Scarlett Harris
Fashion critic

The best supporting actress race is perhaps the most unpredictable, in a year where every category except for best actress seems like it’s anyone’s game.

Elle Fanning did not come to play, signalling in a white princess gown by Givenchy that she’s a viable contender for Sentimental Value.

She’s up against her co-star Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Amy Madigan for Weapons, Wunmi Mosaku in Sinners, and One Battle After Another’s Teyana Taylor, whose showstopping arrival we’re awaiting with bated breath.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Emma Saunders
Culture reporter

Image source, Getty Images

We love a potential record-breaker (not to mention a few geeky facts) when it comes to the Academy Awards, so here are a few that we hope you might enjoy, too.

Sinners' Ryan Coogler would be the first black person to win best director if he triumphs this evening.

His collaborator on the film, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, was the first woman of colour to be nominated for best cinematography. And she would be the first woman ever to win the category.

In the hotly contested best actor race, Walter Moura (The Secret Agent) would be the first Brazilian to win if he is victorious.

Similarly, Jessie Buckley, who is the hot favourite to win best actress (Hamnet), would be the first Irish woman to win that award.

Amy Madigan (Weapons) won best supporting actress at the Actors Awards (previously known as the Sag Awards) earlier this month. Her Oscar nomination in the same category came 40 years after her first (for Twice in a Lifetime). It's the longest gap for an actress between nominations.

Moving family drama Sentimental Value would be the first Norwegian film to win best international film.

And if Sean Penn wins best supporting Oscar, all eyes will be on what he will do with his statuette - he's won best actor twice before and gave one away to Ukraine's President Zelensky. We're not sure where the other one is!

Nardine Saad
at the Oscars

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I'm here at the Oscars and I've been in touch with the Los Angeles Police Department about enhanced security at the show due to the US and Israel's war in Iran. A spokesperson for the department emphasised that the LAPD works closely with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and regional public safety partners "to ensure a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for all attendees, workers, and visitors".

This year’s security planning has been "extensive and coordinated across multiple LAPD divisions" and has been supported by local, state and federal agencies, LAPD said.

"Our preparations include layered security perimeters, traffic management plans, and a highly visible police presence throughout the Hollywood area," the department said.

"These measures are part of a comprehensive strategy developed months in advance to anticipate challenges, support event operations, and maintain the safety of everyone participating in or visiting the Oscars."

I saw that security presence firsthand today on my way into the Loews Hotel, where media are shuttled in before, during and after the ceremony, which takes place across the street at the Dolby Theatre. Security personnel seem to be posted every 100 feet (33 metres) or so and I had to to go through two sets of metal detectors and have my bags sniffed by dogs before settling into my position in the interview room.

Street closures have snarled the area over the past week to make room for the lengthy red carpet and metal detectors are set up in designated ceremony entry areas at Ovation Hollywood - the large shopping centre that houses the Dolby in the heart of Hollywood.

It's a popular tourist area across the street from the El Capitan Theatre, punctuated by the starry Hollywood Walk of Fame and other tourism destinations.

Law enforcement officers have encouraged attendees and community members to follow posted advisories, remain aware of their surroundings, and promptly report any suspicious activity to law enforcement, LAPD said.

The department added: "The LAPD remains committed to ensuring that this iconic event is enjoyed safely by all.”

Image source, Getty Images

Scarlett Harris
Fashion critic

Demi Moore, last year nominated for her daring comeback role in The Substance, is an ambassador for Gucci.

She starred in an absurdist short film called The Tiger for the fashion house in which she played the mother of Edward Norton and Keke Palmer.

Fitting, then, that she would opt for the design house’s newest collection from brand new head designer Demna.

Image source, Getty

Helen Bushby
Culture reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Here are yet more stellar names on the list of stars announcing the winners of tonight's 24 categories:

• Rose Byrne, who's up for best actress for If I Had Legs I'd Kick You.
• Nicole Kidman, who has four Oscar nominations and one win to her name, for The Hours in 2003.
• Jimmy Kimmel, the four-times Oscars host, including in 2017, when La La Land was mistakenly announced as the best picture winner instead of Moonlight.
• Delroy Lindo, the British-born star whose best supporting actor nomination is for Sinners.
• Ewan McGregor, whose films include Moulin Rouge!, Trainspotting and several Star Wars movies.
• Wagner Moura, up for best actor for The Secret Agent.
• Pedro Pascal, famous for starring roles including in The Last of Us and The Mandalorian.
• Bill Pullman, whose films include Independence Day and Ruthless People, and his son Lewis Pullman, whose film and TV work includes Top Gun: Maverick and Lessons in Chemistry.
• Channing Tatum, who's had starring roles in 21 Jump Sreet, the Magic Mike franchise and Roofman.
• Sigourney Weaver, a three-times Oscar nominee for Gorillas in the Mist, Working Girl and Aliens.

Emma Saunders
Culture reporter

Image source, Getty Images

If having the likes of Hollywood royalty Leonardo DiCaprio, Emma Stone and Michael B Jordan nominated this evening isn't quite enough to whet your A-list appetite, the presenters list is equally star-studded.

Among those fumbling over an envelope will be:

• Zoe Saldaña
• Anne Hathaway
• Chris Evans

• Robert Downey Jr
• Gwyneth Paltrow
• Javier Bardem
• Mikey Madison
• Demi Moore
• Adrian Brody
• Paul Mescal

• Priyanka Chopra Jonas
• Chase Infiniti
• Kumail Nanjiani
• Kieran Culkin
• Will Arnett
• Maya Rudolph
• Selena Gomez
• Ben Stiller

Emma Saunders
Culture reporter

Image source, Getty Images

This isn't an exhaustive list but here are a few UK nominees to look out for:

• Wunmi Mosaku (Nigerian-born Brit, best supporting actress, Sinners)
• Delroy Lindo (British-born American, best supporting actor, Sinners)
• Jonny Greenwood (best score, One Battle After Another)
• Max Richter (German-born Brit, best score, Hamnet)
• Jerskin Fendrix (best score, Bugonia)
• Nicholas Pike (best original song for Viva Verdi!)
• Maggie O'Farrell (Irish-British novelist and author of Hamnet)
• Lee Knight (director/writer of best short film nominee A Friend of Dorothy)

• Mike Hill (best make-up for Frankenstein)

There's no-one flying the flag in some of the major categories such as best director, best actress and best actor this year.

Scarlett Harris
Fashion critic

Image source, Getty Images

Wunmi Mosaku, nominated for best supporting actress for her role as Annie in Sinners, has been repping bright jewel tones throughout awards season.

It’s reflective of her personal style which is embodied by her maternity clothing line Iyadé - Yoroba for “mother has arrived”.

The currently pregnant star, inspired by her post-partum experience on Sinners, told Vogue’s The Run Through podcast that she wanted “to wear the clothes that look like me instead of all these nursing t-shirts” in drab neutrals.

“Why do we wear all these plain, ugly, stretchy clothes that just cling to our bodies in such ugly ways and then actually pattern and colour is the perfect camouflage for a messy baby. It's perfect.”

Scarlett Harris
Fashion critic

Image source, Getty Images

The faux K-pop group Huntrix of KPop Demon Hunters are anything but fake when it comes to fashion.

EJAE, singer and composer of theme song Golden which is heavily favoured to win best original song tonight, Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna in Thom Browne all stun in - what else? Gold.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Helen Bushby
Culture reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Amelia Dimoldenberg is a regular fixture on the Oscars red carpet these days, and is back for her third consecutive year.

She's the Academy's official social media ambassador and red carpet correspondent, famous for her flirty questions and ability to disarm celebrities with dry wit and awkward silences.

Best-known for her YouTube series Chicken Shop Date, she began by interviewing UK rap and grime stars in a chicken shop.

More than three million subscribers later, the Londoner's recent interviews include One Battle After Another's Teyana Taylor and Song Sung Blue's Kate Hudson. Both stars are up for Oscars this year.

"It’s an honour to experience the magic of the night up close, especially as a true film lover," says Dimoldenberg.

"I can’t wait to speak to Hollywood’s brightest stars and ask them some very important questions!”

Helen Bushby & Scarlett Harris

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Check out US blues guitarist and influential singer-songwriter Buddy Guy on the red carpet - he makes an appearance at the end of Sinners, playing the older version of the character Sammie Moore, the film's main character.

He has shunned the more traditional tuxedo for an outfit and is lighting up the red carpet with his dungarees, polka-dot shirt and baseball cap.

Li Jun Li, who plays shopkeeper Grace Chow in the film, continues to favour red, which she also wore to the Screen Actor’s Guild Actor Awards two weeks ago, where Sinners won for Best Ensemble. Tonight's dress features an incredible, flowing, textured train on her gorgeous, sculpted red silk dress.

Image source, gett

Scarlett Harris
Fashion critic

Jessie Buckley has a unique style all her own, and tonight where she’s heavily favoured to take home the best actress award which she has swept at every other ceremony, she caps off an awards campaign for the ages in a red and pink Chanel gown - a change from her usually subdued colour palette.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Katie Razzall
Culture editor

Image source, Getty Images

LA was always the home of the movie industry. Almost guaranteed sunshine, access to great locations and the vast studio spaces of the big five US film studios made it the centre of film-making.

But Hollywood is struggling, battling movie production moving to other states and overseas.

All of the 10 films nominated for best picture were entirely or mostly filmed elsewhere, with some post-production carried out in LA.

It’s been a general trend for years. According to FilmLA, in 2025, film and TV production in the city fell to its lowest point since the pandemic.

California has brought in tax incentives to try to entice people back, but right now, lots of people who work in the industry are unemployed. And businesses which rely on the film industry – from prop houses to pancake restaurants – are going out of business amid the slump.

The Oscars celebrates cinema and Hollywood. But many here aren’t feeling much like celebrating.

Scarlett Harris
Fashion critic

Image source, Getty Images

Chase Infiniti was widely assumed to pick up a best actress nomination for her first movie role in One Battle After Another.

Alas, it wasn’t her year, but she’s more than made up for it in her daring red carpet fashions. She’s proved she’s a fashion girlie, opting for unique silhouettes from the likes of Schiaparelli and Louis Vuitton, for whom she is an ambassador.

Tonight she’s evoking a more subdued style in a lavender custom Louis Vuitton.

The star of one of tonight's nominated films, Train Dreams, has arrived.

Australian actor Joel Edgerton is the star of the Netflix movie about a US itinerant worker who returns from a work trip to be confronted by tragedy.

Image source, Getty Images

Scarlett Harris
Fashion critic

Image source, Getty Images

You know a person exudes innate style when all they need is a slick bun, a red lip and a column gown.

That person is Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve, who has favored Louis Vuitton throughout her awards season campaign, which culminates tonight as she’s up for Best Actress in a simple yet striking custom red Louis Vuitton dress by Nicolas Ghesquiere.

She is up for best actress for Sentimental Value. Also arriving for the show is Domee Shi, who's up for best animated feature film for Elio.

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Singer and rapper Shaboozey is in the house. He'll be performing later tonight with the cast of the movie Sinners.

"It's honestly a dream come true," he says on the pre-show red carpet.

Asked if he could reveal anything about the performance, he says: "It's insane, I think the magic of the movie is captured on that stage today. I think it's gonna blow some people away."

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Conan O'Brien has arrived!

The 62-year-old comedian will host the Oscars tonight, and he walks the carpet with his wife Liza Powel O'Brien.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Helen Bushby
Culture reporter

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Author Maggie O'Farrell, nominated for best adapted screenplay for Hamnet, is resplendent in a long, pink silk dress with black lace and jewellery details.

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Oscar winner Kieran Culkin has just walked the carpet.

The actor took home the Best Supporting Actor prize just last year for A Real Pain.