Excitement is rippling through Hollywood as the first wave of Oscars guests began to arrive on the red carpet for the 82nd Academy Awards.
Australian actor Sam Worthington - the star of science-fiction blockbuster Avatar - was among the early arrivals as the parade of A-listers got under way at the Kodak Theatre.
A torrential downpour greeted guests, who were shielded from the rain by a protective canopy.
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Worthington meanwhile admitted that the glitz and glamour of the Oscars was a far cry from the early stages of his career.
"I was living in a car," he joked, saying he was hoping attendance at the Oscars would boost his career prospects.
"I just need another job," Worthington told E! television. "This is all part of it. You put your monkey suit on and try and get another job."
Meanwhile Up In the Air star Anna Kendrick, nominated for best supporting actress, revealed she had suffered a last minute wardrobe crisis before finally settling on her pink gown.
"I never thought I would wear pink," Kendrick said. "It was just the right dress."
Another best supporting actress nominee, comedienne Mo'Nique, said she felt privileged to be part of the awards hoopla.
"I'm honoured, I'm appreciative," said Mo'Nique, who plays an abusive parent in the harrowing drama Precious.
"I'm honoured for the whole process for what this fantasy land is. It's changed my life inwardly."
The Oscars ceremony gets under way about 1pm (AEDT).
Aussies at the Oscars
Meanwhile Australian filmmaking duo Luke Doolan and Drew Bailey will live a lifelong dream when they walk the red carpet.
Doolan, 30, from Darwin, and Drew Bailey, 33, from Wollongong, are nominated in the live action short film category for their movie, Miracle Fish, but they agree they will need a miracle to win the Oscar.
The likable twosome expect to leave the Kodak Theatre empty-handed, although they plan to have a great time.
"No, I don't think we're very high on the list of chances to win," Bailey told AAP.
"We're just happy to be there.
"We just want to enjoy ourselves and whatever happens happens."
Bookies don't favour Aussies
Bookmakers do not believe the Aussies will win and have installed The Door, about a family dealing with the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, and Kavi, a story about an Indian slave boy, as the top picks for the short live action film category.
If by some miracle Doolan and Bailey win, it will be up to Doolan to deliver the acceptance speech.
Under new rules introduced by Academy organisers to ensure a slick TV telecast, only one person can speak for a winning category.
"If a second tries, the producers of the show will cut them off," Bailey said.
"They told us to nominate who will talk beforehand.
All eyes on Avatar, The Hurt Locker
Avatar and The Hurt Locker have nine nominations each and will duel for best picture and director.
Avatar's director, James Cameron, and The Hurt Locker's Kathryn Bigelow were once married, adding an interesting twist to the battle.
If Bigelow wins she will become the first female to win best director at the Oscars.
In the other key categories, Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart) is the short-priced favourite for best actor; Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds) appears to have supporting actor locked up; and Mo'Nique (Precious) is at unbackable odds to win the supporting actress award.
The best actress contest is an interesting one, pitting Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side) against Oscar queen Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia).
