Divorce Made Me A Better Person: Sandra Bullock

Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock, who separated from husband Jessie James last year, said that her divorce has made her a better person.

The 46-year-old star, who divorced James when she discovered he was cheating on her just days after winning the Academy award, admitted that the whole experience has made her more patient and accommodating, reported E online.
"It's made me a better person, I'm more patient and accommodating. I really appreciate where I am," said Bullock.

The Blind Side star faced many changes in her personal life in the past year as she secretly adopted son Louis in January 2010, admitting that her role as a new mother had left her too exhausted to remember last year's ceremony.

"When I was presenting last time I'd only had like two hours [of sleep] and I don't remember anything. I remember none of it," Bullock added.

Wearing red Vera Wang gown, the actress looked stunning at the award ceremony this year, where she presented Colin Firth with his Best Actor Oscar for The King's Speech. Speaking about her dress, Bullock insisted that it was chosen for her son. "It felt good. And I know a little guy who likes red."

Aishwarya Rai Sparkles At Oscars, Shimmer Rules Red Carpet

Bollywood beauty Aishwarya Rai added some Indian glamour to the Oscars with an on-trend shimmery number at the 83rd Academy Awards where sequins dominated the red carpet.

The 37-year-old actress sparkled in a bronze Giorgio Armani Prive gown with rows of amber sequins and beaded detail at the waist, while husband Abhishek Bachchan stuck to a traditional black tuxedo.

The actress teamed the shimmery gown with a Jimmy Choo clutch, vintage jewellery and smoky eyes.

Like Abhishek, musician A R Rahman who walked the red carpet with wife Saira, too wore a tuxedo while his partner chose a flamboyant fusion ensemble consisting of a golden sherwani and cigarette pants.

Like Saira and Ash, the shimmer trend was followed by Gwnyeth Paltrow, who wore a gold Calvin Klein number and Halle Berry who stole the show in a nude sparkling number by Marchesa.

Hilary Swank's glistening silver Gucci column gave way to a romantic ostrich feather skirt, while the sparkling bodice of Mandy Moore's romantic Monique L'Hullier dress appeared to have been sprayed on.

Shimmering nude was also an age-appropriate choice for 14-year-old Hailee Steinfeld, nominated for her role in True Grit, who won a Fifties-style dress by Marchesa.

While Celine Dion, wore a full-sleeved silver column dress, Amy Adams added a pop of colour to the red carpet with a sequined navy gown by L'Wren Scott, which she teamed with green accessories.

Other than the sparkle, another major trend was the resurgence of the red carpet favourite, voluminous red gowns.

The bustled creations worn by Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Hudson, and Sandra Bullock, were in the same traffic-stopping hue of red. Penelope Cruz too showed off her post-pregnancy bod with a sequined red gown by L'Wren Scott.

And while black remained a popular choice, with famously eccentric British star Helena Bonham Carter opting for it, there were some surprises from Cate Blanchett who wore an lavender Givenchy Haute Couture gown with yellow embellishment, and an unusual purple-burgundy hue seen on both Natalie Portman, in Rodarte, and Scarlett Johansson in Dolce and Gabbana.

Tom Hooper crowned best director at the Oscars

Tom Hooper has grabbed best director at the Academy Awards for ‘The King''s Speech.’

Hooper was one of 12 Academy Award nominations for ‘The King''s Speech,’ and was up against major Hollywood heavyweights – the Coen brothers, David Fincher, David O Russell and Darren Aronofsky, reports the Guardian.

The 38-year-old worked his way through the ranks of British TV programme-making before establishing himself with the two-part ‘Love in a Cold Climate’ in 2001.

He went on to direct Prime Suspect 6, Elizabeth I and the award-winning Longford, starring Jim Broadbent.

Before ‘The King''s Speech’, his best known feature film was ‘The Damned United,’ the story of Brian Clough''s ill-fated reign as Leeds United manager.

Post-Oscar dinner menu revealed

The 1,500 guests invited to the post-Oscar dinner will be treated to scrumptious culinary masterpieces at the Governors Ball.

The stars can pig out on sushi, shrimps, smoked salmon on flatbread with caviar and creme fraiche and black truffle pizza with ricotta and thyme, reports Fox News.

Among the starters prepared by catering company Wolfgang Puck feature 1,200 Kumamoto oysters and 1,500 mini burgers.

An army of 900 staff will be on hand to serve a trio of Wolfgang salads, followed by Dover sole with fennel and olives, vegetable risotto and paella with saffron.

Next up are layers of lemon cheesecake, raspberry cremiex, cassis gelee, Valrhona Ivoire and a 24 Karat chocolate Oscar.

Pastry chef Sheree Yard says pudding is the highlight and denies it''s hard to get the figure-conscious stars to eat.

"They''ve been in their gowns all day long, they''ve been on best behaviour and it''s time to have fun so they eat and they eat and they eat. There''s hardly anything left over."

To wash it all down, 1,200 bottles of Moet and Chandon will be served - 500 of those magnums.

'The Oscars is a nail-biting process for me' - Amy Adams

The beautiful and multitalented Amy Adams has earned her third Oscar nomination, this time for The Fighter.

Vivacious, pretty and as eager to work on serious roles as happy ones, Adams is a lovely young actress clearly charting out quite an orbit for herself in Hollywood.

In an interview with Raja Sen conducted over email, Amy -- who has previously been nominated for films as diverse as Junebug and Doubt -- discussed Oscar nerves, playing a Disney princess, and her upcoming projects. Excerpts:

First of all, as a film critic significantly smitten and overwhelmed by your constantly evolving body of work, do please accept my congratulations and best wishes on your third highly-deserved Oscar nomination for your work in The Fighter.

Thank you so much sir.

This Best Supporting Actress thing is turning into quite a trend, huh? Is it always nail-biting going to the ceremony? Or are you less nervy this third time?

Oh well yes, it is always a nail biting process for me, however regular I am at the Oscars.

Bollywood wishes Rahman luck for Oscars

Music maestro A.R. Rahman has bagged two nominations at the 83rd Academy Awards for his work in Danny Boyle's 127 Hours and the film frat is hoping that the composer triumphs again at the gala event.

His colleagues and friends wish him luck and are hoping he brings the golden statuette home again, having bagged two Oscars for the best original score and the song in 2009 for rags-to-riches drama Slumdog Millionaire. This time, Rahman has been nominated for the original score of 127 Hours as well as original song If I Rise.

'I feel great. I feel wonderful because Rahman is one person who has made us so proud and I am really, really happy. I wish him all the best,' said Rani Mukerji.

Actor-producer Arbaaz Khan said: 'That's a great achievement. The last time when he won the Oscar, it looked like one time dream. I wish him all the best. He is a true deserving candidate and pride of the country.'

'He had to get the nominations. He has already has two to his credit. He will continue getting them. He has already made India proud and would continue doing so. My best wishes are always with him,' said singer Udit Narayan.

Singer Kailash Kher said: 'I congratulate him and wish him all the best. Every year he should achieve more honours.'

'The whole country is proud of him. He is good, he is talented and I hope he delivers time and again. I am very happy. I wish him all the best,' actor Arshad Warsi said.

Composer Pritam Chakraborty said: 'I wish him luck. Anything you say about him is less. If you name a few pride of our country, he is one of them. I wish him all the best.'

'It's something to be proud of that an Indian has made a golden mark on the world map,' director Vishal Bhardwaj said.

Rahman to perform at Oscars again

Indian composer A.R. Rahman, who has been second time lucky in getting two nominations at the Oscars, will be performing at the prestigious award ceremony in Los Angeles yet again.

The 45-year-old, who has been nominated in two categories - original score and original song - for his work in Danny Boyle's "127 Hours", will team up with British pop singer Florence Welch to perform "If I Rise" from the movie.

The performance is being staged for the best song nominees, and other competitors will be performing too, reports contactmusic.com. Rahman performed at the Oscars in 2009, when he was nominated for the same categories for "Slumdog Millionaire". He mesmerised the international audience with his song "Jai ho", and even took home two golden statuettes.

This year Mandy Moore and Gwyneth Paltrow will be performing as well. Moore will team up with actor-director Zachary Levi and composer Alan Menken to perform for the best song nominee "I See the Light" from their animated film "Tangled", while Paltrow will sing "Coming Home from "Country Strong", and Randy Newman will sing his "Toy Story 3" tune "We Belong Together".

The Academy Awards 2011 are scheduled for Feb 27.