PartyLines- photographs by Patrick McMullan

Does Keith Urban play the guitar and sing around the house? “He does. He was actually playing the piano just before we left.” —NICOLE KIDMAN

—SANDRA OH

Is your daughter showing any musical talent yet? “She’s showing a little aptitude. Not sure where that came from.” —KEITH URBAN

—ANNA WINTOUR

How did you research the pot-smoking scene? “[For] that one I just went to my memory banks. I haven’t smoked any doob in a while.” —AARON ECKHART

—JON HAMM

Are you involved with the Oscar promotion? “I just go where they tell me to go. I talk to who they tell me to talk to.” —JOHN CAMERON MITCHELL

—BOB BALABAN

Your character accidentally kills a child. How do you research that? “Um, video games. Usually I kill child aliens. They’re the only children I’ve been killing lately, and that’s how I prepared. A lot of video games.” —MILES TELLER

—DAVID LINDSAY-ABAIRE

What are your plans for the holidays? “I’m going to cook some ham and ziti and invite all my family with all their crazy sick kids, and we’re all going to get sick together for the holidays.” —TAMMY BLANCHARD

—JILL FLINT

Is it intimidating to be on set with Nicole Kidman? “Oh, totally. But she’s very approachable. One of the first things she said to me, she looked over and said, ‘Oh you’re so pretty.’ And I went, ‘Okay. Okay. I don’t know, Nicole.’” —PATRICIA KALEMBER

—JENNIFER WESTFELDT

You guys had some issues with paparazzi while shooting? “It was during the last scene, and I finally got him to go. I said, ‘Steve, we’re trying to do our work. Nicole is freaked out holed up in the kitchen. So I know you can make $20 grand off of one shot you get of her, but please, we’re old, we know each other.’ And he left. That was my Academy Award performance!” —GIANCARLO ESPOSITO

—STEPHANIE MARCH