The Help actress Octavia Spencer, a likely Best Supporting Actress Oscar contender, on the red carpet of the 2011 Governors Awards, held in the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland in Hollywood, on Saturday, November 12. [Photo: Matt Petit / ©A.M.P.A.S.] James Earl Jones, currently appearing with Vanessa Redgrave on the London stage, was a long-distance Honorary Oscar honoree, but 89-year-old makeup artist Dick Smith (Scanners, The Sentinel, Marathon Man) was present at the ceremony to receive his Honorary Oscar. Oprah Winfrey was the recipient of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
Many of the attendees at this year’s Governors Awards were Oscar 2012 hopefuls. Among those were Albert Nobbs‘ Glenn Close; Shame’s Michael Fassbender and Steve McQueen; The Descendants‘ Shailene Woodley; J. Edgar’s Dustin Lance Black; and others. Octavia Spencer is a strong contender for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for The Help. The film’s director, Tate Taylor, and one of its stars, Viola Davis were present at the Governors Awards as well. Both are potential Oscar contenders in their respective categories.