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In the Oscars Audience, the Superstars Were the Superfans

Red carpet photographs are able to convey indelible moments of celebrity magnetism and spectacular glamour. But no step-and-repeat can bottle the crackling anticipation, the eruption of victory, the sting of loss or the quiet exchange between individuals amid a sea of superstars like these candid shots from the audience at Sunday night’s Oscars ceremony.

Inside the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, our photographer captured moments viewers may not have caught otherwise. These images offer a peek at the year’s most celebrated actors and filmmakers interacting with one other, and not the camera, as we usually see them. Whether that be Florence Pugh looking intently at Christopher Nolan as she rests her hand gently on his arm; Messi the Border collie sitting poised and unfazed as a man, who is lying on the floor, claps faux paws in his face; Colman Domingo and Danielle Brooks leaning over a seated Da’Vine Joy Randolph with wowed expressions; or Lily Gladstone, Emma Stone and Ramy Youssef standing inches apart, gripping each other, their faces nearly touching.

Clockwise from left: Ted Danson, Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Jennifer Lawrence and Cooke Maroney. Randolph won the best supporting actress Oscar for her role as a cafeteria matriarch in “The Holdovers.”Credit…Amir Hamja/The New York Times

Emma Stone and her husband, Dave McCary, celebrated her best actress win for her role in “Poor Things,” along with her co-star Mark Ruffalo at right.
Greta Gerwig, facing away, and Billie Eilish embraced, with Finneas O’Connell behind them. Eilish and O’Connell collected the trophy for best song for “What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie.”

Clockwise from top left: Martin Scorsese; Carey Mulligan; the “Godzilla Minus One” team with their trophies for best visual effects; and Dominic Sessa, a star of “The Holdovers.”

Messi the Border collie, a star from “Anatomy of a Fall,” had fake paws held up in front of him to create the illusion that he was clapping.
The Gretas (Lee, standing, and Gerwig) held hands.
Florence Pugh with her “Oppenheimer” director Christopher Nolan. Their historical drama triumphed on Sunday, winning seven Oscars, including for best picture.

Clockwise from top left: Sandra Hüller and Jonathan Glazer, who directed her in “The Zone of Interest”; Cord Jefferson (facing away), director and writer of “American Fiction,” and Jeffrey Wright, its star; Colman Domingo and Zendaya; Christopher Nolan (facing away) and Cillian Murphy.

Power players: Steven Spielberg, left, Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas. Nolan and Thomas, who are married, produced “Oppenheimer,” along with Charles Roven (not pictured).
Robert De Niro, far left. Colman Domingo, who was nominated for the titular role in “Rustin,” and Teo Yoo (in front of him), from “Past Lives,” took a selfie.
Colman Domingo and Danielle Brooks chatted with Randolph (seated).
Emma Stone leaped from her seat, as John Mulaney presented the award for best sound from the stage.

Audience Report is a series that looks at people looking. Produced by Jolie Ruben and Amanda Webster.

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