UPDATE: The excitement is palpable as the 98th Academy Awards unfold today, with Rose Byrne spearheading Australia’s hopes for Oscar glory. The ceremony kicks off at 10am AEDT at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien.
Byrne, nominated for Best Actress for her role in the indie film If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, is set to present awards regardless of the outcome. She has already secured the Best Actress title at four major pre-Oscar events, including the Golden Globes.
Joining her in the spotlight is Jacob Elordi, who is vying for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein. In a remarkable turn, musician Nick Cave has received a surprise nomination for Best Original Song for the title track of Train Dreams, a film featuring Australian actor Joel Edgerton.
In addition to Byrne and Elordi, the Australian contingent includes Fiona Crombie, nominated for Best Production Design for her work on Hamnet. Notably, Nicole Kidman will also be among the presenters at today’s ceremony, adding to Australia’s star-studded presence.
The stakes are high as nominees face off against fierce competition. Byrne will compete against talented actresses including Jessie Buckley in Hamnet, Kate Hudson in Song Sung Blue, Renate Reinsve in Sentimental Value, and Emma Stone in Bugonia.
With only hours to go until the winners are revealed, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will determine the fate of these nominees through a voting process involving approximately 10,000 industry professionals.
As anticipation builds, fans and industry insiders alike are eager to see if Australia will bring home gold. Stay tuned for live updates and results as this exciting event unfolds.
