Academy Award nominee Tom Wilkinson (In the Bedroom) may have a lower public recognition factor than his Best Actor competition, but it was nearly impossible to miss the towering–six feet and then some–British actor when he strolled onto patio lounge of a five-star Beverly Hills hotel (I’d say where, but I don’t want Tom to be stalked) on the eve of Oscar week.
As my companion and I enjoyed Saturday night cocktails, Wilkinson and two friends sat at an adjoining table and discussed the ins and outs of the whirlwind that surrounds any Oscar-nominated actor. The actor, who is clearly more at ease out of the limelight than in it, chuckled at some of the pricey gift items that had been floated his way by luxe companies hoping to attach their brand names to a nominee.
We overheard Wilkinson offering one such gift to his male friend, a pair of sleek, size 11 designer shoes that unfortunately didn’t fit him. Meanwhile, his gal pal assured him he’d eventually receive a specially designed cell phone–possibly with 24-karat gold accents–before he headed home to England.
I couldn’t resist the opportunity to congratulate Wilkinson on his nomination and wish him the best of luck, while my friend informed him that she had been so moved by his performance in In the Bedroom that she returned to the theater and watched it again the very next day. Tom graciously accepted our good wishes, and was supremely humble about his prospects at adding the golden guy to his mantle.
“I’m not going to win,” he said matter-of-factly, laughing. “I’ve seen Russell Crowe take home about six of these things so far.”
In fact, a few days earlier I’d had a chance to talk Oscars with Tom at the Academy nominees luncheon, where he suggested it might be best to do away with Hollywood awards competitions (“Best actor?” he’d said. “Is apple pie better than chocolate cake?”). He also suggested that the intense marketing rivalry between studios is getting a bit out of control, and even jabbed at himself for participating in the process, which he said was fun but left him feeling a bit “dirty.”
Bemused at the Oscar roller-coaster ride, the actor seemed almost excited to be over with it during our impromptu encounter. When his friends toasted his nomination, he raised his glass and said wryly: “Here’s to oblivion.”
Wilkinson then adjourned to his suite, returning with a surprise gift for his friend. Assuming it was the pair of ill-fitting shoes, his friend opened the present and was surprised to discover not a gift bag cast-off, but a chic article of clothing that Tom had bought especially for him.
Which left me to wonder: Are those shoes still up for grabs? I’m a size 11.
