Christopher Plummer was afraid of looking "like a spare p***k" at the Oscars.
Christopher Plummer at the Oscars in 2012
The 85-year-old actor, who won the Best Supporting Actor at the prestigious event in 2012, admits he skipped this year's ceremony last Sunday (22.02.15) even though his 'The Sound of Music' co-star Julie Andrews was being honoured because he would have felt out of place.
He said: "I couldn't be there for personal reasons, and secondly I didn't want to. It was really a tribute to Julie. It's her movie. It's a terrible phrase we have in England but if I had appeared there I would have looked like a spare p***k at a wedding. That's the most perfect description of how I would have looked."
But the 'Beginners' star did watch the ceremony on TV and was very impressed by Lady Gaga's musical tribute to the film.
He told PEOPLE.com: "I thought Lady Gaga sang absolutely wonderfully. She knows how to do two styles. She knows the old way and and she knows the new way and she was so faithful to the style of the story and the song."
Christopher and Julie, 79, are still close friends and see each other regularly.
He added: "Julie looked terrific. I was thrilled it was a tribute to her and so it should be."
The duo are set to reunite at the TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood next month, which will kick off with a screening of 'The Sound of Music'.
Tagged in Julie Andrews Christopher Plummer