Keisha misses out on Oscar

4.00pm

New Zealand teenager Keisha Castle-Hughes has missed out on an Oscar for best actress but stole the show as crowd favourite on the red carpet.

The award went to Charlize Theron for her role in the movie Monster.

Castle-Hughes, wearing an ice-pink, full-length Liz Mitchell silk chiffon dress, told reporters she had three candy bars to get her through the ceremony.

The newcomer was bestowed with one of the biggest cheers from spectators as she arrived on the red carpet, and was just the second person interviewed live by the Oscars' red carpet queen, Joan Rivers.

Castle-Hughes struck a rare moment of speechlessness at the Oscars today -- when introduced to one of Hollywood's sexiest stars and her hero, Johnny Depp.

"It's so great to meet you. Congratulations on everything... I just think you're just amazing," Depp murmured to Castle-Hughes, shaking her hand after an ABC reporter hauled the young Kiwi over to Depp's seat in the Kodak Theatre.

The meeting fulfilled an earlier wish by the 13-year-old Whale Rider star and best actress nominee, who eventually squeezed out a demure "thank you" to the Pirates of the Carribbean star, before telling the reporter he was a "legend".

During her walk down the red carpet she had the protection of one of Hollywood's veteran actors. Jamie Lee-Curtis, who introduced her and warned Rivers -- infamous for her bitchy comments about actors' fashion choices -- to be nice to the young kiwi,

"This is Keisha...we just met and we're best friends," Lee-Curtis said.

"She has back, you know what I'm saying? I've got her back, so... I know where you live," Lee-Curtis jokingly warned Ms Rivers, who promised to be nice.

And -- except for one prying comment about Keisha's father -- she mostly was.

Castle-Hughes said she was "nervous" and it was "nuts" to be at the Oscars as youngest best actress nominee ever.

"It's my first film. And at the moment I'm really nervous, I mean you don't usually do one film and end up at the Oscars, so it's crazy," a smiling and composed Castle-Hughes told the veteran interviewer.

Asked if she had an acting background, she said no.

"It was through school. I'd never done any acting before and through school the teacher...asked me if I wanted to audition and so I auditioned..and then I got the part and now this is all happening, it's so crazy."

Castle-Hughes, who came with her mother Desrae Hughes and two brothers, told Ms Rivers her father was at home in New Zealand, with her "baby sister".

Her father -- who is separated -- has complained in magazine interviews about being left out of the occasion.

The dress, by Auckland designer Liz Mitchell, featured a delicate chiffon cape, which Keisha replied could be removed.

Asked who would be the one actor she would like to meet at the Oscars, she replied without hesitation: "Johnny Depp". And she did.

- NZPA (additional reporting By CATHY ARONSON)