Although Oscar, Hollywood’s most famous leading man of the golden persuasion, was busy preparing for the 75th Academy Awards nominations to be announced on February 11, he managed to spend a few minutes with me discussing Oscar-related stuff in a brief interview. As you can see from his comments below, he’s as charming as ever – and just as inscrutable.

TUCKER: It’s good to talk with you, Oscar. How do you stay calm in the midst of so much attention this time of year?

OSCAR: Everyone does make such a fuss over me. But I actually enjoy it. And, I know the ropes. After all, I’ve been doing this for 75 years now.

TUCKER: That’s a long time! Have you ever thought of writing your memoirs?

OSCAR: That might be fun. But there’s so much to tell I wouldn’t know where to begin.

TUCKER: Why not include some of the facts people are not aware of -- such as whether or not any film ever won all five of the big awards?

OSCAR: As a matter of fact, three films have earned Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, and Best Screenplay. Can you guess which ones?

TUCKER: I know Silence of the Lambs is one.

OSCAR: The other two are It Happened One Night and One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

TUCKER: I’m surprised! I thought Gone with the Wind or Titanic would be in there somewhere. Here’s something else I was wondering about. Has anyone gone home with more than one Oscar statuette in the same year?

OSCAR: Oh, yes. I’ll never forget the time Walt Disney left the presentation with eight Oscars! The Academy gave him seven little statuettes and one regular size one in honor of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I got a big kick out of that. Walt also holds the record for receiving the most Oscars. He won 26 during his lifetime.

TUCKER: Speaking of getting a big kick out things, I really like your Web site, especially its trivia quiz. Do you plan to continue this Internet service?

OSCAR: Of course. And I hope your readers will check out www.oscar.com to keep up with what’s going on at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

TUCKER: And to view some of your fabulous photos! I can’t help noticing you look just as shiny and solid in person. Gold is definitely your color. Have the statuettes always been made out of that precious metal?

OSCAR: Not during World War II. I did my part for the war effort then. All winners received plaster Oscars -- which they exchanged for the real thing after the war.

TUCKER: I understand Steve Martin will be the Academy Awards host again this year. How do you feel about that?

OSCAR: Well, Whoopi Goldberg is a tough act to follow, but I think Steve does a great job, too. In addition to being a popular movie star, he’s also very funny. And he’s no stranger to the Oscars. He’s been a presenter for six of our shows, participated in a gag film sequence for the 1995 show, and hosted successfully two years ago. Plus, if all else fails, Steve can play his banjo.

TUCKER: Will the Awards Presentation be on Sunday night again this year?

OSCAR: Yes, Sunday at the Oscars has been quite successful. Please tell your readers to check their television schedules on March 23 for the correct time and channel.

TUCKER: Will do, Oscar. I wonder if you would comment on my predictions concerning who will be nominated in key categories this year? Here’s my list:

Best Picture: About Schmidt, Chicago, Far from Heaven, Gangs of New York, Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.

Best Actor: Adrien Brody (The Pianist), Nicholas Cage (Adaptation), Michael Caine (The Quiet American), Daniel Day Lewis (Gangs of New York), Jack Nicholson (About Schmidt).

Best Actress: Salma Hayek (Frida), Nicole Kidman (The Hours), Diane Lane (Unfaithful), Julianne Moore (Far from Heaven), Renee Zellweger (Chicago).

Best Supporting Actor: Chris Cooper (Adaptation), Tom Hanks (Catch Me If You Can), Alfred Molina (Frida), Paul Newman (Road to Perdition), Christopher Walken (Catch Me If You Can).

Best Supporting Actress: Kathy Bates (About Schmidt), Samantha Morton (Minority Report), Michelle Pfeiffer (White Oleander), Susan Sarandon (Moonlight Mile), Catherine Zeta-Jones (Chicago).

Best Director: Peter Jackson (The Two Towers), Rob Marshall (Chicago), Phillip Noyce (The Quiet American and Rabbit-Proof Fence), Alexander Payne (About Schmidt), Martin Scorsese (Gangs of New York).

OSCAR: I’m sure some of your predictions will come true, but not all of them. And you know I’m not going to tell you which ones.

TUCKER: Well, you can’t blame a gal for trying! Thanks so much, Oscar, for visiting with me during such a hectic time for you.

OSCAR: You’re very welcome. Let’s do it again next year.

(Update: 2/11/2003. The nominations were announced early this morning, and my predictions were 100% accurate in the Best Actor and Best Actress categories. However, in the Best Picture race, substitute The Hours and The Pianist for About Schmidt and Far from Heaven; for Supporting Actor replace Tom Hanks and Alfred Molina with Ed Harris for The Hours and John C. Reilly for Chicago. My crystal ball fogged-up considerably in the Best Supporting Actress and Best Director categories. Take out Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Samantha Morton in the former and add Julianne Moore for The Hours,  Meryl Streep for Adaptation, and Queen Latifah for Chicago.  In the latter, remove Peter Jackson, Phillip Noyce, and Alexander Payne. The three nominees taking their spots are Pedro Almodovar for Talk To Her, Stephen Daldry for The Hours, and Roman Polanski for The Pianist. For a complete list of nominees, go to www.oscar.com.)