Sure, she nabbed a Best Supporting Actress award for her role as Lee Krasner in the 2000 biopic "Pollock," but even Marcia Gay Harden admits that the Oscars aren't really about acting.

"It's all about the dress," she told StyleList at the February 25 Meet the Oscars event in NYC.

And Marcia speaks from experience. From the moment she was nominated, she had an army of people itching to outfit her. "My father actually designed a dress -- and my father was an old military captain!"

Ultimately, Marcia opted for a retro crimson Randolph Duke ball gown. "I like a dress that's built," she said.

Speaking of built, you can ogle muscular Oscar in all his glory at the Meet the Oscars exhibit at The Shops at Columbus Circle (Time Warner Center, Level 2, 10 Columbus Circle) in NYC.

The free exhibit features Oscar history as well as the actual statuette to be presented to the Best Actress winner at the 82nd Annual Academy Awards on March 7.

Also on display: the mini golden guy given to Judy Garland for her performance in 1939's "The Wizard of Oz," and a Scientific and Technical Achievement Award of Merit Oscar awarded to the Eastman Kodak Company.

Before this year's big night, check out the beauty trends at the 2009 ceremony.