Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Best Supporting Actress Oscar nominee Janet McTeer is enjoying her time in the Academy Awards spotlight for "Albert Nobbs" much more than she did when she was nominated as Best Actress in 1999 for her portrayal of a single mom in "Tumbleweeds." The reason: "It's easier because it's a bit less scary," she explains.

"I suppose I'm older and wiser, so I suppose I can take it more lightly. I know more people here now. I'm more likely to bump into a lot of mates. When I first went to the Academy Awards, I knew not a single person. You think, 'Oh my God, I'm going to do the wrong thing, fall over my dress, do something embarrassing and lose every friend I've ever met and end up without a dime in my pocket," McTeer deadpans.

Now, she says, her feeling is, "How lovely. What an honor to be included and see all these wonderful people."

The RADA-educated, Tony and OBE-awarded actress was quoted in the past, talking about the whole Oscar business as "silly" and noting that the English tend to be embarrassed by the idea of admitting they'd like to win, whereas Americans have been known for declarations about the nominations constituting the best day of their lives and such.

Reminded of that statement, McTeer says, "I would probably say the best day of my life was the day I got married, as opposed to the day I got nominated. It's a wonderful thing, not a defining thing. Don't get me wrong. I don't mean to sound trollish. I think they're wonderful. I think they're a great honor. And it's absolutely fantastic for the film — how many more people will see it and see what Glenn (Close) has achieved. I'm grateful for that and genuinely, hugely flattered."

McTeer's awards season whirlwind continues. She has the big-screen chiller "The Woman in Black," starring Daniel Radcliffe, opening Feb. 3. She's also been busy with projects for the BBC and HBO, as well as a German film, in addition to her upcoming guest arc on Close's "Damages."

McTeer tells us, "I've been going back and forth, racing back to Maine to see my family whenever I could. I live in Maine and work in New York.

THEATER GUY: Neil Patrick Harris might have more than enough to keep him busy with his "How I Met Your Mother" chores and 1-year-old twins at home, but he's not neglecting the theater facet of his career.

"I have a couple of things — 'Accomplice: Hollywood' and 'Accomplice: New York' are continuing," he says of his inventive show-game-tour productions that involve audience members traipsing from place to place around city streets to see the action unfold. "We're re-opening 'Accomplice: London,' and Guy Hollingworth's show, 'Expert at the Card Table,' may rear its head again, so I'm around." The latter, a one-man play starring the acclaimed British magician, premiered in Santa Monica, Calif., last year under Harris' direction.

It was in Santa Monica that we caught up with Neil the other night, when he and the man in his life, David Burtka, were among the luminaries on hand for the opening of Cirque du Soleil's "OVO" show. Also there were Hilary Swank, Jessica Chastain, Heather Graham, Ali Landry and Patrick Warburton.

"I've seen 'OVO' twice already, so I know it to be a great show," said Neil, a Cirque devotee. "It's more family-friendly than many of their other shows. Sometimes, they're very esoteric and general in a wonderful, modern-art kind of way. I think that 'OVO' is very specific. You're in with the bugs. You're hanging out with the critters and watching them do amazing things. The costumes are great." Plus, the fanciful insect "critters" are in comparatively close proximity to the audience, thanks to the Grand Chapiteau layout, which he likes. "I'm a big fan of immersive theater right now," he says, "so I like the tents the same way."

LOSING IS SUCH TWEET SORROW: Thank goodness Twitter has given non-nominees a voice. We loved the response of Albert Brooks, who was passed over by Oscar voters for his "Drive" performance: "You really don't like me." And Patton Oswald, who was not nominated for "Young Adult," claimed to be holding a gathering for snubbed performers who wanted to get drunk together.

The Wrap put together a collection on TheWrap.com. And now, the winner for best sense of humor about losing — you decide.

To find out more about Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith and read their past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2012 MARILYN BECK AND STACY JENEL SMITH
DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM