion choices for the upcoming showdown. “But it is always surprising that’s become the conversation instead of the movies now – ‘what are you wearing?’”
Speaking of fashion, fellow Best Actress nominee Nicole Kidman revealed her two-year-old daughter has a huge say in what she wears to the Oscars this year – and she may very well end up looking like Portman’s psychologically disturbed “Black Swan” character.
“Sunday Rose has a pretty strong opinion, and she chooses what she calls ‘pretty dresses.’ She has a strong voice in what I’ll be wearing on the night of the Oscars,” Kidman said. “Fingers crossed, I could be wearing a tutu.”
As for the newest addition to the Kidman-Urban clan?
“Faith Margaret is home in her crib,” Kidman said of daughter, who was born via a surrogate mother in Nashville in December.
And despite the rumored tension between “The Social Network” star Jesse Eisenberg and his real life character, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, Eisenberg sang his praises following their weekend appearance together on “Saturday Night Live.”
“I was nervous to meet him, because I had spent now a year-and-a-half thinking about him. I was doing everything he did, taking fencing lessons because he fenced in high school,” Eisenberg explained. ‘I had built up this great anticipation and then we met under circumstances that were far more anxiety producing, which was to be on national TV together.
“Mark has been so gracious about something that’s really so uncomfortable…The fact that he would do ‘SNL’ and make fun of the situation is so sweet and so generous. It’s the best possible way to handle something that, I think, could otherwise be very uncomfortable.”
2011 Oscars Nominees Lunch: Behind the Scenes
Over 150 of this year’s Academy Award nominees made appearances at today’s Nominees Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton. At the event, attendees took an official “class photo”, received their nomination certificates from Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Tom Sherak, and dined on a light lunch of miso yuzu-marinated Alaskan black cod. Prior to the official program, 19 of the 20 nominees in the leading and supporting actor categories stopped by the press room to briefly answer some queries from the media. (Christian Bale, who’s currently shooting a film in China, was the only no-show.)
At the podium, the nominees gracefully answered a string of questions they’d doubtlessly answered hundreds of times before, though some had more fun with their allotted Q&A time than others. “The Fighter” nominee Amy Adams teased the media for their “tepid” applause when she stepped on the stage (”I know it’s a long season for all of us, but…”), while “The Kids Are All Right” nominee Mark Ruffalo noted that as a former “starving, struggling actor,” he was grateful for a free lunch. Helena Bonham Carter (”The King’s Speech”) predicted that her Oscar dress will probably be a “catastrophe” (though she promises to wear matching shoes) and Nicole Kidman (”Rabbit Hole”) said she was keeping her fingers crossed her budding fashionista daughter Sunday Rose wouldn’t pick up a tutu for her to wear.
Jesse Eisenberg, a first-time nominee for “The Social Network,” provided one of the more humorous Q&As. While walking to the podium, he noted “I did not know this existed” and compared his long awards season journey to when he was 13 and had to go to bat mitzvahs every weekend. “You have to put on a suit every weekend to go meet with a lot of Jews,” he said. When asked if there was anyone at the luncheon he was intimidated by, he replied: “Anybody with a name tag I’m intimidated by… [but] it’s a room full of insecure actors. Which is ultimately comforting.”
It was like something out of a high school graduation lineup as each person was called alphabetically, beginning with Best Supporting Actress nominee Amy Adams and ending with True Grit costume designer Mary Zophres while friends and family crowded around to take photos with their cellphones. Javier Bardem stood next to Natalie Portman, David Seidler, and Mike Medavoy. Nicole Kidman and James Franco book-ended the big Oscar statue. Geoffrey Rush stood next to Jesse Eisenberg, while Annette Bening sat on Jeff Bridges’ lap. Hard to tell this year who got the biggest applause from the Academy’s voter-heavy audience, but among those receiving the heartiest handclaps was Bardem, Bening (who seemed to get an even bigger boost from all her many fellow Academy Governors in the room), Portman, Colin Firth, Hailee Steinfeld, Michelle Williams, and Zophres who got a rousing ovation just for standing on those risers the longest time.
- Full article (no further mention of Nicole) at deadline.com
Oscar Nominees Celebrate at the Beverly Hilton
Fans and paparazzi crowded behind a rope at the entrance of the Beverly Hilton today as Oscar-nominated artists — including 19 of the 20 actors hoping to win the gold statuette — gathered for a celebratory lunch.
Tables in the chandeliered ballroom were set for about 150 people and the menu included Asian-inspired hors d’oeuvres and Alaskan black cod. The seating chart called for mingling, as actors were matched with directors, sound editors and costume designers. But the acting nominees held sway backstage in the press room.
Some critics, entertainment analysts and Oscar statisticians are already calling the race for acting awards over, since Colin Firth (“The King’s Speech”), Natalie Portman (“The Black Swan”), Christian Bale (“The Fighter”) and Melissa Leo (“Winter’s Bone”) have each taken home both SAG and Golden Globe awards.
But the other nominees didn’t seem to care; they showed up in force and seemed to be swept up in the excitement of the season.
“To be here today is a great honor,” said Javier Bardem, nominated for his lead role in “Biutiful,” “especially because it is Spanish.” The foreign film got more attention than it might have because of special screenings hosted by Bardem’s friends, including Julia Roberts and Sean Pean, which the actor called “an amazing gift.”
Many of the actors said they were happy that their nominations might bring more moviegoers out to see their small films, whether or not they win awards.
Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush, who earned a nod this year for his portrait of a speech therapist who helps King George VI overcome a life-long stammer, was asked about one very special group of moviegoers — the British royal family.
He joked that “the Queen is probably on Netflix,” adding that the tabloid Sun reported that she had seen the film and was “moved.” Rush then imagined aloud an ad for the film, “`Dazzling,’ New York Times. `Moving,’ Her Majesty.”
Jeremy Renner, who was nominated last year for his performance in the “The Hurt Locker,” the 2009 Best Picture winner, said he was still “wide-eyed about the whole process.” Renner, nominated this year for Best Supporting actor for “The Town,” came from Vancouver, where he’s filming “Mission Impossible 4,” for today’s lunch.
Firth called the award season a “rather out of body experience.”
The roster of nominees brought lots of newcomers, young and old, to the red carpet, including:
– a 14-year-old (Hailee Steinfeld for “True Grit”);
– Jacki Weaver, an Australian actress who says she has been “a contented jobbing actor for 48 years,” now recognized for her acting in the little-seen “Animal Kingdom;”
– John Hawkes, nominated for Best Actor for “Winter’s Bone,” who said he was “blown away” but also “a little nervous” over losing his anonymity.
Bale, Lawrence, James Franco — who will host the Academy Awards ceremony at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on Feb. 27 with Anne Hathaway — and Mark Ruffalo, who is nominated for a supporting actor’s Oscar for his performance in “`The Kids Are All Right,” are all first-time nominees.
Jesse Eisenberg, also a first-time nominee — for his portrayal of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in the Best Picture-nominated “The Social Network” — may have gotten the biggest laugh in the press room with his characterization of awards season. He said it reminded him of being 13, when he had to attend bar mitzvahs every weekend.
“I have to put on a suit every weekend and go meet with a lot of Jews,” he said, quickly adding, “this is better.”
The red carpet looms large for both performers and television viewers.
Steinfeld admitted, a bit sheepishly, that, she had watched the Oscars “only for the red carpet … (I was) so excited to see what everybody was wearing.”
Helena Bonham Carter, who looked ready for an evening out in a low-cut black dress, long black gloves and a black net hat perched in her up-do, said of her wardrobe for the Oscar red carpet, “it’s probably going to be a catastrophe … but I’m gonna go for it.”
Bonham Carter said she’d hadn’t chosen a dress but promised to wear the same color shoes — after wearing one pink and one green shoe to the Golden Globes.
Most of the other actresses wore more spring-like dresses or separates — gauzy, lightweight and simple — to the luncheon.
Nicole Kidman, in a muted orange dress with a delicate black print, said her daughter Sunday Rose had a great deal to say about which pretty dresses her mom wears.
So for the Oscars, “fingers crossed, guys,” said Kidman. “I could be wearing a tutu.” Natalie Portman, who wore tall red velvet heels and a silky deep aqua dress over her now-very-visible pregnancy, objected to the focus on the more frivolous aspects of the awards season, such as fashion.
“It’s surprising that that’s become the conversation rather than the work itself,” she half-scolded a reporter after acknowledging that her choice of dress was “all about leaving space for growth.”
But whatever they wear and whoever wins, the nominees are enjoying the moment, both surprised and delighted to be part of the Oscar tradition.
“It’s taken me 20 years to get here,” said Ruffalo. “I probably have the least showy performance of the group, so I’m a little surprised that I made the cut … and very grateful.”
Weaver said, “If I was a bell, I’d be ringing.”
Many offered praise for others’ work.
Annette Bening, who won a Golden Globe and is nominated for Best Actress for her work as one-half of the lesbian couple in “The Kids Are All Right,” said her favorite scene in the movie was one with Ruffalo and Josh Hutcherson, the young actor who played his biological son.
Amy Adams, asked about working with Bale, given his intense method-like focus on character, said “all that matters to me is what happens between `action’ and `cut’ and … he is 100 percent there, amazing, committed, a beautiful actor.” Bale was the only acting nominee who did not attend the luncheon.
As for the awards ceremony itself, Franco offered few clues to how this year’s show might be different, other than confirming reports that he, Hathaway and the producers hoped to draw in younger viewers while still helping the audience to “appreciate the history of film.”
12:41 PM: This next nominee surprised me with her openness and cheerful attitude since I somehow view her as frosty with the media, Nicole Kidman. She made several lovely comments about her fellow Aussie, Jacki Weaver, mentioned that her daughter, Sunday Rose, spent the morning at the Farmer’s Market, and how she may turn up in a tutu on the red carpet if Sunday Rose has her way.
- Full article (no further mention of Nicole) at starpulse.com
Aussie Oscar nominees lunch at the annual Beverly Hills event
Nicole Kidman may wear a tutu to this month’s Oscar ceremony while Geoffrey Rush revealed Queen Elizabeth II was “moved” after watching his film, The King’s Speech.
Australia’s third acting Oscar nominee Jacki Weaver says she has become addicted to Hollywood’s award season.
The disclosures came at Monday’s Oscar luncheon held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
The lunch is an invite-only annual tradition for each year’s 150 Oscar nominees.
Kidman said her two-year-old daughter Sunday Rose has “very strong opinions” about what she should wear to the February 27 Academy Awards ceremony.
“Fingers crossed guys,” Kidman, a best actress nominee for Rabbit Hole, told reporters.
“I could be wearing a tutu.”
Rush said The King’s Speech had been screened for the Queen and he was told she was emotionally moved by it.
Weaver says she is revelling in her moment as a first time Oscar nominee after such a long career in Australia.
“It is mindboggling,” Weaver, nominated as a supporting actress for Animal Kingdom, said.
“… It has become addictive very quickly.”
Nicole Kidman, Lead Actress, Rabbit Hole:
On her fellow Aussie nominees, “[It is] so wonderful to see Geoffrey nominated again, and Jacki Weaver who I grew up watching; to have this chance, it says to actors it doesn’t matter how old you are…you can have a break…a lot of times you’re told if you don’t make it by 35, it’s too late, and that’s changing.” On her Oscar night attire, she confirmed daughter Sunday Rose likes to help her choose, “fingers crossed guys, I could be wearing a tutu.”
Oscar Nominees Share Lunch, Tales of Awards Season
Portman, Firth, Kidman, Bridges, other Oscar nominees share lunch, tales of awards seasonJesse Eisenberg joked that Academy Awards season feels like the endless bar mitzvahs he went to when he was 13. Melissa Leo said the road to the Oscars is like a nonstop energy drink. Mark Ruffalo admitted he’s just happy to get a free meal out of the awards marathon.
An annual luncheon for Oscar contenders drew 151 of the nominees Monday, among them “The Social Network” star Eisenberg, “The Fighter” co-star Leo and “The Kids Are All Right” co-star Ruffalo.
Other acting nominees on hand included past winners Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, Jeff Bridges and Geoffrey Rush, veteran nominees such as Annette Bening, Colin Firth and Natalie Portman and newcomers such as Jennifer Lawrence and Hailee Steinfeld.
Best-actor nominee Eisenberg told reporters before the luncheon that the many Hollywood gatherings leading up to the Feb. 27 Oscars remind him of his early teens.
“I had to go to bar mitzvahs every weekend, and this is like the same feeling,” Eisenberg said. “Putting on a suit every weekend to go meet with a lot of Jews.”
Leo, considered the favorite to win the supporting-actress Oscar, said she tries to keep up her strength during the awards rush with “water, vitamins. And the excitement of it is pretty much of an energy drink right there.”
First-time nominee Ruffalo said he was surprised he earned the Oscar honor given that his role probably was the least showy in the film, whose cast includes Bening and Julianne Moore.
“It’s taken me a long time to get here, so I really have been, as a meditation, making myself enjoy the hell out of it every single day,” Ruffalo said. “And I love free lunches, man. I came up as a starving, struggling actor, so I’m very grateful for a gift lunch.”
Nominees shared a fine meal at the luncheon, whose menu featured appetizers of Indochina-spiced beef with avocado mousse, an entree of Alaskan black cod and a dessert selection that included mini lemon meringue tarts with blueberries and raspberry sorbet in cookie shells.
Talk inevitably touched on what nominees would wear to the Oscars, one of the world’s biggest fashion showcases.
Fourteen-year-old Steinfeld, nominated as supporting actress for her debut performance in “True Grit,” said that in past years, she watched the ceremony at home “mainly for the red carpet, just to see what everyone’s wearing.”
Michelle Williams, a best-actress nominee for “Blue Valentine,” said she had settled on one pair of shoes that she’s been wearing to every event this awards season.
Kidman, nominated as best actress for “Rabbit Hole,” joked that her 2-year-old daughter has strong fashion opinions that will be taken into consideration.
“She chooses what she calls pretty dresses,” Kidman said. “She has a very strong voice in terms of what I will be wearing on the night of the Oscars. Fingers crossed, guys. I could be wearing a tutu.”
Portman, pregnant with her first child and showing a pronounced baby bump, said picking out an Oscar gown is more challenging with an expanding waistline.
“It’s certainly all about leaving space for growth,” said Portman, the best-actress front-runner for “Black Swan,” who lamented that fashion has become such a fixation in awards season. “It is always surprising also that that’s become the conversation instead of the movies now. What are you wearing?”
Last year’s best-actor recipient for “Crazy Heart,” Bridges is competing in the same category this time for “True Grit.” Oscar night again pits him against Firth, who was nominated last year for “A Single Man” and now is in the running for best-picture favorite “The King’s Speech.”
Like most people in Hollywood, Bridges figures this is Firth’s year.
“He’ll probably take home the trophy this year,” Bridges said. “He gives a wonderful performance.”
Firth — starring as Queen Elizabeth II’s stammering father, King George VI, who reluctantly took the throne in 1936 after his brother abdicated — joked that he sometimes gets royal treatment since the film came out.
“I do get the odd bow, which I put down to either confusion or facetiousness,” Firth said.
Others at the lunch included Firth’s co-stars, supporting-acting nominees Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush, and supporting contenders Amy Adams (“The Fighter”), John Hawkes (“Winter’s Bone”), Jeremy Renner (“The Town”) and Jacki Weaver (“Animal Kingdom”).
James Franco was doing double-duty at the lunch, a best-actor nominee for “127 Hours” and preparing for his gig as co-host of the Oscars with Anne Hathaway.
TV ratings for the Oscars have fallen from their peak decades ago, and the show’s producers have been trying to spice up the ceremony in recent years to hook a new generation of fans. Franco mused over criticism that followed the announcement of him and Hathaway, a switch away from older veteran comics as hosts.
“A lot of the reaction was, oh, an obvious ploy by the academy to bring in younger viewers,” Franco said. “Yeah! Duh! Is that a bad thing? I mean, how is that a criticism?”
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