Tom Cruise outshines Oscars rivals as Academy readies for award show

Tom Cruise (left) and Michelle Yeoh attend the 95th Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon on Monday, Feb 13, 2023, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Photo: AP

Tom Cruise lived up to his billing as the "last true movie star" as nearly 200 of this year's Oscar nominees gathered to celebrate - and size up their competition - at the Academy's boozy annual luncheon Monday.

In a room packed with A-listers such as Steven Spielberg, Michelle Yeoh and Cate Blanchett, there was no doubt Cruise remained the biggest draw, with a crowd of wellwishers from Hollywood moguls to Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai lining up to greet him throughout the event.