Oscar-nominated actor in a leading role Heath Ledger, for his role in 'Brokeback Mountain', and his co-star and fiancée Oscar-nominated actress in a supporting role Michelle Williams, attend the 78th annual Academy Awards nominees luncheon. - PHOTOS BY REUTERS
BEVERLY HILLS, California (AP):
JOAQUIN PHOENIX rubbed elbows with Terrence Howard. Tan, blonde stunner Charlize Theron threw her arms around Matt Dillon. Reese Witherspoon chatted with Michelle Williams, who clutched fiancé Heath Ledger's hand. And hip hop songwriter Paul Beauregard, wearing armloads of diamonds and a black baseball cap, flashed his jewel-encrusted smile.
Welcome to the 25th annual Oscar-nominees luncheon.
With their beef tenderloin and Chilean sea bass growing cold on their tables, 116 Academy Award nominees - from actors to visual-effects designers - moved and schmoozed their way on to a set of risers for an Oscar-class photo on Monday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
CELEBRATING EXCLUSIVE MEMBERSHIP
Side by side, costume designers next to directors, sound mixers near screenplay writers and famous faces aside not-so-famous faces, they celebrated their membership in Hollywood's most exclusive club.
"There are no winners here today," said Academy president Sid Ganis as they assembled. "There are no losers here today."
INDUSTRY'S ELITE GATHERED
The gathering, he emphasised, was just a chance for the industry's elite to "come together, relax and enjoy their nominee-ness."
After the group photo, the honourees dispersed one by one as their names were called, collecting applause from their peers. And from Ganis, each got a handshake, a nomination certificate and a special-issue Academy sweatshirt.
Thrice-nominated George Clooney got a little something extra: a pat on the butt from the Academy president.
When Howard, best-actor nominee for Hustle & Flow, heard his name, he curtsied for the crowd. Phoenix, a best-actor nominee for Walk the Line, was so excited that he bounded down the risers, nearly knocking over a human-sized Oscar statue, and leaped into Ganis' arms.
Capote director Bennett Miller, looking boyish in slim-fitting jeans and floppy, unkempt curls, shuffled up to Ganis. Munich best-director nominee Steven Spielberg, who Ganis said attended the first nominees luncheon 25 years ago, proudly strutted up to the Academy honcho and gave him a hug.
Thanks to what Ganis called "relentlessly democratic seating," the most celebrated of the celebrities had been sprinkled throughout the hotel's International ballroom during the meal.
As the luncheon broke up, Jake Gyllenhaal, nominated for best supporting actor for Brokeback Mountain, seemed humbled by the event.
"The company is kind of exquisite and the history is obvious. This is a true honour," the young actor said. "To be nominated for something as important socially as it is artistically makes me feel really proud."
