After taking the stage to accept their awards, the night's big winners — and some of the exciting presenters — walked backstage to pose for photos and talk to the press. Jennifer Aniston and Sarah Jessica Parker skipped the interview aspect of things instead posing pretty in front of the big gold men before running off to the after parties. The big award winners were still glowing from their Read more

One of the most delightful things about Slumdog Millionaire taking away so many Oscars this year is that there's been such a spotlight on the connectedness of the world and the appreciation for and the fusion (a word Danny Boyle just used a few times) of world cultures. In the press room, a very excited, very happy Best Director winner, Danny Boyle, had a lot to say. Here are some highlights: On Read more

A visibly overjoyed Kate Winslet, winner of the Best Actress award, came back to the press interview room where, as she said with awe, "It's only dawning on me now that I've won an Oscar . . . Oh, my God." She was so gleeful, in fact, that she raced off the stage and threw her arms around a man who clearly has been interviewing her for years — as he said, since she was a 17-year-old girl from Read more

Sean Penn passionately spoke about Milk's importance and message onstage and he continued his heartfelt thanks from the press room. He talked about Obama's need to examine his official stance on gay marriage, since the change will come, and says he hopes that the president's current stance is not a "felt one." He also spoke a bit about what it meant to take part in the project, and about his Read more

After a long, winning award season, Kate Winslet finally got her Best Actress Oscar statue tonight. After her sincere and heartwarming speech, we were lucky enough to hear even more from Kate in the press room about finally achieving her dream. On retiring her own nude scenes and who she wants to "pass the torch" to: This is the one time I feel like reaching for my publicist. . . [ pause] Read more

There was a bittersweet moment in the press room just now as Heath Ledger's mother, father, and sister spoke about his work, his win, and his life — including his little girl Matilda. Here are some other bits and pieces from the brief Q&A: Heath's sister, Kate: "When he came home from Christmas a year ago, he'd been sending me shots and bits and pieces from [The Dark Knight] . . . I said, Read more

Heath Ledger's mother, father and sister took the stage tonight during a touching moment at the Oscars. There were tears in everyone's eyes and the applause was huge when they entered the press room. His father, Kim, usually does the talking for the family, but this time it was so sweet to hear from his sister Kate and his mother Sally. Kate on giving the award to Matilda: Obviously it belongs Read more

After Penelope Cruz's graceful, sweet acceptance speech (including the lovely line "Art in any form is our universal language") when she won Best Supporting Actress for her role in Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona, she came back to the press interview room and answered some questions. Here's what I learned. . . On Woody Allen: "I'm going to call Woody right now . . . I call Woody sometimes Read more

Penelope is the first acting Oscar winner to make it back here tonight. After answering a number of questions in Spanish and translating her onstage thank you to all the actors from her country. She said she was about to call Woody Allen and that they're good friends. She said, "I call Woody sometimes just to say hello. I adore him, so funny, charming, unique." He sent her flowers after the Read more