JAMES CORDEN: THE WOMAN WHO SAVED ME (EXPRESS CO.)

Almost teary and a bit stuttery, Corden could only gush about how he was “overwhelmed” to be mentioned in the same breath as other nominees James Earl Jones, Frank Langella, John Lithgow and “my favourite actor in the world” Philip Seymour Hoffman. “To be on a list with you was enough,” he said, addressing the other actors in the audience.

His performance has been likened to Gwyneth Paltrow’s overwhelmingly gushy, weepy 1999 Oscar acceptance speech but actually Corden’s wasn’t an embarrassing, cringeworthy affair.

It seemed heartfelt, sincere and rather modest and when Corden went on to speak about his fiancée Julia Carey he would have certainly won over the emotion-loving American audience.


“My girlfriend Julia gave birth to our son five days before we started rehearsals,” Corden said as the cameras panned to the attractive blonde sitting in the auditorium. “She’s my baby mama and I can’t wait to marry her. Seriously, I would not be holding this if it wasn’t for her. She made me say ‘us’ instead of ‘I’ and ‘we’ instead of ‘me’ and I love her. Thank you very much.”

The speech was a far cry from the one he gave at the Baftas in 2008 when Corden – then riding high on the success of the BBC comedy series Gavin & Stacey – went on stage and complained that he shouldn’t have won two awards, he should have won three.

That was the old, arrogant Corden and the actor has already credited Julia, who has worked as a TV producer and for the charity Save The Children, for making him a better person. His Tony Award speech has clearly emphasised the point.

It’s also true that after he met Julia in 2010 his life took an upward swing. Before that, it had been a rather turbulent affair of highs and lows. As the son of Salvation Army parents Corden has said he “couldn’t have grown up in a more secure and lovely family” but he was always an attention-seeker and so when he scaled the heights of fame, it was like a dream come true.

READ MORE:  http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/326006/James-Corden-The-woman-who-saved-me

Colin Firth: Pictures from Academy Awards Rehearsal (NEWSER)

Actor Colin Firth, left, and stage manager Gary Natoli talk during rehearsal for the 84th Academy Awards, Saturday, Feb 25, 2012 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) (Associated Press)

BACKSTAGE MEETING: Oscar host Billy Crystal, who has declined to speak with reporters and kept his rehearsals closed throughout the week, emerged from his dressing room to observe the proceedings Saturday. Wearing jeans, sneakers and a newsboy cap, the comedian blended in with the rest of the backstage workers_ so much so that he had to re-introduce himself to an admired colleague. "Hi James, Billy Crystal," he said to James Earl Jones, who received a Governors Award late last year and will be honored again at Sunday's ceremony. As soon as the actor recognized Crystal, he hugged him. "With that cap on, I thought you were a hoodlum," Jones said before wishing the comedian well on his ninth Oscar-hosting stint. "Have fun tonight," Jones said, "and tomorrow night."

 A BLAST OF "BRIDESMAIDS": The cast of "Bridesmaids" reunited on the Oscar stage and dosed the theater with a blast of energy. "Oh my God, I cannot believe I'm there!" Rose Byrne said when she spotted her seat near the front of the theater. "I see you!" Maya Rudolph said to Kristin Wiig, pointing out her seat-saving placard. As the actresses prepared to make their entrance alongside co-stars Melissa McCarthy, Ellie Kemper and Wendi McLendon-Covey, they threw up jazz hands and pretended to disco dance. McLendon-Covey also played an oversized air guitar.

Read the rest:  http://www.newser.com/article/d9t4q7u81/hanks-streep-kermit-other-stars-dress-down-for-final-oscar-rehearsal-before-the-big-show.html

British actors receive Oscar awards

03:20:16 pm | by admin | Categories: News

The Oscars came to London on Sunday, when the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences honoured British actors. The honour formed part of the 3rd annual Governors Awards, which also saw chat show queen Oprah Winfrey and make-up artist Dick Smith receive honorary awards.

Actor James Earl Jones has received an honorary Oscar on the London stage, to the surprise of his matinee audience. The 80-year-old did not attend the main U.S. ceremony in person because of his stage commitments in Britain.

British actress Vanessa Redgrave was also honoured at the ceremony marking a stage and screen career that has spanned more than 50 years. In addition to the Oscar, Redgrave's honours include Olivier, Tony, Emmy, Screen Actors Guild and Cannes film festival awards. She stars in "Anonymous," currently in cinemas, and the upcoming "Coriolanus."