Academy Awards: Oscar nominee Robert Duvall shares his thoughts on Hollywood today
As the nominees for this year's聽Oscars聽gathered at a luncheon in Beverly Hills on Monday, industry veterans took the opportunity to reminisce on their journey, some for the first time, to聽the Academy Awards聽platform.
"This nomination would not have come when I was in my twenties, because I was figuring out how to do this," said J.K. Simmons, best supporting actor favorite for "Whiplash."
His sentiments were echoed by fellow nominees including聽Michael Keaton,聽Steve Carell,聽Laura Dern, and聽Reese Witherspoon, all of whom have been acting for more than two decades.
"At 46, it's really beautiful, I can appreciate how meaningful it is," said "Boyhood" best supporting actress contender Arquette, a first-time聽Oscar聽nominee.
Simmons and Arquette joined more than 200 nominees across all branches of the film industry at the annual power lunch hosted by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, organizers of the glitzy聽Oscars聽ceremony聽on Feb. 22, hosted by聽Neil Patrick Harris.
Most of this year's 20 acting contenders are veterans of the film industry, who shared their appreciation at being recognized for Hollywood's top honor at later stages in their career.
"The word grateful, I'm just going to keep saying it," said best actor frontrunner Keaton, who at 63 earned his聽first Oscar聽nod for dark showbiz comedy "Birdman."
British actress聽Rosamund Pike, 36, first-time聽Oscar聽nominee for best actress in "Gone Girl," said the recognition "certainly isn't an end point" in her career.
"I feel I'm just about now getting good at what I do," she said.
At 84 years,聽Robert Duvall聽is one of the oldest nominees 鈥� best supporting actor for "The Judge" 鈥� at this year's聽Oscars, but he made sure to pay tribute to the young generation.
"The young actors today for me are better than ever," he said. "We learn from them, we learn from each other."
As nominees mingled,聽Academy Award聽show producers Craig Zadan and聽Neil Meron聽said winners must make their acceptance speeches within 45 seconds on聽Oscars聽night, which elicited some discontent.
Keaton, who has won聽Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild聽accolades for the role, said his son advised he be "more focused" in his acceptance speeches.
"There are just so many people to thank, and I've been doing this for a while, so the list gets longer," he said.聽
