On the eve of the 97th Academy Awards, Hollywood was toasting around town — raising a glass to their victories as they reached the culmination of award season.
At Giorgio Armani’s annual cocktail party, held at the Rodeo Drive flagship, there was a palpable electricity in the air. It was jam-packed, filled with energy and chatter; a sea of people mingled on the first floor as a crowd of spectators gathered outside the glass facade, eager to catch a glimpse of the stars.
Inside were some of Netflix’s breakout talents: heartthrob-of-the-moment Kit Connor of “Heartstopper”; Madelyn Cline of teen drama “Outer Banks”; Shira Haas of the critically acclaimed miniseries “Unorthodox”; Diego Boneta, celebrated for his role as Luis Miguel, and Cooper Koch, who shot to fame portraying Erik Menendez in “Monster.”
The men of “Anora” were out, including Yura Borisov, who’s nominated for Best Supporting Actor on Sunday, and rising young actor Mark Eydelshteyn. Adrien Brody arrived with Georgina Chapman — stealing the show. Eyes were on the couple and particularly Brody, who’s been on an award-winning streak for his role as László Tóth in “The Brutalist.” He’s considered the frontrunner for the Best Actor Oscar (which he took home in 2003 for “The Pianist,” becoming the youngest to do so), after winning both a Golden Globe and BAFTA in the category.
Brody was also joined by his costar in the film, Felicity Jones, who plays his wife, along with fellow actors Samuel L. Jackson, LaKeith Stanfield, Jurnee Smollett, Billy Crystal, John Lithgow, Kristen Bell, Henry Golding, Eiza González, Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Dallas, Odeya Rush and Walton Goggins.
“It’s really nice to be here on a Saturday night with everyone before the big day tomorrow,” said Goggins, eyebrows flying up.
The seasoned actor is no stranger to the Oscars and, in fact, won in 2012 for producing the short film “The Accountant,” in which he also starred. These days he’s captivating audiences every Sunday on season three of HBO’s “The White Lotus” as the rugged, brooding, Hawaiian-shirt-wearing Rick Hatchett. In Giorgio Armani, dressed in a sharp, well-tailored suit, Goggins was a far cry from his character.
“I’ve just been a fan for a really long time,” he said of the Italian brand. He spent time in Sicily last year with a member of the Armani team and developed a relationship with the company, he added. “And as fate would have it, this moment in time in my life, it just made sense and easy to say, ‘Yes, I feel honored to wear your clothes.’”
He got some help from stylist Erica Cloud: “She’s extraordinary.”
“I picked it out yesterday,” Joan Chen said of her look, standing out in a shimmering dress — a fitted power blue number with a plunging neckline. “I’m not a fashionista or anything. I’m a very simple gal,” she smiled. “I liked the sequins. And it fits like a glove. And it’s actually comfortable.”
Chen has been receiving praise for her role as an immigrant mother in Sean Wang’s “Dìdi,” which won Best First Feature and Best First Screenplay at the Independent Spirit Award — though got no Oscar nominations.
She’s been enjoying the ride of promoting the film, as well as the romantic comedy she’ll soon be seen in, “The Wedding Banquet,” out April 18.
“I haven’t done this in forever,” she said of making the party rounds. Chen received worldwide recognition for her role in Bernardo Bertolucci’s “The Last Emperor,” which won nine Academy Awards including Best Picture in 1989. “It’s been decades.”
