Oscars red carpet 2021: Best dressed stars arrive at Academy Awards

Hollywood’s finest assembled for an Oscars red carpet unlike any other last night, as a host of A-List stars posed on a socially-distanced red carpet – without masks – but with no crowds and fewer cameras than ever before, amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

Stars including Carey Mulligan, Margot Robbie and Reese Witherspoon led the glamorous arrivals at the 93rd annual Academy Awards, which were held for the first time at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, the city’s largest rail station, instead of the usual Dolby Theater.

With just 170 guests in attendance rather than the typical 3,000 the stars still ensured they pulled out all the stops, with the likes of Zendaya wowing in Valentino Couture, Amanda Seyfried turning heads in Armani Prive, Regina King dazzling in custom Louis Vuitton and Vanessa Kirby looking breathtaking in custom Gucci.   

The global pandemic meant that not all stars were at Union Station, however, with some British celebrities like The Crown’s Olivia Colman – who looked stunning in a long-sleeve scarlet Christian Dior gown – attending virtually from Academy’s UK hub, the British Film Institute in London, for nominees who were unable to travel.  

The red carpet in Los Angeles looked similar to how it did last year except there were far fewer people due to social distancing restrictions in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The producers treated the Oscars like an active movie set, with an onsite COVID safety team, PCR testing capability and temperature checks on site.

In addition, testing was required for attendees, with a recommendation to stick to a low-risk lifestyle for 10 days before the show. 

Although the Oscars are designed to celebrate the best in movie talent, this year’s Best Picture nominees failed to win over audiences as they became some of the biggest box office flops of all-time with six of the eight movies raking in a combined total of £28.3 million worldwide – an average of just £4.7 million each.

Promising Young Woman took just £9.1 million following its Christmas Day US release, but was the top earner of the night’s celebrated films, with the pandemic and closing of cinemas playing a role in the poor takings.  

Asian-American domestic drama Minari took £8 million while Judas And The Black Messiah £4.4 million, and Nomadland £3.9 million. 

Olivia Colman and Anthony Hopkins’ The Father made £2.7 million, with rock movie Sound Of Metal making just £126,956.34 after opening only in Australia and Poland. 

The Oscars marks the first time Tinseltown’s finest have assembled in over a year, for a three-hour show that co-producer Steven Soderbergh described as being ‘like a movie.’

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hosted the delayed ceremony at the historic Union Station in Los Angeles, California where socially distanced movie stars went mask-free while on-camera or seated in the main show room.   

Built in 1939, the national historic landmark and its main terminal is 161,000 square feet, creating plenty of room for theatrics on Hollywood’s biggest night. 

During normal times, when COVID restrictions haven’t crimped travel, more than 100,000 people a day walk through its halls.

Comparatively the Dolby Theatre, where the glitzy event is usually held, can only seat around 3,300 people which would have created difficulties in putting on an award show amid the pandemic. 

But in the spacious station, believed to be large enough to accommodate social distancing requirements with its soaring main hall featuring windows that are 40-feet high, stars have more room to mingle and maneuver.

Sticking to a ‘No Zoom’ policy unlike other shows that have taken place this awards season, Academy organizers had a ‘British hub’ in London at the British Film Institute for UK actors who are unable to make it in person, as well as more hubs around the globe.

For the red carpet at Union Station, Carey, 35, dazzled in a strapless gold Valentino Couture gown, with cut-out detailing along her torso and a statement ball skirt. 

The Promising Young Woman actress hit the red carpet with her husband, Mumford and Sons musician Marcus Mumford.  

Meanwhile, Margot, 30, donned a Chanel grey and silver gown featuring delicate floral detailing; It had a delicate black trim and spaghetti straps.

The Chanel ambassador rocked a heavy fringe with her dark blonde tresses pulled back into a low ponytail.

Injecting a splash of colour on the night was Reese, 45, who slipped on a Grecian styled Christian Dior gown, complete with a delicate black belt; The frock consisted of an ombre hued fabric that delicately draped against her frame.

The movie star wore Bvlgari jewelry, including the Magnifica ring with 1 octagonal ruby (10.15 carats), 14 buff top rubies (1.59 carats), and pavé-set diamonds (1.78 carats) and a ring in platinum with 1 marquise cut diamond (5.38 carats), 40 step cut rubies (2.18 carats) and 34 step cut diamonds (1.89 carats). 

Zendaya was an absolute goddess in a bright yellow Valentino Couture gown.

The Euphoria star, 24, showcased her flat midriff in the strapless, cut-out frock by the design house; the brunette stunner paired the astounding frock with over $6 million of Bvlgari jewelry.

The former Disney actress donned a necklace with one cushion-cut fancy vivid yellow diamond (6 carats), 18 diamonds (18.18 carats), 693 fancy shape step cut diamonds (49.30 carats), 398 round brilliant-cut diamonds and pavé-set diamonds (61.50 carats), set in platinum.

She also wore a ring featuring one emerald cut, 9.90 carat diamond with two 1.35 carat each baguette diamonds, set in platinum.

Zendaya rounded out her sparkling look with earrings made of 9.4 yellow pear diamonds and two 3.49 carat each pear diamonds, set in platinum. 

Amanda Seyfried looked like a classic movie star in custom Armani Prive gown; the crimson frock had a v-neckline and a voluminous skirt. 

The actress, 35, wore Forevermark jewelry, including 10.45 carat Premier Gem yellow radiant drop drop halo earrings with a matching 5.03 carat ring. 

Regina, 50, wowed in custom Louis Vuitton featuring vertical crystal stripes with voluminous sleeves and a v-neckline.

The dress took 140 hours to make, with over 62,000 sequins and 4,000 crystals; the production of the dress began in January.

Regina styled her brunette hair center parted and sleek with diamond earrings, rings and a bracelet -all by Forevermark jewelry – for pops of sparkle; The diamond drop earrings are 36.10 carats with 4.03 carats stud earrings. 

Pieces of a Woman actress Vanessa, 33, who was nominated in the Best Actress category, looked nothing short of sensational in a form-fitting blush gown, which boasted a dramatic train and sweetheart neckline. 

She accessorised her backless floor-length gown with a diamond necklace and wore her platinum locks swept back into a sleek bun, while opting for a dramatic make-up look with a deep red lip.  

Vanessa shot to fame in The Crown, and has since been spending time in Hollywood – leaving her able to attend the ceremony in person. 

Meanwhile, fellow The Crown star, OIivia Colman had to attend the show virtually – tuning in from the Academy’s UK hub, the British Film Institute in London. 

The actress, 47, was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Father opposite Anthony Hopkins, but missed out on the award to Youn Yuh-jung. 

She had come dressed to win in a scarlet Christian Dior gown with a high neck and pleated hemline for the socially-distanced event. 

She was joined in the London hub by Gary Oldman,  who was nominated for Best Actor for the third time for his role in Mank. The actor, 63, looked dapper in a black suit with a light blue vest and a black bow tie.

Lakeith Stanfield was another famous face at the London screening where he arrived on the red carpet in a black blazer and matching trousers.

The actor, 29, also sported a white shirt with a large collar along with a black belt and a pair of sunglasses. 

Lakeith was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at this year’s awards for his role in Judas and the Black Messiah, but lost out to his co-star Daniel Kaluuya.  

Meanwhile, back in Los Angeles, Laura Dern wowed as she donned a long sleeved Oscar de la Renta gown that had a black torso with a white feathered skirt. 

Maria Bakalova, 24, donned a stunning Louis Vuitton gown; the white frock had a plunging neckline and a tulle skirt. The dress features 100 meters of tulle.

Viola Davis donned a cut-out white Alexander McQueen gown, adding diamond jewelry by Forevermark and a crystal accented clutch.   

Angela Bassett wowed in  bright red custom Alberta Ferretti number with statement sleeves and a caped detailing along the back.

The 62-year-old star added Christian Louboutin heels and a Judith Leiber clutch. 

The Black Panther actress wore Chopard jewelry, including a 14.04 carats bracelet. She also wore a ring featuring an oval shaped pink tourmaline (14.62 carats), 2 half-moon diamonds (totaling 1.36 carats) and diamonds (1.02 carats), set in platinum. 

Halle Berry sported a short haircut and a purple strapless Dolce & Gabbana gown with a large bow detail in the center and a sheer skirt; The actress added Christian Louboutin heels and Ridano jewels.

She arrived on the red carpet with boyfriend Van Hunt, who donned an Etro suit with a David Yurman broach and Christian Louboutin dress shoes. 

Glenn Close chose a sparkling midnight blue and black patterned tunic with black trousers and pointed classic heels, adding silky gloves. 

She is wearing Armani Prive; the custom look took three weeks to make. 

The 74-year-old movie star wore Kwiat set of pendant earrings with pear shape diamonds (33 carats) featuring pear shape diamond drops (11 carats each) as well as a Fred Leighton three stone Burmese sapphire and diamond ring.

Riz Ahmed and his wife Fatima Farheen Mirza hit the red carpet for their red carpet debut after tying the knot at the end of 2020.

Riz and Fatima met at a New York café while he was prepping for his Sound of Metal role. 

Promising Young Woman director Emerald Fennell looked incredible in a soft green, purple and gold Gucci gown with ruffle details all over.

Andra Day flashed her derriere in a Vera Want Haute with Tiffany and Co. jewels. Vera worked with a welder on this dress because it is completely made of metal, according to reports.

Leslie Odom Jr arrived with his wife Nicolette Robinson. Nicolette is wearing a black taffeta ball gown with a leg slit and bow details by Zuhair Murad. 

The couple welcomed their second child – a baby boy named Able Phineas or ‘Abe’ for short on March 25, 2021. They are parents to three-year-old Lucy.

The musical interludes were pulled (though not the in memoriam segment) from the three-hour broadcast. 

Producers, led by filmmaker Steven Soderbergh, promised a reinvented telecast.

The Oscars this year were molded to look more like a movie, Soderbergh said. 

The show was shot in 24 frames-per-second (as opposed to 30), appear more widescreen and the presenters – including Brad Pitt, Halle Berry, Reese Witherspoon, Harrison Ford, Rita Moreno and Zendaya – were considered “cast members.”