{"id":581656,"date":"2026-02-11T06:57:16","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T06:57:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/581656\/"},"modified":"2026-02-11T06:57:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T06:57:16","slug":"timothee-chalamet-emma-stone-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/581656\/","title":{"rendered":"Timothee Chalamet, Emma Stone and More"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tThis year\u2019s nominees for the 98th Academy Awards<\/a> gathered under one roof Tuesday afternoon for the annual Oscars<\/a> luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel \u2014 a rare pause in the relentless awards-season sprint where competitors became colleagues and rivals turned conversationalists. It is, in many ways, the last truly \u201chappy\u201d day of the season. Everyone in the room is still a winner in the most literal sense: They made it inside.<\/p>\n

\n\tHeld within the Wilshire Ballroom, the luncheon is a carefully controlled logistical ritual. Nominees arrive through a no-frills process in which personal publicists are notably absent unless attending as a plus-one. Table assignments are randomized. There are no entourages, no strategy sessions \u2014 just artists and collaborators sharing space. For many, it is the first moment when the reality of an Oscar nomination fully sinks in.<\/p>\n

\n\tLynette Howell Taylor, the newly elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, who took office in July 2025 after succeeding Janet Yang, delivered the welcome remarks, underscoring both the significance of the moment and the communal spirit of the gathering. Casting directors, she noted pointedly, were among those being honored this year \u2014 a line that drew audible response from the room.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe nominations were dominated by Warner Bros., powered by a one-two punch from two of cinema\u2019s most acclaimed auteurs: Paul Thomas Anderson with \u201cOne Battle After Another\u201d and Ryan Coogler with \u201cSinners.\u201d Coogler\u2019s vampire epic led the field with a record-setting 16 nominations, while Anderson\u2019s action drama followed closely with 13. Both films earned best picture nominations alongside \u201cBugonia,\u201d \u201cF1,\u201d \u201cFrankenstein,\u201d \u201cHamnet,\u201d \u201cMarty Supreme,\u201d \u201cThe Secret Agent,\u201d \u201cSentimental Value\u201d and \u201cTrain Dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\tBEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA \u2013 FEBRUARY 10: (L-R) Ryan Coogler and Zinzi Coogler attend the 98th Oscar Nominees Luncheon at The Beverly Hilton on February 10, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty Images<\/p>\n

\n\tIt\u2019s an impossible task to judge applause, but everyone knew who got the loudest<\/strong> one<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tIt is always risky to declare a winner in a room governed by decorum, but one reaction was impossible to miss. When Ryan Coogler\u2019s name was read \u2014 for best picture, directing and original screenplay \u2014 the applause was unmistakably the loudest of the afternoon. His wife and fellow nominated producer, Zinzi Coogler, appeared to be among its most enthusiastic contributors.<\/p>\n

\n\tA close runner-up in the applause stakes was Benicio Del Toro, nominated for supporting actor for \u201cOne Battle After Another,\u201d whose entrance into the room drew a spontaneous and sustained reaction. Guillermo del Toro, a nominated producer on \u201cFrankenstein,\u201d was also greeted with notable enthusiasm.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe annual reading of nominees\u2019 names, conducted this year by Lou Diamond Phillips, a member of the acting branch Board of Governors, began with Delroy Lindo, nominated for supporting actor for \u201cSinners,\u201d and concluded with \u201cOne Battle After Another\u201d supporting actress nominee Teyana Taylor, who joked with Variety on her way out, \u201cThey saved the best for last.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThere was also an audible response for each of the five casting director nominees \u2014 a moment Howell Taylor had flagged earlier in her remarks.<\/p>\n

\n\tWho wasn\u2019t in the room<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tNot every nominee could attend.<\/p>\n

\n\tTwo-time Oscar winner Ludwig G\u00f6ransson, widely considered the frontrunner for original score for \u201cSinners,\u201d was absent, having returned to London to complete work on Christopher Nolan\u2019s upcoming epic \u201cThe Odyssey,\u201d an adaptation of Homer\u2019s ancient Greek poem.<\/p>\n

\n\tNorwegian actor Renate Reinsve, earning her first Oscar nomination for best actress for \u201cSentimental Value,\u201d was also unable to step away from production, having recently begun filming Alexander Payne\u2019s Danish-language feature \u201cSomewhere Out There.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tSean Penn, who landed his sixth acting nomination for his turn in Anderson\u2019s \u201cOne Battle After Another,\u201d did not attend \u2014 not entirely surprising given his past public remarks about wanting to \u201csmelt\u201d his Oscar.<\/p>\n

\n\tOscar winner Natalie Portman, nominated as a producer on the animated feature \u201cArco,\u201d was also absent, as was Oscar winner Sam Mendes, likely deep into production on his ambitious four-film Beatles project.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\tBEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA \u2013 FEBRUARY 10: (2nd L-R) Lorraine Nicholson and Wagner Moura attend the 98th Oscar Nominees Luncheon at The Beverly Hilton on February 10, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty Images<\/p>\n

\n\tBrazilians supporting Brazilians<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tAt Table 23, where Variety was seated alongside nominees including \u201cF1\u201d producer Jeremy Kleiner, \u201cHamnet\u201d set decorator Alice Felton and \u201cSir\u00e2t\u201d director Oliver Laxe, Brazilian cinematographer Adolpho Veloso (\u201cTrain Dreams\u201d) became an unofficial cheer captain. He loudly celebrated each Brazilian nominee announced, including best actor contender Wagner Moura for \u201cThe Secret Agent\u201d and international feature director Kleber Mendon\u00e7a Filho.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\tBEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA \u2013 FEBRUARY 10: Jacob Elordi attends the 98th Oscar Nominees Luncheon at The Beverly Hilton on February 10, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty Images<\/p>\n

\n\tOnly the NBA might have a \u201ctaller\u201d room of players.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tOne lighter observation circulated quietly: This may be one of the tallest groups of Oscar nominees in recent memory.<\/p>\n

\n\tBetween Jacob Elordi (6-foot-5), nominated for supporting actor for \u201cFrankenstein\u201d; producer Scott Stuber (6-foot-4); Stellan Skarsg\u00e5rd (6-foot-3); and Laxe (6-foot-6), some group photos required creative staging. One reliable solution was to include Guillermo del Toro, whose humor consistently loosened the room and ensured genuine smiles during the Class of 2026 photo.<\/p>\n

\n\tHollywood power players were on deck<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tJosh D\u2019Amaro, the newly minted CEO of the Walt Disney Co., attended alongside Dana Walden. When D\u2019Amaro entered the ballroom, Walden trailed a few steps behind. He paused to wait for her before they walked in together, accompanied by Alan Bergman, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe gathering also carried added resonance as ABC enters its final three years as the Academy Awards\u2019 broadcast partner, lending the afternoon an understated sense of transition.<\/p>\n

\n\tSome advice for Hollywood\u2019s biggest night<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tBefore the luncheon concluded, Howell Taylor offered practical guidance for nominees preparing for Oscar night \u2014 advice met with knowing laughter and attentive nods.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Be prepared. <\/strong>Don\u2019t say you didn\u2019t expect it. You have a one in five chance of winning for best picture.<\/li>\n
  2. Get yourself to the stage quickly. <\/strong>You have 45 seconds to complete your speech. A countdown will help you keep to time. The producers signed a contract with ABC, and they will play you off. You can still say an awful lot in 45 seconds. Also, extending your speech is unfair to your fellow nominees when there is a limited amount of time on air.<\/li>\n
  3. Make it heartfelt. Make it authentic. <\/strong>The instinct is to list all the people who have contributed to your success leading up to this moment and thank them publicly. But the truth is, you\u2019ll forget someone, you\u2019ll feel terrible, and they\u2019ll feel terrible. Or someone you never even intended to thank will wonder why you didn\u2019t thank them. Instead, think about what it means to you and try to communicate that.<\/li>\n
  4. Have a single voice. <\/strong>If you are a group, decide ahead of time who will speak.<\/li>\n
  5. No cell phones. Use paper. <\/strong>It looks better on TV.<\/li>\n
  6. Don\u2019t lean into the microphone. <\/strong>It will pick you up no matter where you stand.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    \t\t\t\t\tBEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA \u2013 FEBRUARY 10: (L-R) Julia Aks and Kate Hudson attend the 98th Oscar Nominees Luncheon at The Beverly Hilton on February 10, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

    \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty Images<\/p>\n

    \n\tHeartwarming moments and reunions<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n\tKate Hudson, a best actress nominee for \u201cSong Sung Blue,\u201d was among the first spotted in the lobby, returning to the Oscars after 25 years since her breakthrough nomination for \u201cAlmost Famous.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \n\tWhen Jessie Buckley entered the room, she lit it up with her smile, celebrating her first best actress nomination for \u201cHamnet.\u201d She was previously nominated in supporting actress for \u201cThe Lost Daughter.\u201d Buckley shared a tender moment with fellow best actress nominee Rose Byrne (\u201cIf I Had Legs, I\u2019d Kick You\u201d), the two embracing and exchanging compliments on each other\u2019s work. Both are widely considered leading contenders in the category.<\/p>\n

    \n\tChlo\u00e9 Zhao moved easily through the room, happy and animated. Elle Fanning was also on hand, savoring her first Oscar nomination for \u201cSentimental Value.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \n\tEJAE, the singer-songwriter behind \u201cGolden\u201d from the Netflix hit \u201cK-Pop Demon Hunters,\u201d was a lively presence, chatting with numerous nominees, including Emma Stone. The two paused for a photo together.<\/p>\n

    \n\tJosh Safdie, director, editor, producer and co-writer of \u201cMarty Supreme,\u201d attended as the only individual nominated for four Academy Awards this year.<\/p>\n

    \n\tThere were many warm interactions, including Ethan Hawke circulating with fellow nominees alongside Michael Barker, co-head of Sony Pictures Classics. At one point, Hawke, Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet and Barker shared hugs, with both actors telling Barker he was the reason they had careers \u2014 a moment that visibly moved him.<\/p>\n

    \n\tOutside the ballroom, Anderson \u2014 triple-nominated for producing, directing and screenplay for \u201cOne Battle After Another\u201d \u2014 was seen chatting with Steven Spielberg, a nominated producer on \u201cHamnet.\u201d The two were catching up amiably in the lobby.<\/p>\n

    \n\tAmy Madigan, nominated for \u201cWeapons,\u201d drew attention as she entered the room. It was her first nomination since the 1980s, and the energy around her felt markedly different this time. Dressed in a striking blue suit, she was greeted warmly by Netflix film chief Dan Lin.<\/p>\n

    \n\tPast Oscar nominees were also in attendance as guests, including \u201cMudbound\u201d screenwriter Virgil Williams, who was seen exchanging numbers with Diane Warren after she encouraged him to call her when he directs his next project. Williams was later spotted chatting with Teyana Taylor, a supporting actress nominee for \u201cOne Battle After Another.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \n\tLeonardo DiCaprio attended with his father. He spoke with Scott Stuber and caught up with Hawke. Nearby, Chalamet and Emma Stone lingered in an extended conversation at their assigned Table No. 3 near the front of the room.<\/p>\n

    \n\tElordi, who is starring opposite Margot Robbie in \u201cWuthering Heights,\u201d the upcoming Emerald Fennell adaptation that opens Friday, was seen hugging Warner Bros. Pictures co-chief Pam Abdy. A nice reminder that even on a day meant for reflection, the next season is already waiting.<\/p>\n

    \t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

    \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRichard Harbaugh \/ The Academy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This year\u2019s nominees for the 98th Academy Awards gathered under one roof Tuesday afternoon for the annual Oscars…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":581657,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[15797,171,15801,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-581656","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entertainment","8":"tag-academy-awards","9":"tag-entertainment","10":"tag-oscars","11":"tag-united-states","12":"tag-unitedstates","13":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116050700204139332","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/581656","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=581656"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/581656\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/581657"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=581656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=581656"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=581656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}