2011 Oscars Red Carpet Quotes: "I've Been Off Squirrel Ever Since"

Ryan Seacrest and Giuliana Rancic interview the stars at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards, and we've got the best and funniest of what they had to say

By Brooke Matthews Feb 28, 2011 2:30 AMTags

Before Hollywood's hugest stars slipped into the Kodak Theatre for the 83rd Annual Academy Awards, they stopped and talked to Ryan Seacrest on E!'s Live From the Red Carpet. Here's some of the best, funniest and strangest things they had to say:

"I had to learn how to chop wood and handle a gun and hit squirrels. I had to learn from a hunter. But, yeah, I've been off squirrel ever since."
Jennifer Lawrence, on how she prepared for her role in Winter's Bone

"We got SWAT teams and helicopters and blimps. I don't know how your heart can't be pounding right now."
Josh Hutcherson, explaining his anticipation on the red carpet

"It is an experience akin to nothing else. He is the most graciously intelligent human being probably ever, and just the way he runs his sets is just like he's an emperor."
Armie Hammer, dishing to Ryan what it was like working with director David Fincher on The Social Network

"I was blown away. I know a couple of people with stammers and it's really not easy to do."
Hugh Jackman, on how impressed he was with Colin Firth's performance in The King's Speech

"Well, Ryan, it's not that hard for me to find the feistiness!"
Amy Adams, on how she channeled her character in The Fighter

"Honestly, it's crazy. I try not to analyze it too much because it freaks me out."
Hailee Steinfeld, on how she feels about being nominated for an Academy Award at 14 years old

"With this performance it's very calm and it's a very emotional song so I think I'm going to try to concentrate on the feeling of the music and not staring at people."
Florence Welch, on whether she recognizes people in the audience when she performs

"I didn't get a pass or shoot the ball once, so I think you'd have to ask him what it was like to play in the game. I'm just more the decoy under the hoop."
Zachary Levi, revealing to Ryan what it's like to play basketball with Justin Bieber

"People deserve it. People are paying money for it. You need to bust your ass."
The Fighter's Christian Bale, on why he goes the distance for his movie roles

"I do own some of them. It's a great area."
Donald Trumpwhen asked if he was at the Oscars because he owns the building

"Just have fun and find the bar as quickly as you can."
Kevin Spacey, sharing his advice to tonight's nominees

"The movie was something that I always believed in but you never think that this is possible."
Mark Wahlbergon how it feels for The Fighter to be nominated

"That's actually probably the highest compliment you can get—invading their town and sort of trying to become one of them, and I got some really high compliments from some of the locals."
Jeremy Renner, on how Boston residents reacted to his performance in The Town

"I've got sort of a complex with my bum, so I sort of thought I'd make it even bigger."
Helena Bonham Carter, on how she chose her dress for the night

"Boys Don't Cry was 11 years ago now, and I'm still as star struck and as awestruck being here as I was then."
Hilary Swank, telling Ryan that she still gets excited to walk the red carpet

"I like to pride myself on just going back and being a regular person after, but this was a particularly hard one to shake, but because it was such a deep experience."
—Nominee Natalie Portman, sharing with Ryan how she transitioned from her role in The Black Swan

"I was taking pictures of anything that I could see that would be of any interest."
Mark Ruffalo, on how he couldn't stop tweeting on the red carpet

"It looks like he tied his own bow tie. Mine's a clip-on."
Geoffery Rush, commenting on The Kids Are All Right costar Mark Ruffalo's Oscar attire

"Oh my God, I can't sleep at night! When I first tried on my dress it was like two, three nights ago, and I'm like, 'OK, I don't want to sleep. I don't want to take it off!'"
Jennifer Hudson, dishing on her new body

"I feel OK right now. I haven't slept in a week."
Gwyneth Paltrow, revealing to Ryan that she's nervous to perform

"When I was presenting last time I'd only had two hours sleep and I don't remember anything!"
Sandra Bullock, revealing how this year's show is different for her

"After a good couple of shots of tequila you are ready."
Javier Bardem, when asked how he recovered from his physically demanding role in Biutiful

"I'm only nervous because my wife and other daughters are watching this right now."
Steven Spielberg, when asked if presenting on live TV scares him