Will it be Olivia’s Oscar night? It’s too Close to call!
ALL THE TALK OF TINSELTOWN BEFORE TONIGHT’S AWARDS…
SHE has already been crowned with a Bafta for her commanding performance as Queen Anne in Irish production The Favourite.
And tonight Olivia Colman could also claim the Oscar for best actress – although, with some irony, she isn’t the favourite. That honour goes to Hollywood legend Glenn Close, who is overwhelmingly odds-on to win at her seventh attempt.
But one Academy voter said: ‘Olivia has charmed a lot of people and there were a lot of last-minute ballots cast in her favour.’
Whatever the outcome, Ms Colman will look very different from her role in The Favourite – produced by Element Pictures – for which she put on two-and-a-half stones while filming in 2017.
She has since shed the weight thanks to gruelling 60-minute workouts three times a week with trainer Dalton Wong.
He included exercises to strengthen her back, shoulders and abdominal muscles to improve her posture and to help her look ‘lean and strong’ on the red carpet tonight.
Ms Colman has joked she put on
‘She put on weight by eating triple portions’
the weight easily ‘by eating triple portions’ but it took her a year to shift it: ‘It was quite depressing. It goes on so easily but gosh, it doesn’t come off as easily,’ she said.
Dubliner Robbie Ryan, meanwhile, has been nominated for Best Cinematography for the film.
There are also hopes for Irish directors in two short-film races. Louise Bagnall’s Late Afternoon, and Vincent Lambe’s Detainment – a controversial film concerning the Jamie Bulger murders.
Christian Bale, meanwhile, is up for best actor for his portrayal of former US vicepresident Dick Cheney in Vice – he topped Ms Colman’s weight gain by putting on 3st for his role.
But Remi Malek, is favourite for his role as Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody.
Spanish language film Roma is hot favourite to win best picture and best director for Alfonso Cuaron.