British stars shine ahead of the Oscars British talent has been out in force ahead of the Oscars. Kenneth Branagh, Gary Oldman, Christopher Plummer and Victoria Beckham were amongst the stars on show at the pre-ceremony reception at the British Consul General's residence in Los Angeles. Veteran actor Gary Oldman, up for best actor for his role in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, thinks it may be his time to shine, but he has enjoyed his career anyway. He told reporters: "It's been 33 years coming. I've just had a great time, you know. You're loved everywhere you go. It's terrific, you know what I mean? You know, you might get a prize at the end of it as well, so I've enjoyed every minute of it and if it's not to be, it's not to be. Kenneth Branagh was also out ahead of his nomination for best supporting actor for his performance in My Week With Marilyn. He and fellow co-star Michelle Williams, nominated for best actress, have both received a nod for the film about the late actress Marilyn Monroe. "Well, what people tell us is that it's fun to watch," Branagh explained. It's entertaining and they get that, they get the fun of that, but they also have the film delivering a bit more of the melancholy and tenderness between the lives of, behind the lives of those people, particularly Marilyn and I think people enjoyed the fact that it's an easy watch. Slipping in fashionably-late was fashion designer Victoria Beckham, who seemed a little confused as to whether she was dressing any of the stars on the red carpet. I don't know. To be honest with you, it's been a bit of a whirlwind coming back from New York," she said.