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Stars arriving at Oscars ceremony Stars arriving at Oscars ceremony
(30 minutes later)
Oscar nominees including Dame Helen Mirren, Martin Scorsese, Penelope Cruz and Peter O'Toole have arrived at the 79th Academy Awards in Los Angeles.Oscar nominees including Dame Helen Mirren, Martin Scorsese, Penelope Cruz and Peter O'Toole have arrived at the 79th Academy Awards in Los Angeles.
The Oscars ceremony takes place at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood and is due to begin shortly. The Oscars ceremony takes place at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood and is now under way.
Forest Whitaker is favourite to win best actor, with The Departed leading the pack for best film.Forest Whitaker is favourite to win best actor, with The Departed leading the pack for best film.
Dame Helen is a hot favourite to be named best actress for her role as Elizabeth II in The Queen.Dame Helen is a hot favourite to be named best actress for her role as Elizabeth II in The Queen.
On the red carpet, she said that she had not been distracted by the intense speculation about whether she would win.On the red carpet, she said that she had not been distracted by the intense speculation about whether she would win.
"We know that we're not horses or greyhounds. We're not sportsmen," she told the BBC."We know that we're not horses or greyhounds. We're not sportsmen," she told the BBC.
Celebrities have been posing for pictures outside the Kodak Theatre"Being the front-runner or the winner honestly doesn't come into it. I haven't really been thinking about that."Celebrities have been posing for pictures outside the Kodak Theatre"Being the front-runner or the winner honestly doesn't come into it. I haven't really been thinking about that."
She described the feeling of being nominated for an Oscar as "amazing". "I didn't think I was that sort of actress," she added.She described the feeling of being nominated for an Oscar as "amazing". "I didn't think I was that sort of actress," she added.
Martin Scorsese is tipped to take his first best director Oscar for The Departed after five previous nominations in the category.Martin Scorsese is tipped to take his first best director Oscar for The Departed after five previous nominations in the category.
Leonardo DiCaprio, one of the stars of that movie, arrived at the ceremony with his mother.Leonardo DiCaprio, one of the stars of that movie, arrived at the ceremony with his mother.
"She's strolling around here somewhere," he said of her. "She loves it, man. She's more excited than me.""She's strolling around here somewhere," he said of her. "She loves it, man. She's more excited than me."
DiCaprio is nominated for best actor for his role in Blood DiamondPreparations for the event have been finalised, with giant Oscars statuettes in place and grandstand seating erected outside the Kodak Theatre.DiCaprio is nominated for best actor for his role in Blood DiamondPreparations for the event have been finalised, with giant Oscars statuettes in place and grandstand seating erected outside the Kodak Theatre.
US comedy star and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres will host the glittering ceremony, becoming only the second woman, after Whoopi Goldberg, to present the annual telecast single-handedly.US comedy star and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres will host the glittering ceremony, becoming only the second woman, after Whoopi Goldberg, to present the annual telecast single-handedly.
In the best actor category, Smith also faces competition from Leonardo DiCaprio, Ryan Gosling and Peter O'Toole, while Cruz is also up against Dame Judi Dench, Meryl Streep and Kate Winslet for best actress.In the best actor category, Smith also faces competition from Leonardo DiCaprio, Ryan Gosling and Peter O'Toole, while Cruz is also up against Dame Judi Dench, Meryl Streep and Kate Winslet for best actress.
Cruz - nominated for Volver - said she was "very excited and very nervous".Cruz - nominated for Volver - said she was "very excited and very nervous".
"I don't think I'm going to win tonight but it's just wonderful to be here.""I don't think I'm going to win tonight but it's just wonderful to be here."
HAVE YOUR SAY I'd like Last King of Scotland to win Fiona Gell Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY I'd like Last King of Scotland to win Fiona Gell Send us your comments
Dame Judi has already said she will not be attending the ceremony because she will be in hospital having surgery on her leg.Dame Judi has already said she will not be attending the ceremony because she will be in hospital having surgery on her leg.
Musical drama Dreamgirls has eight nominations, including three for best song, but missed out on a nod for best picture.Musical drama Dreamgirls has eight nominations, including three for best song, but missed out on a nod for best picture.
The films in the running are The Queen, Babel, The Departed, Letters From Iwo Jima and Little Miss Sunshine.The films in the running are The Queen, Babel, The Departed, Letters From Iwo Jima and Little Miss Sunshine.
Former Oscar winners Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon are among those presenting awards on the night, along with James Bond star Daniel Craig.Former Oscar winners Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon are among those presenting awards on the night, along with James Bond star Daniel Craig.