Oscar Nominees celebrate at the Beverly Hilton

(CNS) – Fans and paparazzi crowded behind a rope at the entrance of the Beverly Hilton today as Oscar-nominated artists, including 19 of the 20 actors hoping to win the gold statuette, gathered for a celebratory lunch.

Tables in the chandeliered ballroom were set for about 150 people and the menu included Asian-inspired hors d’oeuvres and Alaskan black cod.

The seating chart called for mingling, as actors were matched with directors, sound editors and costume designers. But the acting nominees held sway backstage in the press room.

Some critics, entertainment analysts and Oscar statisticians are already calling the race for acting awards over, since Colin Firth (The King’s Speech), Natalie Portman (The Black Swan), Christian Bale (The Fighter) and Melissa Leo (Winter’s Bone) have each taken home both SAG and Golden Globe awards.

But the other nominees didn’t seem to care; they showed up in force and seemed to be swept up in the excitement of the season.

“To be here today is a great honor,” said Javier Bardem, nominated for his lead role in Biutiful, “especially because it is Spanish.”

The foreign film got more attention than it might have because of special screenings hosted by Bardem’s friends, including Julia Roberts and Sean Pean, which the actor called “an amazing gift.”

Many of the actors said they were happy that their nominations might bring more moviegoers out to see their small films, whether or not they win awards.

Jeremy Renner, who was nominated last year for his performance in the indie The Hurt Locker, the 2009 Best Picture winner, said he was still “wide-eyed about the whole process.” Renner, nominated this year for Best Supporting actor, came from Vancouver, where he’s filming Mission Impossible 4, for today’s lunch.

The roster of nominees brought lots of newcomers, young and old, to the red carpet, including:  Hailee Steinfeld for True Grit; Jacki Weaver; John Hawkes.

Bale, Lawrence, James Franco – who will host the Academy Awards ceremony at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on Feb. 27 with Anne Hathaway  and Mark Ruffalo, who is nominated for a supporting actor’s Oscar for his performance in The Kids Are All Right, are all first-time nominees.

Jesse Eisenberg, also a first-time nominee for his portrayal of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in the Best Picture-nominated The Social Network  may have gotten the biggest laugh in the press room with his characterization of awards season. He said it reminded him of being 13, when he had to attend bar mitzvahs every weekend.

Helena Bonham Carter, who looked ready for an evening out in a flattering, low-cut black dress, long black gloves and a black net hat perched in her up-do, said of her wardrobe for the Oscar red carpet,  it’s probably going to be a catastrophe … but I’m gonna go for it.

Bonham Carter said she’d hadn’t chosen a dress, but promised to wear the same color shoes (after wearing one pink and one green shoe to the Golden Globes).

Most of the other actresses wore more spring-like dresses or separates gauzy, lightweight and simple to the luncheon.

Natalie Portman, who wore tall red velvet heels and a silky deep aqua dress over her now-very-visible pregnancy, objected to the focus on the more frivolous aspects of the awards season, such as fashion.

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