Oldman leads British hopes at 90th Oscars

Star nominated for best actor prize for his portrayal of Winston Churchill

Gary Oldman leads British hopes for an Oscar tomorrow as the sexual harassment scandal that has rocked Hollywood is likely to dominate the ceremony.

The star takes on countrymen Daniel Day-Lewis and Daniel Kaluuya for the best actor prize and is the presumed frontrunner for the gong – having already picked up a Golden Globe, a Bafta and a Screen Actors Guild award for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour.

The Shape Of Water, Guillermo Del Toro’s fantasy romance, leads the nominations with 13, including a best actress nod for Sally Hawkins and one for best picture.

Hawkins would have to beat frontrunner Frances McDormand to take home the trophy, as well as Irish actress Saoirse Ronan for Lady Bird.

McDormand is nominated for her turn as a grieving and vengeful mother in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, alongside Margot Robbie for I, Tonya and Meryl Streep for The Post.

Joining Oldman, Day-Lewis and Kaluuya in the best actor category are Hollywood heavyweight Denzel Washington for Roman J Israel, Esq and newcomer Timothee Chalamet, 22, who would be the youngest ever winner of the category for Call Me By Your Name.

It it likely that the Time’s Up campaign for gender equality will have a strong presence at the ceremony, after attendees wore black to both the Golden Globes and Baftas in solidarity with victims of sexual harassment.

While no plans for a similar move have been announced for the Oscars, it is likely that visible symbols of support will be on display and the topic is expected to feature heavily in speeches from the podium.

Other British stars in the running for prizes include Lesley Manville, nominated for supporting actress for her role opposite Day-Lewis in Phantom Thread.

She is up against Mudbound’s Mary J Blige, Lady Bird’s Laurie Metcalf, The Shape Of Water’s Octavia Spencer and Allison Janney in I, Tonya.

Christopher Nolan is nominated for best director for war film Dunkirk, which bagged eight nods, including best picture.

Other Britons to be nominated include Radiohead musician Jonny Greenwood for his original score on Phantom Thread and Roger Deakins, who scored his 14th nod for his cinematography – this time on Blade Runner 2049.

Picture: PA. Gary Oldman has already picked up a Golden Globe for his performance in Darkest Hour.

Picture: PA. Sally Hawkins is in the frame for best actress after her performance in The Shape of Water.