Backstage at the 2007 Academy Awards

If the Oscars handed out a Mr. Congeniality award, George Clooney would be tough to beat. As he waits backstage to present the Best Supporting Actress Oscar (which went to Jennifer Hudson), Clooney takes a few moments to tease announcer Gina Tuttle, reassure stage manager Dency Nelson that he was perfectly capable of stepping over a Steadicam cable on his way to the stage...and charm fellow presenter, Naomi Watts.

COME BACK SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH
Live red-carpet coverage and trend reporting starting at 6pm EST
Academy Awards telecast: 8pm EST on ABC.

The Devil Wears Prada

co-stars Emily Blunt and Anne Hathaway, wearing Calvin Klein and Valentino, respectively, wait in the wings before introducing a lavish pageant of models wearing the clothes that earned nominations in the costume design category. Behind them, a backstage monitor shows the ceremony taking place only a few feet away.

-Steve Pond

COME BACK SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH
Live red-carpet coverage and trend reporting starting at 6pm EST
Academy Awards telecast: 8pm EST on ABC.

Stars show up the day before the show to rehearse their lines (an intricate process that includes handing out phony Oscar statues to stand-ins who then make mock acceptance speeches!). Amused by the ritual (as are many of the stars), Kate Winslet curtsies to her "Oscar winner" as she hands over the plaster replica.

COME BACK SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH
Live red-carpet coverage and trend reporting starting at 6pm EST
Academy Awards telecast: 8pm EST on ABC.

Moments before presenting the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, Cameron Diaz stands in the wings with stage manager Dency Nelson and reads through her lines one last time. "Stars walk into the wings nervous," says Nelson, "and it's my job to put them in the right place to go out and face millions of people."

COME BACK SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH
Live red-carpet coverage and trend reporting starting at 6pm EST
Academy Awards telecast: 8pm EST on ABC.

"This is Suri," Tom Cruise tells the audience of stand-ins and staffers when he takes the stage to rehearse. "She wanted to come check this out this morning." Indeed, Cruise's ten-month-old daughter got quite the Oscar education, as her dad carried her everywhere, from running through his lines on-stage to chatting with staffers in the hallway.

COME BACK SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH
Live red-carpet coverage and trend reporting starting at 6pm EST
Academy Awards telecast: 8pm EST on ABC.

Long trains are the bane of many a female star trying to negotiate the tight corners and crowded walkways of an Oscar show. "It feels like a leash," Renee Zellweger (not pictured) once said. "I'm connected to whoever happens to be standing on it." Making her way to the stage, Penelope Cruz looks back to check on the progress of her Atelier Versace gown's feathery train.

COME BACK SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH
Live red-carpet coverage and trend reporting starting at 6pm EST
Academy Awards telecast: 8pm EST on ABC.

A mutual admiration society flourishes between co-presenters Al Gore and Leonardo DiCaprio, who drew a rare standing ovation during rehearsals. Backstage, DiCaprio admired the efficient support staff his pal brought with him, including wife Tipper Gore and daughter Kristin. "You have quite a team here," said Leo. "I want to hire these guys!"

COME BACK SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH
Live red-carpet coverage and trend reporting starting at 6pm EST
Academy Awards telecast: 8pm EST on ABC.

Before introducing a medley of Best Song nominations from the musical Dreamgirls, Jennifer Lopez must first wait for the show to return from two-and-a-half minutes (or about $8 million worth!) of commercials. During the break, Dency Nelson holds Lopez in the wings of the stage, awaiting the cue over his headset to send her on her way.

COME BACK SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH
Live red-carpet coverage and trend reporting starting at 6pm EST
Academy Awards telecast: 8pm EST on ABC.

The holding area backstage can get awfully crowded during an Oscar show, as upcoming presenters eye the monitors, get hair and makeup touch-ups, pop one last Altoid from a waiting tin, and prepare for their call to the stage. Jessica Biel, holding the envelope for Best Sound Mixing, watches a production number on the monitor, flanked by co-presenter James McAvoy (right) and by Greg Kinnear, who would soon present the Sound Editing award with Steve Carell.

COME BACK SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH
Live red-carpet coverage and trend reporting starting at 6pm EST
Academy Awards telecast: 8pm EST on ABC.

"I'm an old fart," laughs Nicole Kidman when a staffer reminds her that she's been coming to the Academy Awards for more than a decade. Before co-presenting the first award of the night, Art Direction, with Daniel Craig, Kidman waits with stage manager Garry Hood (far left) for her cue.

COME BACK SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH
Live red-carpet coverage and trend reporting starting at 6pm EST
Academy Awards telecast: 8pm EST on ABC.