A look inside Hollywood and the movies : Calendar Goes To The Oscars : JAYE DAVIDSON WATCH : ‘The Crying Game’ Guessing Game Makes Big News in a Slow Year

By the time you read this story, Jaye Davidson--best supporting actor nominee for “The Crying Game”--will probably be in Los Angeles to attend Monday night’s Academy Awards ceremony. Or he could still be in London, blithely unconcerned with the whole glitzy affair.

No one knows for sure.

Despite having appeared at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards ceremony in London last Sunday and two weeks earlier, modeling women’s clothing at a fashion show, the 25-year-old Davidson has been sending out mixed signals about attending the Oscar festivities. “Jaye is media-shy and shy-shy,” says London-based Rogers and Cowan publicist Phil Symes, who represents “The Crying Game” over there. “And he really doesn’t like interviews.”

London Daily Mail columnist Baz Bamigboye, who saw Davidson at the BAFTA ceremony, said “all the while he was giving the finger to the photographers. I really like Jaye, actually. I like the fact that he’s difficult.”

In last week’s People magazine, Davidson says about the Oscars, “I’m not sure I’m going . . . there are many things to be considered.”

If he does make the hop, Davidson is not expected to dress in drag, despite the speculation inspired by his performance in “The Crying Game.” (C’mon, everybody knows by now. Even Gene Siskel reveals The Secret on this weekend’s “Siskel and Ebert,” airing today on KABC-TV at 9 a.m. and midnight.)

It is quite likely, in fact, that Davidson--if he shows up--will wear an outfit designed by Ghost, a London-based designer of hippie-ish, loose-flowing women’s apparel, which Davidson modeled during the March 5 fashion show. “There are several outfits he’s been considering,” said a Ghost spokesperson who asked not to be identified. “He’s taken a few home to try on and make a decision. It might be an outfit with a cape.”

Tyler Brule, a TV producer and part-time journalist who has mutual acquaintances with Davidson’s, says: “Based on what I’ve heard, I would put my money on something subtle but androgynous. It would be brilliant if he went in drag but I don’t see him making a political statement like that. It’ll be something fabulous but classy.”

Whether Davidson attends the Oscars or not is a hot media topic in a somewhat tepid, anti-climactic Oscar year.

“All I can tell you is that I spoke to him 15 minutes ago and it’s not certain he’s coming,” said an exasperated Gerry Rich, Miramax’s senior marketing vice president on Wednesday morning. “And I’ve got all kinds of journalists on the phone telling me they know this and that about Jaye’s plans that I don’t even know.”

“Of course he’ll be there,” declares Bamigboye about Davidson and the Oscars. “He’s got to come. I know he’s got no money but there may never be a moment for him like this again.”

“There are no rumors that he’s not going to go,” says Philip Thomas, editor of the British film monthly Empire. “I don’t think there’s much of a question about it.”

Adds London-based director Lezli-An Barret, “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, isn’t it?”

Davidson, who says he is receiving public assistance and is unemployed (he once worked as a fashion assistant to designer Elizabeth Emanuael, whose creations have been worn by Princess Di), shares a flat on Netherworld Road in Shepherd’s Bush, a tres trendy West London district.

In the few interviews he has done, Davidson has sounded as uncertain about acting again as he is about showing up at the Oscars. He told London journalist Daisy Waugh, in an Evening Standard article last week, that “there is one film” he might consider doing, “but I’m not going to talk about it.”

While the rest of the “The Crying Game” gang--director Neil Jordan, producer Stephen Woolley and others--are staying at the Sunset Marquis hotel for the Oscars and the post-Oscar Miramax party at Le Dome, Miramax’s Gerry Rich declares that “Jaye will not stay at the Marquis--I’ll tell you that right now. He’s a very private person and we intend to respect that.”