And the Oscar for most controversial bid to get your chum an award goes to...

Stars shine early at pre-show bash

- Mike Parker

HOLLYWOOD’S brightest stars shone at a pre-Oscars bash ahead of the glitziest night in the showbiz calendar, writes Mike Parker.

Best Actress nominee Cate Blanchett arrived at the celebration thrown by talent agency CAA at LA’s Sunset Tower Hotel accompanied by her close friend, comedy star Allison Janney.

Irish heart-throb Paul Mescal, 27, who is vying for Best Actor tonight for his coming-of-age movie Aftersun, also turned up to share a cocktail and crack a joke with English actress Florence Pugh.

Pedro Pascal, who will be among the on-stage announcers at tonight’s ceremony, also joined the pre-Academy Awards party, alongside actress Olivia Wilde.

Many of the stars were expected to meet up again last night at the annual Night Before Party hosted by the Motion Picture Television Fund charity which will be jointly chaired by Blanchett and feature guests including George Clooney, Robert Downey Jr, Vin Diesel and Tom Hanks.

The celebrations will last all weekend, with tonight’s Oscar ceremony at LA’s Dolby Theatre followed by a string of A-list parties including Elton John’s regular star-studded gala for his Aids charity and the elite annual Vanity Fair party.

By then, most celebrities will be clutching their goody bags from the ceremony, this year reckoned to be worth £106,000 each, with gifts ranging from a facelift from a “celebrity surgeon” to silk pillowcases and even a plot of land in Australia.

WIN OR LOSE at tonight’s glittering Oscar ceremony, unsung British actress Andrea Riseborough is already guaranteed a place in Academy Awards history.