Can actors tie themselves for Oscars?

Q In Al Pacino’s ”Simone,” the CGI title character (portrayed by actress Rachel Roberts) is seemingly nominated twice for a Best Actress Academy Award — and ties herself. Could such a tie really bind?

A ”Couldn’t happen,” says the Academy’s Leslie Unger, noting that rules instituted in 1950 bar an actor from being nominated twice in the same category. Nonacting categories allow for multiple mentions: In 2001, Steven Soderbergh garnered a directing nod for ”Erin Brockovich” and won for ”Traffic.” Adds Unger: ”Had he tied himself — and we did consider that — he would have received two statuettes.”

(Send queries to BurningQuestions@ew.com)