THERE WAS a strong British showing at the Oscar nominations, which were announced by actor Chris Hemsworth in Hollywood on Thursday, with Christian Bale, Steve Coogan, Dame Judi Dench and Steve McQueen all flying the flag for British talent at the movies.
McQueen was nominated for Best Director for the harrowing 12 Years A Slave, with London-born actor Chiwetel Ejiofor nominated for Best Actor for the same film. Chiwetel faces some stiff competition, with veteran Bruce Dern up for Nebraska and Leonardo DiCaprio for Wolf of Wall Street.
Coogan – best known for his comic creation Alan Partridge – is up for two awards for Philomena, the true story of an Irish woman hunting for the child she gave up for adoption in Fifties Ireland. The comic and actor is nominated in both the Best Picture (as producer) and screenwriting categories, while Dame Judi Dench is up for Best Actress for the same film. Veteran nominee and previous winner Dench faces a tough battle with (among others) Amy Adams and Meryl Streep in the same category.
Christian Bale, who was born in Pembrokeshire and spent most of his childhood in Devon, is nominated for Best Actor for his remarkable turn as the paunchy conman at the heart of American Hustle. Bale previously won for Best Supporting Actor in the Boxer in 2011.
Sally Hawkins has also landed a nod for Best Supporting Actress for her role opposite Cate Blanchett in Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine. The actress picked up a Golden Globe for the 2008 film Happy Go Lucky and gave a famously endearing acceptance speech, so it will sure to be a emotional moment if she turns her first Oscar nomination into a win.
Rivals in Sally’s category also include Academy favourite Meryl Streep for August: Osage County, but another Brit was bumped off the list, with Emma Thompson’s performance in Saving Mr Banks out of the running.
Sally is the daughter of Jacqui and Colin Hawkins, authors and illustrators of children’s books. She was born in Dulwich, and brought up in Blackheath, in southeast London. She graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1998.
And finally, a British cinematographer who may not be a household name but is certainly revered in Hollywood this week received his twelfth Oscar nomination – although he has yet to win. Cinematographer (and Santa Monica resident) Roger Deakins, best known for his work with the Cohen Brothers, received another nomination for his work on Prisoners. Deakins’ work behind the camera can be seen on some of the most celebrated films of the past three decades, including Barton Fink, The Shawshank Redemption, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, True Grit, Revolutionary Road and No Country for Old Men.
The winners will be announced on Sunday, March 2nd.
[adrotate group=”8″]
