Hugh Grant, Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh have become the latest A-list names to join the star-studded list of presenters at this year’s Academy Awards in Los Angeles.
The British household names will appear alongside fellow industry heavyweights including Antonio Banderas, Sigourney Weaver and Elizabeth Banks at the annual event on Sunday, as the Academy of Motion Pictures and Science rewards the best and brightest film talent to have emerged in the last twelve months.
Also announced by the Academy on Tuesday were Oscar-winning actresses Jessica Chastain, Salma Hayek, Nicole Kidman and Halle Berry, who have also joined the presenting slate who will be handing out awards across 24 different categories.
The 95th annual Academy Awards will take place on March 12 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, hosted by US comedian Jimmy Kimmel.
Among the stars previously announced to be presenting awards include Riz Ahmed, Emily Blunt, Ariana DeBose, Samuel L Jackson, Michael B Jordan, Troy Kotsur, Jonathan Majors, Melissa McCarthy and Dwayne Johnson.
As well as rubbing shoulders with Hollywood royalty, attendees will also be treated to performances by best song nominee Rihanna and US rock star Lenny Kravitz, who will perform during the ceremony’s In Memoriam segment.
Among some of the most hotly contested categories this year, are Best Actor in a leading role, which will see Austin Butler, Colin Farrell, Brendan Fraser, Paul Mescal and Bill Nighy all go toe to toe in the hopes of taking home the iconic award.
Currently, critics are predicting it will be Austin Butler who takes home the award for his portrayal of rock legend Elvis Presley in the biopic Elvis.
However there is strong public support for Brendan Fraser to take home the win for his starring role in The Whale, as he makes a triumphant comeback to the big screen after almost two decades away.
There is also a hard fought race for this year’s Best Actress in a lead role award too, with Cate Blanchett, Ana de Armas, Andrea Riseborough, Michelle Williams and Michelle Yeoh all currently in the running.
The current favourite to win is 60 year old Malaysian icon Michelle Yeoh, who still impressively does her own stunts and despite a prolific career, until now had never been nominated for an Oscar.
Nominated for her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once, Michelle is certainly still performing at her peak, but one star that could potentially scoop the award from within her grasp , is controversial nominee Andrea Riseborough.
The British actress is nominated for her little-seen To Leslie, prompting many fans to argue her nomination is based on a successful A-list PR campaign from stars such as Kate Winslet and Charlize Theron, rather than the film’s own merits.
To add further insult to injury, while the campaign to nomination was considered to be a grass-roots effort by some, it didn’t come without knocking two acclaimed Black actresses – Viola Davis and Danielle Deadwyler from being in contention.
Fans won’t have long to wait to see who scoops this year’s coveted awards, when the Oscars return on Sunday evening.
READ MORE:
- Click here for today's top showbiz news
- Ferne McCann and fiancé Lorri Haines talk pregnancy and those voice notes in joint shoot
- Shaughna Phillips in labour! Love Islander in hospital dash for baby's imminent arrival
David Beckham 'asked Brooklyn to come to Paris to protect family brand'
- For the latest showbiz exclusives, sign up to our daily OK! newsletter
Source: Read Full Article
