‘Oldie Oscars’ open only to those who’ve had their jab
IT IS Hollywood’s most glamorous night of the year, with dozens of Tinseltown’s brightest young actors and actresses swanning down the red carpet.
But this year’s Oscars ceremony could be a rather more sedate affair with only ‘wrinklies’ in attendance.
Organisers of this year’s Academy Awards are considering allowing only those who have had the coronavirus vaccine to attend the ceremony on April 25.
A source said: ‘The most important thing is to make sure everyone at the event is kept safe.
‘That includes the camera crews and backstage staff as well as the celebrities on the red carpet,’ said a source.
‘At the moment the plan under discussion is to only allow those who have had the vaccine – and who can prove it – to attend the ceremony with strict social distancing in place.
‘Like England, the vaccine is being rolled out to frontline workers first with the over-75s and the over-65s getting it next. It’s unlikely that any of the younger, fitter stars will have become eligible for the vaccine before April, unless things speed up.’
Doctors in Beverly Hills have reported wealthy clients offering up to £25,000 to try to bag an early dose of the vaccine.
One said: ‘We’ve had people offering to make big donations to our hospitals in return for buying their way to the front of the line, but this isn’t something the rich can buy their way into.
‘It doesn’t matter who you are, if you are an A-list star or producer, you’re going to have to wait your turn.’
The awards insider added: ‘All of this means you’re not going to get the hot young studs and starlets on the carpet. Instead it will be a much more mature crowd. We’re already joking about it being the wrinkly Oscars.’
While nominations for the awards will not be announced until March, ‘wrinklies’ up for a golden statuette may include Sir Anthony Hopkins, 82, whose performance as a dementiastricken man in The Father has been lauded by critics.
Actress Frances McDormand, 63, is tipped for a Best Actress nomination for the dystopian drama Nomadland while Meryl Streep, 71, may get her record-making 22nd nomination for comedy-drama Let Them All Talk.
Gary Oldman, 62, is likely to go up against Sir Anthony for the Best Actor gong for his role in Mank.
‘No hot young stars or studs on red carpet’