Ross King: Denzel could bring home the bacon again

WHAT even is a luncheon?

Apparently it’s a posh version of a lunch. Does that mean a pigeon is a posh type of pig? Who knows.

I was at the Oscars luncheon here in Los Angeles last week attempting to find out who will bring home the bacon.

It is, of course, the big ceremony next Sunday and as usual I’ll be camped on the red carpet with bells, whistles, a Ted Baker tuxedo and a camera.

The luncheon was laden with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, like Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, Natalie Portman, Matt Damon, Pharrell Williams, Justin Timberlake and many, many more.

I bumped into a few of the nominees, including a man so famous he only needs one name – Denzel.

Mr Washington is as cool as he is talented, and his latest nomination is for his part in Fences, where he plays real-life binman Troy Maxson, who dreamed of playing baseball but was denied as the league didn’t allow black players.

Denzel gave me a charismatic Denzel-style greeting – and even complimented my watch!

“It’s my seventh lunch,” Denzel, who has been nominated loads of times before, told me. “A guy in there has had 21 lunches! It’s always the best part of it all, you get to see not just the actors but the other departments. It’s like you got in a nightclub.

“In fact, it’s not like being in a nightclub – it’s like being allowed in the VIP room.”

Denzel told me that he thought Fences co-star Viola Davis would win the Best Actress Oscar based on his previous experience with nominations.

He told me that when he was nominated for Malcolm X in 1992, he’d been up a couple of times before – but that fellow nominee Al Pacino had been nominated seven times previously.

“It’s strange how it works but it was his turn to win,” Denzel said. “That’s why I think it’s Viola’s turn. When an actor meets a role sometimes there’s no denying it.

“First time I was nominated, Sean Connery was nominated for Untouchables. He came out to present an award and got a standing ovation.

“I went to get my coat! It was his turn.

“But I still get excited about the ceremony,” Denzel added. “I’m not going to lie to you – I’m good but I ain’t that good.”

I’m not sure about that!

Join me next week for my special Oscars preview where I’ll be giving you all my predictions for the big night.