You're gonna be bothered by how cool I am.

Not counting this Oscar season, Peter Seamus O'Toole has been seven times a bridesmaid but never a bride at the Oscars - unless you count his Honorary Oscar a few years back (which I'm sure was great, but not quite as great as winning a competitive one would be). I'm reasonably sure he will be an eight-time bridesmaid after tonight, because the safe money is on Forest Whitaker to take home the gold. But O'Toole is being talked of as a "dark horse" in the Best Actor race, and should he create an upset by winning tonight, I for one will be beside myself with ecstasy.

O'Toole has been rather unlucky in his Oscar races to be up against some pretty stiff competition. Most notably, what some consider the performance of his career in Lawrence of Arabia had the misfortune of being judged against Gregory Peck's equally iconic performance in To Kill a Mockingbird. *pauses for a moment of Atticus love*

Peter O'Toole is one of the last great actors of his generation - possibly THE last of them that still apparently has that elusive It. His Oscar-nominated performance in Venus doesn't carry a whiff of a swan song quality. He still acts like an acting actor who acts and who could probably keep on doing so for at least a few more films. He's still got those gorgeous blue eyes, and knows exactly how to use them to convey untold depths of meaning. He carries himself with dignity and grace, despite moving somewhat more slowly of late. He knows how to use his body instrument to create a character and tell a story (he's got some great physical comedy moments in Venus). And ... oh my ... everyone should have someone that can make love to them like Peter O'Toole can (still!) make love to every word he utters.

Some might say a win for O'Toole tonight would be a statement of sentimentality, more a reward for a life's work than a reward for a single good performance, but I disagree. I think his work in Venus should remind everyone of why he has such a legendary life's work to begin with. He's a spectacular actor and a genuine star, and he still wants to prove it to you.

And ... he's still rather pretty after all these years. :)