8 February 2011 Last updated at 11:14

In pictures: Oscar nominees' luncheon 2011

This year's Oscar contenders gathered in Los Angeles on Monday for the traditional nominees' luncheon. Some 151 actors and film professionals got together before finding out the fates of the golden statuettes on the big night, on Sunday 27 February.

At the front of the group photo, Annette Bening perched on the knee of fellow acting nominee Jeff Bridges, flanked by Nicole Kidman and Amy Adams.

The nominees for best actress made friends (left-right): Natalie Portman, Michelle Williams, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicole Kidman and Annette Bening.

The dapper stars doing battle to be named best actor are (left-right): Javier Bardem, James Franco, Jesse Eisenberg, Colin Firth and Jeff Bridges.

Firth joined his co-star in The King's Speech, Geoffrey Rush, who is nominated for best supporting actor. The King's Speech leads the Academy Awards field with a total of 12 nominations and Firth described the awards season as an "out-of-body experience".

British actress Helena Bonham Carter is nominated for the best supporting actress award for her role as Queen Elizabeth, the future Queen Mother, in the same film. She vowed that her outfit for the Oscars ceremony would "probably be a catastrophe".

Nicole Kidman has described her nomination for best actress for Rabbit Hole, which she also produced, as the "sweetest nomination" of the three she has received during her career.

Jeff Bridges embraced his 14-year-old True Grit co-star in Hailee Steinfeld, who is up for best supporting actress. Oscar producers have said they will incorporate nominees' mothers into this year's ceremony by featuring their Twitter updates on air.

Annette Bening, who starred opposite Julianne Moore in The Kids Are All Right, arrived at the event in Beverly Hills with husband Warren Beatty, who has had 14 Oscar nominations of his own during his career.

Amy Adams faced the cameras after receiving her third best supporting actress nomination in five years. She starred in boxing movie The Fighter.

Entertainment & Arts

In pictures: Oscar nominees' luncheon 2011

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