by Hauwa Gambo

She came in determined to be talk of the night even if she would surely leave with no Oscars statuette to her name.

Angelina Jolie stepped out on the red carpet at the 2012 Academy Awards, and all the world could pay attention to was the lethal thigh-high split that stood out from an equally dramatic dark velvet gown.

She arrived the ceremony with her Brad Pitt, who was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role, and his parents Jane and William Pitt.

Not one to do half measures, the thighs were again dramatically positioned on stage as she came up to present an award – it went on for a bit longer than an awkward minute, so striking that the award winners she announced gave a spoof pose of their own.

“What. Is. Ange. Doing?” tweeted CNN’s Piers Morgan. “Okay, yawn, let’s get it going #Angelinasleg.”

Of course, Twitter and the blogosphere went alight at this “publicity stunt”, but, for Jolie who never seems to put an unscripted foot forward (puns intended, of course), this is just what she wanted!

And did you miss Brad Pitt’s proud smile?

Photo credits: Getty