Say 'nominee!' Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande are center at Oscar nominees class photo
LOS ANGELES − "Wicked" best actress nominee Cynthia Erivo conjured the most appropriate photographic cue to magically bring out smiles during the class photograph at Tuesday night's Oscar nominees dinner.
"Everyone say, 'Oscar nominee!' " Erivo proclaimed, eliciting a perfect wider grin from her "Wicked" co-star Ariana Grande and more than 170 fellow award nominees at the purely celebratory event before Sunday's 97th Academy Awards.
The official pre-Oscars nomination celebration and the annual class photo are generally held during a glam Beverly Hills Hilton luncheon, which was rescheduled to the dinner at the Academy's Museum of Motion Pictures as a result of the devastating January LA wildfires.
Most of the more than 225 nominees attended the jovial cocktail attire event (noticeably absent: Karla Sofía Gascón, the embattled "Emilia Pérez" best actress nominee).
Like anyone's high school class photograph, the 97th Oscar nominees' official photo is a blast to look at up close (and even wilder to experience in person). Front row photo stars included a pack of top actresses including Grande (who hooted at Trevor, the photographer), Erivo, Monica Barbaro ("A Complete Unknown"), Mikey Madison ("Anora") and Zoe Saldaña ("Emilia Pérez" best supporting actress nominee). They all hung out during the event after Erivo and Grande arrived together (the "Wicked" duo will perform at the Oscars).
Check out Timothée Chalamet, nominated for playing Bob Dylan in "A Complete Unknown." The SAG Award winner was throwing off the all-black rebel vibe near the back. The very back row featured a throng of best actor nominees: Adrien Brody ("The Brutalist"), Colman Domingo ("Sing Sing") and Sebastian Stan ("The Apprentice."). Ralph Fiennes ("Conclave") is around there somewhere, blending in.
The dinner started with a cocktail reception. Brody worked the room like an architect with a plan, getting animated in a discussion with Board of Governors member Rita Wilson and then regaling SAG Award orator Jane Fonda at the bar.
There were so many stars that each guest received a sophisticated magnetic name tag. Domingo and first-time nominee Demi Moore ("The Substance") laughingly debated whether they should wear them, before fellow best actress nominee Madison walked by with name tag in place, ending the question.
"I saw yours on, so I thought I better put mine on," Moore said, gesturing at the ID.
"I guess I follow the rules," Madison shrugged with a smile.
Brody was last spotted in a deep bar conversation with Chalamet.
Who was the late guy in the Oscar nominee class photo? There's always a late guy
Academy President Janet Yang addressed the class before the photo, noting the "historic" moment in time. Yang also put in a reminder that Oscar speeches should be heartfelt, and less than 45 seconds long. She repeated the 45-second part for emphasis.
Moments before the nominees were about to be set free from the class photo, a latecomer arrived. "A Complete Unknown" director James Mangold hustled into the auditorium and sheepishly took a seat toward the back. The class had to reset for another photo. Erivo led the charge again.
"Trevor, are you ready?" Erivo asked the photographer, before looking back at the director. "And Mangold, are you ready?"