Spotlight on Oscars

Ryan Seacrest and Giuliana Rancic.

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Oscar nominees 2011

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THE most anticipated awards ceremony and celebrity fashion event of the year – The Oscars – is almost here.

And E! is the home of all the red carpet action, with Ryan Seacrest and Giuliana Rancic bringing audiences around the world all of the gowns, glitz and glamour.

Hosting the Oscars is a tough gig and following Hugh Jackman’s footsteps are co-hosts Anne Hathaway and James Franco.

Hathaway sang and danced alongside Jackman in the opening number last year and both she and Franco have live TV hosting experience from doing Saturday Night Live.

Seacrest reckons they’ve got it in the bag.

“They are true movie stars, and I think they will have viewers eating out of their hands from the moment they walk on stage,” he said.

And Hathaway’s attire throughout the glamorous night is sure to be a major talking point.

“In just a few short years, Anne Hathaway has really become one of the fashionistas to watch,” he said.

While Seacrest focuses on celebrity interviews, Rancic looks after the fashion – a dream job for the E! reporter whose ultimate red carpet outfit would be a gown by Oscar de la Renta or Valentino.

But with the haute couture delights come the challenges of reporting live.

“I was in the middle of interviewing Tom Hanks the year that Halle Berry won for Monster, and Halle was walking onto the carpet during my interview with Tom,” Rancic said.

“He is a lovely man and I would never disrespect him, but my producer was screaming in my ear ‘here comes Halle Berry, get her’.

“I thought quickly and said ‘Tom, have you met Halle Berry?’, introducing the two of them right there on E!.”

Rancic said one of the strangest things she had witnessed on the red carpet was when actress Megan Fox said she thought she looked like a transvestite.

“She was dead serious when she said that in the interview and it shocked everyone because she is so stunning,” Rancic said.

Seacrest may escape the exhaustive primping and prepping most women endure for the glamorous event but he does have one grooming rule.

“On red carpet days, however, I do try to wait as late as possible to shave since my day starts so early,” he said.

“You just don’t want to hug Meryl Streep with stubble.”

Oscars Red Carpet – E! – Monday from 5am QLD, 6am NSW; post-Oscars coverage from 2pm QLD, 3pm NSW.

Awards Ceremony live – Starpics – Monday from 9am QLD, 10am NSW

Awards Ceremony delayed – Nine – Monday at 8.30pm

>> Full Oscars coverage