Russell Brand, Bradley Cooper, Beyonce invited to join Academy

British comedian Russell Brand, actor Bradley Cooper and singer Beyonce Knowles have been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The trio of non-Oscar winners will join a class of 175 actors, moviemakers, executives and artistes who will be added to the membership list in time to vote for the Academy Awards 2012, reports Dailystar.co.uk.

Other names on the list include Gerard Butler, Vincent Cassel, Harry Potter star Robbie Coltrane, Brand's Arthur co-star Jennifer Garner, Dominic Monaghan, Rooney Mara, Mila Kunis, Jennifer Lawrence, Nastassja Kinski and husband and wife David Duchovny and Tea Leoni.

The invitees also include photojournalist-filmmaker Tim Hetherington, who was killed in action in Libya in April. Hetherington was nominated for a best documentary prize at the 2010 Oscars for his film Restrepo. He is the first posthumous Academy invitee.

Directors Susanne Bier, Neil Burger, Lisa Cholodenko and Tom Hooper have also been invited to join the exclusive Oscars club.