Stars gather for 2016 Oscars nominees luncheon
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- With the 88th Oscars ceremony just a few weeks away, many of the nominees gathered for the annual Oscars luncheon in Beverly Hills on Monday.
The stars contending for Hollywood's most prestigious awards joined other entertainment greats at the Beverly Hilton hotel. For many of the nominees, this was not their first Oscars luncheon.
"It's such an extraordinary ride, I think certainly last year it was like being hit by a bulldozer, you know, don't quite know what you're going through," explained Eddie Redmayne, last year's winner for best actor and a nominee again in 2016. "It's such a frenzy of emotions that you try and just remain open enough to remember it and enjoy it."
Four decades ago Sylvester Stallone was nominated for best actor for his role in "Rocky," but Peter Finch took home the award that year for his performance in "Network." This year, Stallone is nominated for best supporting actor for his role in "Creed."
He joked his daughters actually think of him as an actor again, instead of just being a bad golfer.
"I never thought I'd be able to see, you know, cross that threshold again. It was wonderful in 1976, that was a minor miracle, but as I get older I realize miracles begin to diminish and the tunnel keeps getting longer and the opportunities tend to shrink," Stallone said.
While many of the nominees had attended the Oscars luncheon before, it was the first for Alicia Vikander as a nominee.
"Suddenly wonderful to be introduced in rooms, to meet actor and filmmakers and people behind the camera I've looked up to my entire life," Vikander said. "It all comes down to I'm so proud of the films and people I've been able to work with."
Vikander is up for best actress in a supporting role for her performance in "The Danish Girl," in which she co-starred with Redmayne.
PHOTOS: 88th Oscars nominees luncheon
With the luncheon signaling the looming close to Hollywood's awards season, some nominees said they'll be relieved when the last name is called the evening of the Oscars.
"It can be very overwhelming and sometimes it feels like we've been celebrating the same person's birthday for months on end and like it's just never going to stop," joked Rooney Mara, who is nominated for best actress in a supporting role for her performance in "Carol."
"But there is this other wonderful side to it where you get to meet all these people who you're inspired by and who you want to work with. It's really nice to celebrate with other people who also want to celebrate film," Mara continued.
As the lights turn on and the cameras roll, all the glitz and glam of the award show wears off quickly when you return home, according to Rachel McAdams.
"I mean it's always really not glamorous when you go home at end of the night, it's like so sad, you just fall on the floor in a puddle. You know, it's so fun, but I do really feel that you turn into a pumpkin. You go from Cinderella to a pumpkin in the best way," said McAdams, who is nominated for best supporting actress for her performance in "Spotlight."
The 88th Oscars ceremony hosted by Chris Rock will broadcast live on ABC on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 7 ET/4 PT.
