Critic's Choice Awards 2010

Jeff Bridges's Acting Secret: Häagen-Dazs

Originally posted 01/16/2010 10:20AM

To get into character as hard-living country legend Bad Blake in Crazy Heart, Jeff Bridges brushed up on his skills as a musician – and consumed more than his fair share of junk food.

"Normally I watch what I eat. I feel better when I'm in shape and not too overweight," the star told PEOPLE at Sunday's New York Times Arts & Leisure Weekend. "When you're playing a part like [this] ... If you feel like a pint of Häagen-Dazs, you hammer the Häagen-Dazs."

Turning to food to get into character is nothing new for the celebrated actor. "It's something I always do," Bridges, 60, , who nabbed a Critics' Choice Award Friday, explained. "You think of the physicality of the character and what kind of food you need to help create the physical shape you're looking for."

Doppelganger Kris Kristofferson, whose looks and legend Bridges channeled for the role enjoyed the actor's look-alike performance and joked about sharing screen time in the future.

"We saw the movie together and Kris laughed at how much I reminded him of him," said Bridges. "We looked in the mirror and said, 'We gotta play brothers, man! We had a good laugh.' "





Meryl Streep, Sandra Bullock Seal Tie for Best Actress with a Kiss

Pop the champagne and raise a glass! It may have just been the first big awards show of the year, but Sandra Bullock and Meryl Streep shared a win – and a kiss – at the 15th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards in Hollywood, making for an entertaining night.

"This is bulls---," Bullock said jokingly Friday before lip-locking with Streep, whom she shared best actress honors with (she for the Blind Side and Streep for Julie and Julia). The tie was an obvious surprise, but as the audience cheered, Bullock exclaimed: "This is an honor."

Later in Bullock's acceptance speech, she referred to similar parallels between her and her co-winner, saying that she loves "food and sex like Meryl. ... That's how similar we are. You guys just didn't notice it until now." Bullock ended her speech by admitting, "Meryl is a good kisser."

Presented by the Broadcast Film Critics Association, the Critics' Choice is considered an accurate prediction of Oscar winners. The Hurt Locker emerged as the big winner of the night taking home two top awards (best picture of the year and best director). Director Katherine Bigelow's win made her the first female ever to take best director honors at this awards ceremony – something that would too make history at the Academy Awards. She received a standing ovation from ex-husband and fellow nominee, Avatar's James Cameron.