Acting Oscar Nominees Are 'Out of Character' in New Portrait Gallery

You've seen them look their best on the red carpet throughout awards season, but now this year's Oscar-nominated actors' photos will be on display for fans to get up close and personal with the stars before the Academy Awards are presented on Feb. 26.

Photographer Douglas Kirkland photographed all 20 of the 2011 Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress nominees for "Out of Character," a new photography exhibit for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Kirkland's exclusive portraits of Oscar favorites, such as George Clooney, Jean Dujardin, Octavia Spencer, and Melissa McCarthy, will be open to the public in the Academy's Grand Lobby Gallery in Beverly Hills. Following the exhibition, these large-format portraits will become part of the Academy's Margaret Herrick Library photograph collection.

All of the images are also currently viewable in an online gallery at Oscar.com, along with behind the scenes shots from each actor's time in the studio.

"Out of Character" will be on display from Feb. 11-Mar. 18 at the Grand Lobby Gallery at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences headquarters, 8949 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills. The gallery is open Tue.-Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sat.-Sun. 12-6 p.m. Admission is free.

For more information and to check out the photos online, visit Oscar.com.