DUSTIN HOFFMAN - STARS PLAN SILENT OSCAR PROTESTS

Hollywood star DUSTIN HOFFMAN will lead a silent anti-war protest at this weekend's ACADEMY AWARDS (23MAR03).

While WILL SMITH, CATE BLANCHETT, TOM HANKS and ELIZABETH TAYLOR have all vowed to stay away from the biggest event on the Tinseltown calendar - many of those still planning to attend the now "low-key" event intend to make a "silent demo".

Hoffman, BEN AFFLECK and Best Actress nominee JULIANNE MOORE will wear pins in the shape of a peace symbol.

And other stars have already made arrangements to down-scale their glamorous OSCAR outfits to suit the sombre mood.

LAURA HENSON, of leading designer ESCADA, explains, "We have had a few calls from people who want something more understated."