What the nominees have to share
HERE are some statements, chosen by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, made by actors, directors and writers who were nominated for an Academy Award on Tuesday.
Emma Stone On being nominated for best actress for La La Land: “What a morning. I am so grateful for this honour, and I’m so happy to share this feeling with my La La Land family.”
Lin-Manuel Miranda On being nominated for best original song for How Far I’ll Go in the animated film Moana: “I spent a good chunk of my childhood memorising (comedian) Billy Crystal’s musical Oscar monologues, so this is insane. Seeing The Little Mermaid changed my life at nine years old, so to work with its directors, Ron Clements and John Musker, on Moana has been a dream come true.”
Ryan Gosling On being nominated for best actor for La La Land: “I’m very grateful to the Academy for recognising my work in La La Land. It was a true collaboration, so to see everyone else’s wonderful work on the film acknowledged so generously makes it even more special.”
Kenneth Lonergan On being nominated for best director and best original screenplay for Manchester by the Sea: “We tried to make a movie about people standing by each other no matter what; thank you to everyone who let us try, and to everyone out there trying to tell the truth about what it is to be a human being.”
Jeff Bridges On being nominated for best supporting actor for Hell or High Water: “Woke up this morning in beautiful Solano Beach (California) after playing a cool gig at the Belly Up (tavern) with my band the Abiders to find out I’ve been nominated for my performance in Hell or High Water. What a thrill, especially for a movie that is so close to my heart.”
Denzel Washington On being nominated for best actor for Fences which he also directed and which is based on a play by the late August Wilson: “Thank you to the Academy for this wonderful recognition and for honouring August Wilson’s brilliant words.”
Luke Davies On being nominated for best adapted screenplay for Lion: “I think of the film as an anthem to the persistence of love. I didn’t consciously set out to write a film that would spark wider conversations about the ethics of adoption or the worldwide scourge of child sex trafficking. But I am so very grateful it seems to be doing that, too.”
Mahershala Ali On being nominated for best supporting actor for Moonlight: “The most one can ask for in this work is to have a presence in projects that entertain and yet still hold a space to educate, inform and uplift. And for that, I am truly grateful.”
Nicole Kidman On being nominated for best supporting actress for Lion: “I want to thank the Academy for all of the acknowledgements you have given this heartfelt film. But, most importantly, I want to thank the Brierley family for putting themselves in such a vulnerable place and sharing their story (in the film) with the world.”
Ava DuVernay On being nominated for best documentary film for 13th: “My thanks to the Academy for amplifying the injustices of mass criminalisation and mass incarceration that we chronicle in 13th. Now more than ever, it is important to educate ourselves, explore our shared history and elevate our awareness about matters of human dignity.” – Reuters