Waltz goes from Hollywood alien to Oscar winner

LOS ANGELES – Christoph Waltz was a adept TV and date amateur in Europe who was around alien in Hollywood. Again he met Quentin Tarantino.

Waltz, 53, was accustomed as best acknowledging amateur at Sunday's Academy Awards for his assuming of a World War II Nazi with a blithe aftertaste for angry in filmmaker Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds."

"Oscar and Penelope. That's an uber-bingo," Waltz said as he accustomed his bays from presenter Penelope Cruz. He acclaimed Tarantino as a "fearless explorer" who directed the blur masterfully, adding, "and that's why I'm here."

The Austrian actor's assuming of German Col. Hans Landa alleged on him to accord a abject man an aspect of absurd agreeableness and to barf out Tarantino's accelerated chat in four languages. Waltz was advised a affirmation for the Oscar afterwards across-the-board this season's added awards, including Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild trophies, and critics' accumulation honors.

Backstage, Waltz was asked about his acquaintance with the American awards season.

"It's mind-boggling. It's fantastic. It's actual acute ... and tomorrow I'll apparently be apologetic it's over," he said.

"Inglourious Basterds" accustomed added top Oscar nominations, including best picture, but Waltz was the alone casting affiliate to get a bid and won the alone Oscar. The film's stars included Brad Pitt — whose Nazi-hunting character, in one clear scene, carves a swastika into Landa's forehead.

In Vienna, a arranged cine amphitheater assuming a alive Oscars advertisement went agrarian back Waltz's name was announced.

"It's a abundant success for Austria," said 46-year-old Christian Foessleitner.

Waltz and his appearance provided commemoration co-host Steve Martin with actual for an aperture joke.

Noting that Waltz played a Nazi bedeviled with award Jews, Martin fabricated a across-the-board action to the amphitheater abounding with Hollywood insiders, again said, "The mother lode," as Waltz grinned.

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AP Writer Veronika Oleksyn in Vienna contributed to this report.