Brits do some serious Oscar bragging

LOS ANGELES — They had every bloody right to throw themselves a Friday afternoon bash with bubbly cocktails being shaken, not stirred, and an Aston Martin parked close by.

The Brits are showing up big this year at the Oscars.

"It's unquestionably a landmark," says British Consul General Chris O'Connor. "We thought last year was one of the best years and this year is nearly twice as much."

Adds Colman Domingo, who stars in Selma, "I mean, come on, the presence is enormous."

The numbers back it up: Last year, there were 26 nominations for people or films with ties to the U.K. This year: 40, says O'Connor. The nods range from visual effects in Interstellar to makeup & hairstyling for Guardians of the Galaxy to documentary feature Virunga,

"We have two made-in-Britain films up for best picture; two actors who are up for best actor who are playing British geniuses; we've got three British actresses up (for) lead actress; and there's actually one category — production design — where we have Brits in all five teams up for awards," says O'Connor. "It's extraordinary."

Major bragging was happening.

"They've been doing that for years," says Nigel Lythgoe, creator of So You Think You Can Dance. "Now we're sort of infiltrating the industry a little bit more. A lot of people think this actress or actor is American and then they get up and speak with a British accent. It started with Hugh Laurie and House."

This year, we know well that Eddie Redmayne and Benedict Cumberbatch are British — from their accents in their films and in real life. They weren't at the party with the many behind-the-camera nominees. Apparently they weren't yet in town.

Lisa Bruce, a nominee for best picture because she is a producer on The Theory of Everything, admitted she was sort of a fish out of water.

"I'm the only American on The Theory of Everything. It was so fun for me," she says. "Honestly, I have never worked in London before and I just found the talent across the board so impressive. There doesn't seem to be as much whining as there is in L.A."

So does she have a speech ready to go?

"Well, there's a Boyhood and Birdman thing going on."

Oops, British reality check.