Christie 'scared to boycott Oscars'

Julie Christie has admitted that she is too scared to boycott next month's Oscars because of the media's reaction.

The actress is nominated for a Best Actress award for her role as an Alzheimer's sufferer in Away From Her.

However, she is afraid that the press would give her a hard time if she decided to skip the event in support of the writers' strike.

She said: "I just don't have the guts not to go. It's pathetic, truly, to admit this, but even now I don't think I could deal with p****** off the media and all they'd say. I mean, what if I won and wasn't there?

"I don't care about pissing off 'Hollywood' because it really doesn't exist anymore. But pissing off the media? It was difficult when I was a girl, and they're not any kinder now. I just hate not being strong enough."

Christie, 67, won her first Academy Award in 1965 for her portrayal of an ambitious young model in Darling.

Oscars producer Gil Cates has confirmed that the ceremony will go ahead as planned, despite ongoing difficulties related to the WGA strike.