Two British Popes, both praying for Oscar’s blessing
BRITISH stars were hoping for a divine night of Oscar glory – including a pair of actors who dubbed themselves The Two Welsh Popes.
Jonathan Pryce – who portrays Pope Francis in Netflix’s drama about the resignation of Benedict XVI, alongside Sir Anthony Hopkins – was partying over the weekend ahead of last night’s ceremony.
Pryce, who was born in Flintshire, North Wales, ‘ blessed’ his fellow Oscar nominees as Hollywood’s most glamorous day and night got under way. He made the sign of the cross at a soiree hosted by Netflix at the hotspot restaurant Craig’s in Beverly Hills, and said: ‘I want to bless all my fellow nominees.’
Pryce, 72, who was in town with his wife, actress Kate Fahy, was nominated in the best actor category for his portrayal of the Argentinian pontiff in The Two Popes.
He joked that during filming he and Sir Anthony, who was born in Port Talbot, called themselves ‘The Two Welsh Popes’.
He added that he had ‘the time of his life’ working with his 82-year-old co-star, who also picked up a nod in the best supporting actor category.
Later, Pryce joined top names such as Renee Zellweger and Tom Hanks, along with George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman – the two stars of Sir Sam Mendes’s Oscar front-runner 1917 – at the annual Night Before fundraising bash.
Further into Saturday night Pryce joined revellers such as Penelope Cruz, Margot Robbie and Demi Moore at the Beverly Hills Hotel for a cocktail reception.
Pryce then said that as it was approaching midnight he would have a ‘relatively early night because Sunday is going to be a long day and an even longer night’.
That seemed to be the mantra of a lot of stars who all spoke of preserving their energy for the main event.
Miss Zellweger said that she had to get home to choose an outfit for the ceremony, where she was nominated for her portrayal of Judy Garland in the British film Judy.
‘I have all these gowns to be fitted and I can’t go to bed until I’ve decided on one,’ she said.
‘My rule is going to be that the one that fits best will be the one that I wear.’ She won the best supporting actress award 16 years ago for her performance in Cold Mountain.
Her rivals last night included Brit
‘A long day and even longer night’
ish Nigerian Cynthia Erivo, from south London. Miss Erivo was a contender in two categories last night – best actress and best original song for Harriet. She portrays American abolitionist Harriet Tubman in the film.
The Oscar ceremony was expected to yield big wins for 1917 and lauded South Korean black comedy Parasite – two films locked in a titanic battle for the main prizes.
Sir Sam’s film was up for best picture and best director.
Another Briton, Florence Pugh, was up for best supporting actress for her turn in Little Women, meaning there was a British nominee in all six major categories this year.
Joker led the nominations with 11, followed by The Irishman, 1917 and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood tied in joint-second, with ten. Parasite bagged six nominations.