Give us a break! Caitriona slams decision to give out four Oscars during the ads

THE Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences is facing a barrage of criticism after deciding to hand out four Oscars during commercial breaks in its February 24 telecast.

And Outlander star Caitriona Balfe has added her voice to the controversy via a series of tweets.

The 39-year-old Dubliner began by retweeting Variety’s article about the Academy’s decision to present the Oscars for cinematography, film editing, make-up and hairstyling, and live-action short off-air, and writing: ‘What the F@*k??’

Caitriona, pictured, went on: ‘No one part of the endeavour is more important or more valuable than the rest. How could a film exist without a cinematographer ???? And editor ???? An academy that demeans such essential roles is one that obviously doesn’t understand the film making process.

‘Every actor will tell you so much of how they build their character is through hair and make-up. ALSO essential to the process.’

‘And for the people who have slaved and sweated and broke their backs and bank balances to make short films that are purely creative endeavours and very rarely will ever make money... the prospect of getting an Oscar and people learning about you and your project is essential and been the springboard for countless careers.’

Caitriona concluded: ‘Everyone should have their moment to shine ... if they deserve an Oscar they deserve their moment. It’s bullllll ****!!!! ’

She took part in a Starz event at the 2019 Winter TCA Panel in Los Angeles. She joined several other of the channel’s leading actresses and series creators to talk about whether life on set is getting better in the #MeToo era. The panellists included her Outlander executive producer Maril Davis, Power’s La La Anthony, and Vida stars Melissa Barrera and Mishel Prada.

The Starz session also included talent promoting their forthcoming shows.

Downton Abbey’s Laura Carmichael stars in the mini-series The Spanish Princess which tells the story of Catherine Of Aragon’s arrival as a teenager in England where she’s married to King Henry VII’s heir Prince Arthur.

When her young husband dies, she insists their marriage was never consummated and she is free to marry Arthur’s brother Henry, who goes on to be crowned as King Henry VIII.

Laura plays Catherine’s lady-inwaiting Margaret Pole while Game Of Thrones actress Charlotte Hope plays the princess.

On hand, too, were Emma Greenwell and Olivia Munn, the stars of the upcoming supernatural spy drama The Rook.

Also there were Ian McShane and Ricky Whittle from American Gods who promoted season 2 of their series.