NYTimes Magazine highlights this year's movie greats

NYTimes Magazine captured some of the year's best actors and actresses for "The 6th Annual Great Performers" feature in this week's issue, which came out today. Highlights include Kate Winslet, Frank Langella, Sean Penn, Robert Downey Jr., Mickey Rourke, Kat Dennings, Brad Pitt and Penelope Cruz.

The photos were taken behind the scenes, some without make-up, some in rollers as the get ready for award shows. As I was looking at the photos, I thought they were intimate and illuminated sides of the Hollywood stars we typically don't see. 

For an interactive slideshow with commentary click here. 

(photo courtesy NYTimes)

Oscar noms get personal

Newsweek's Actors Roundtable features Oscar noms Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder), Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler), Brad Pitt (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married), Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon) and non-nom Sally Hawkins (who won the Best Actress - Musical or Comedy Golden Globe for Happy-Go-Lucky).

The Roundtable took place prior to the announcement of the noms last week. The actors are candid and show lots of personality. 

VF did their own analysis of it.