Adele said she felt like Beyonce as she hit the red carpet ahead of the Oscars where she is due to perform and expected to take home a statuette.

The Someone Like You star posed for photographers outside the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles along with stars of the big screen.

She said: "I am really excited, rehearsals have gone well, my dress weighs 15 kilos, it's so heavy so when you take a breath to do a big note it's a bit difficult."

But the singer, nominated for her Bond theme Skyfall, said: "I feel like Beyonce."

Adele's nomination for best original song was one of five for Skyfall, which was also shortlisted for cinematography, music (original score), sound editing and sound mixing.

British hopes largely lie with Daniel Day-Lewis who is hot favourite to complete an historic hat-trick.

The actor is nominated for best actor for his performance in US historical drama Lincoln - his fifth nomination in the category which he has already won twice - in 1989 for My Left Foot and in 2007 for There Will be Blood.

Another win will make him the first man to win three best actor Oscars - and the bookmakers expect him to take the award with William Hill offering odds of 1-50 on him triumphing.

That will take him past the achievements of two-time winning Hollywood legends including Jack Nicholson and Dustin Hoffman - who are both scheduled to present awards on the night.