THE STARS are shining down at the red carpet just ahead of the 82nd annual Academy Awards, at the Kodak Theatre tonight. While the five actresses nominated for the Best Supporting Actress were spotted a few minutes ago, Sandra Bullock was seen in a vintage, golden off shoulder dress, looking quite like the Oscar statue tha she might collect tonight, underneath the tent which stretched over the entirety of the red carpet.

While Mo'nique looked repleasent in a purple number, she was seen posing alongside Maggie Gyllenhall and Penelope Cruz, who is here for her third Oscar nomination at the Oscar Awards 2010.

Meryl Streep, George Clooney and Matt Damon elicited a multitude of fan responses from the fan bleachers where 700 ticketholders are seated, while James Cameron was accompanied by the cast of his magnum opus Avatar. The director flourished a bright blue hankerchief, as a motif of the Na'avi aliens at the Oscar Awards 2010.

Mariah Carey and husband Nick Canon were seen earlier at the red carpet, waving to fans. Meanwhile, Kathryn Bigelow, the fourth woman who has been nominated for the best director spot was also seen here.

There was much talk around Miley Cyrus, who sashayed down the red carpet, on way to her second presentation at the Academy Awards 2010, when she showed up in a stapless gold bodice. She was accompanied by her mother.

Earlier, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was seen here, standing next to Avatar star Zoe Saldana. Anna Kendrick and Vera Farmiga made heads turn, though they implore that this not the case, when they go out.

Zac Efron had come in early two, with Sam Worthington joining him. While Worthington is here to support Avatar, Efron, known from his days at the High School Musical is another young presenter for the event.