Jennifer Aniston Reveals Oscar Nominations Plan at ‘Cake’ Premiere
Hours before Oscar nominations are revealed, the contender celebrates her film’s U.S. premiere and says that her phone will be on, but TheWrap should not call her that early
Mikey Glazer | January 14, 2015 @ 10:41 PM
Last Updated: January 15, 2015 @ 10:03 AM
Aniston gives thumbs up to "Cake", and thanks director Dan Barnz inside the Arclight on Wednesday night. (Getty Images; Ari Perilstein/Getty Images)
“Lets get this party started!”
That’s how Jennifer Aniston welcomed the crowd filling the Arclight Hollywood’s Theatre 10 on Wednesday night in Los Angeles.
The occasion: the U.S. premiere of the Aniston-led drama about chronic pain, “Cake.”
“I still can’t believe it. This is real life,” Aniston told the premiere crowd. (Ari Perilstein/Getty Images)
Just 10 hours before Oscar nominations are released on Thursday morning, the premiere fell during a few days of awards purgatory for the Best Actress contender, after Julianne Moore won for “Still Alice” in Sunday night’s Golden Globes telecast and four months after “Cake” premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, kickstarting the buzz machine.
After earning Critics Choice and SAG nominations as well this season, I asked Aniston if she planned to watch the Oscar nominations early Thursday after Wednesday night’s premiere and party, or just sleep through it and wake up to a binary result on her phone.
“I just put my phone on,” she told me of her nomination morning routine this season. “I usually have my ringer off … I’m told I’m not allowed to do that. My ringer will be on … so (you), don’t call me,” Aniston said before the screening, amidst screams from the crowd that had filled the Arclight plaza and hung over the second floor terrace to get a glimpse.
Ben and Daniel Barnz; Aniston’s producing partner Kristin Hahn, who Aniston described as “my friend of 25 years, my sister, my mother, my fairy godmother. You astound me and boy are you a kickass producer.”
Amongst the “Cake” team of Aniston’s producing partner Kristin Hahn, Cinelou Films producers Mark Canton and Courtney Solomon, and husbands director/producer duo Dan and Ben Barnz, the mood was similarly optimistic.
“I hope I get an early call for sure,” Hahn said.
“We are going to leave our phone on and hope for great news,” producer Barnz said. “I can’t imagine we are actually going to be asleep,” director Barnz added.
“I’m waking up early,” Canton said. “I may not even go to sleep. I’m doing the right dance and the right chants,” the producer added.
Hahn called the experience of working with Canton, who is used to mega budgets having run both Warner Bros. and served as Chairman of Sony’s Columbia Pictures, “the funniest man in the business.” His email responses are usually one word, like a Canton haiku.”
CInelou producers Courtney Solomon and Mark Canton at the Arclight on Wednesday. (Mikey Glazer)
Canton just finished Cinelou’s next morph of a comedic actor in a dramatic role: Eddie Murphy in“Cook”. (“Really it’s the original formula of Miramax,” Canton contends. “Great screenplays with high-end talent, within a price range.”)
But back to the drama that screened on Wednesday night.
“I just want to say thank you to (director) Daniel Barnz for trusting that I could do this and giving me a shot,” Aniston said in the pre-screening introductions. “I will forever be grateful to you.”
With the release timed to the additional publicity, Hahn parsed the theatrical release from the awards campaign. “Nobody’s overly attached to what happens tomorrow, but I think she deserves it,” Hahn told me on the carpet.
“Jen has a very healthy attitude about these things,” Hahn continued. “She’s been in the business a long time; made a lot of movies, has been through ups and downs, as you know. The stories run the gamut for her. So she is a very level-headed person, and I think she’ll sleep tonight.”
UPDATE, Thursday, January 15: The Academy did not nominate Aniston for “Best Actress”.
The Evolution of Jennifer Aniston: From a Central Perk Friend to Awards Nominated Film Actress (Photos)
A native Californian, Jennifer Joanna Aniston was born on February 11, 1969, in Sherman Oaks, California.
Trimark Pictures
After "Leprechaun" (1993), Aniston played Madeline Drego Cooper in the CBS sitcom, "Muddling Through" (1994).
CBS
"Muddling Through" (1994) may have only lasted one season, but 2 weeks after the show wrapped Aniston caught her big break as Rachel Green on NBC's "Friends" (1994-2004).
NBC
Jennifer effortlessly played advertising exec Kate in "Picture Perfect" (1997), pictured here looking perfect with phony fiance Jack (Jay Mohr).
20th Century Fox
Her next major flick came in 1997 with the rom-com "The Object of My Affection" opposite Paul Rudd.
20th Century Fox
Here's the sassy Jen we know and love telling off her boss in "Office Space" (1999).
20th Century Fox
"The Good Girl" in 2002 had Jennifer starring as Justine Last, a young woman having an affair with a store clerk (Jake Gyllenhaal) who thinks he's Holden Caulfield.
Fox Searchlight
Aniston hit big screen stride with box office ht "Bruce Almighty" in 2003. The comedy had the actress play the wife to God (or everyman Bruce, played by Jim Carey).
Universal Pictures
2004 brought another hit with "Along Came Polly." Jennifer starred as spicy food loving, salsa dancing Polly Prince, pictured here with her pet ferret, Rodolfo.
Universal Pictures
In "Friends With Money" (2006), Aniston starred as Olivia, who quits a lucrative job and navigates life surrounded by her wealthy friends. She's pictured here in her first indie flick alongside Frances McDormand.
Sony Pictures Classics
Aniston starred alongside Owen Wilson in the 2008 tear-jerker "Marley & Me."
20th Century Fox
The star had made her name as a great rom-com actress by the release of "He's Just Not That Into You" in 2009. Jen shone amidst an all-star cast that included Scarlett Johansson, Drew Barrymore, and Bradley Cooper to name a few.
New Line Cinema
"The Bounty Hunter" (2010) gave Jennifer the chance to flaunt her action movie chops as Nicole Hurley, reporter and ex-wife of Milo Boyd (Gerard Butler) the bounty hunter, on the run from the cops.
Columbia Pictures
Jen's never strayed far from her comedic roots. Her role as the questionable Dr. Julia Harris, D. D. S. in "Horrible Bosses" (2011) proved dentistry has never looked better.
Warner Bros.
Aniston sheds city life for a commune in 2012's "Wanderlust" opposite Paul Rudd. Here, she executes perfect yoga poses alongside fellow commune resident Seth (played by real-life boyfriend Justin Theroux).
Universal Pictures
We all know Jennifer Aniston is gorgeous, but she just wanted to remind us with this strip tease scene from "We're The Millers" (2013).
New Line Cinema
The highly anticipated drama, "Cake" (2014), puts Aniston in an Oscar-worthy role as Claire Bennett, a woman who strikes up a questionable relationship with a widower. The film has reinforced Aniston's status as a true and talented actress.
Cinelou Films
Prior to the release of "Cake" (2014), Aniston stopped by TheWrap offices to talk Oscar buzz, and even to get quizzed on, well, Jennifer Aniston.
TheWrap
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From “Friends” popular Rachel Green to potential Oscar nominee, Aniston is one of Hollywood’s bona fide movie stars
A native Californian, Jennifer Joanna Aniston was born on February 11, 1969, in Sherman Oaks, California.