Different approaches for nominees

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Reese Witherspoon, who plays June Carter Cash in Walk the Line, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, the star of Capote, each approached their roles from different perspectives.

"For me, it was important to meet with her family and tell them how much I really respected her, and that I would honour the integrity that she had," Witherspoon said.

Hoffman did all he could to learn about his subject, then tried to set aside the fact that Capote was a historical figure. "You've got to kind of forget he's a real person and that people have opinions and biases of him so you can get your job done."