The chase for Oscars gold is officially on.
The 2023 Academy Award nominations were announced Tuesday, with several notable contenders vying for statuettes on March 12.
“Everything Everywhere All at Once” leads with 11 nominations, while the Irish drama “The Banshees of Inisherin” scored nine nods.
Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis” received eight noms, and Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical flick “The Fabelmans” garnered seven.
There were some history-making moments as well. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” actress Angela Bassett secured Marvel’s first-ever Oscar nomination for her supporting role as Queen Ramonda.
“Everything Everywhere All at Once” star Michelle Yeoh is the first Asian actor nominated for best actress.
This year’s Best Actor category features all first-time nominees: Austin Butler, Colin Farrell, Brendan Fraser, Paul Mescal and Bill Nighy. Other first-time nominees include Ana de Armas, Andrea Riseborough, Brendan Gleeson, Brian Tyree Henry, Barry Keoghan, Ke Huy Quan, Hong Chau, Kerry Condon, Jamie Lee Curtis and Stephanie Hsu.
Several stars had sweet reactions to earning a place on the Oscars list Tuesday.
“Everything Everywhere All at Once” directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert pose with stars Harry Shum Jr., Stephanie Hsu, Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan and more following the Critics Choice Awards on Jan. 15, 2023.AFP via Getty ImagesColin Farrell
Best Actor in a Leading Role for “The Banshees of Inisherin”
“Just so grateful to the Academy for all the love it’s shared with the ‘Banshees’ cast and crew. Also, beyond honored to be lumped together with my fellow nominees. A heartfelt congratulations to all the lads,” he said in a statement to the Post.
Brendan Gleeson
Best Actor in a Supporting Role for “The Banshees of Inisherin”
“What an amazing wake-up call! I’m so proud and grateful to be part of ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ on a personal and professional level,” Gleeson said in a statement. “I’m absolutely thrilled for the whole brilliant cast and everyone at home. What a day for the Irish film industry on a world stage! Feels like a huge family outing on the cards! Thank you, Academy. Thank you, Martin [McDonagh]! Thank you all!”
Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell nabbed nominations for their roles in “The Banshees of Inisherin.” APAndrea Riseborough
Best Actress in a Leading Role For “To Leslie”
“I’m astounded,” Riseborough told Deadline. “It’s such an unexpected ray of light. It was so hard to believe it might ever happen because we really hadn’t been in the running for anything else. Even though we had a lot of support, the idea it might actually happen seemed so far away.”
Jamie Lee Curtis
Best Actress in a Supporting Role for “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
She wrote on Instagram: “THIS IS WHAT SURPRISE LOOKS LIKE!”
“The first is the moment of hearing my name, and then the thrill of my friend, Stephanie Hsu’s name, and the rest of the nominations, and then the best thing of all, a loving embrace for my husband. No filters. No fakery. Just the truth of a moment of joy,” Curtis added.
Ke Huy Quan
Best Actor in a Supporting Role for “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Speaking to Today, he gushed: “I’m jumping up and down, and I’m screaming so loud!”
Stephanie Hsu, Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan perform in a scene from “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”APPaul Mescal
Best Actor in a Leading Role for “Aftersun”
“This is truly a special moment for everyone involved in ‘Aftersun,'” Mescal said in a statement via People. “To be recognized by the Academy is such an insane honor, and I’m so utterly grateful. I want to dedicate this nomination to my two friends, Charlotte and Frankie, who I love dearly! This is bananas, thank you!”
Michelle Yeoh
Best Actress in a Leading Role For “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
She told the Hollywood Reporter: “It’s taken a long time. But I think this is more than me. At the present moment, constantly, all the time, having Asians walking up to me saying, ‘You can do it, you’re doing it for us.’ It’s like, ‘I understand. I totally understand.’ All this time, they’ve not been recognized, they’ve not been heard.”
She continued, “I’ve been in the movie business now for 40 years. When you have validation from your peers, all that is like the cherry on the cake… I think this is beyond just me. It represents so many who have hoped to be seen in this way, to have a seat at the table, to say, ‘I am of value too, I need to be seen too.’”
Gabriel LaBelle appears in a scene from “The Fabelmans,” which scored seven nominations.APJerry Bruckheimer
Producer of “Top Gun: Maverick,” which was nominated for six Oscars including Best Picture
The filmmaker said in a statement: “I’ve been doing this a long time, and it finally got around to me. We brought an older audience back to theaters who hadn’t been going.”
“They certainly deserve [to be nominated],” Bruckheimer continued. “Tom [Cruise] willed this into existence. He’s the heartbeat of the movie.”
Angela Bassett
Best Actress in a Supporting Role for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
“This morning is a little extra special in the Bassett/Vance household with news of my Oscar nomination,” she told E!.
“Ramonda is a love letter that reflects and acknowledges what we women do everyday. There was so much to unpack as an actress because it’s brilliant storytelling, alongside a wealth of talent in front of and behind the camera.”
She added, “I’m thankful to the Academy for including me amongst a wonderful group of actresses. Congratulations to my fellow ‘Wakanda Forever’ nominees…I look forward to March 12 as we cheer for and celebrate with one another.”
Brendan Fraser portrayed an overweight and depressed teacher in A24’s “The Whale.”APBrendan Fraser
Best Actor in a Leading Role for “The Whale”
“I’m absolutely overjoyed and deeply grateful to The Academy for this recognition and for recognizing Hong Chau’s beautiful performance and Adrien Morot’s incredible makeup,” he noted. “I wouldn’t have this nomination without Darren Aronofsky, Samuel D. Hunter, A24 and the extraordinary cast and crew who gave me the gift of Charlie. A gift I certainly didn’t see coming, but it’s one that has profoundly changed my life. THANK YOU!”
Hong Chau
Best Actress in a Supporting Role for “The Whale”
“l am overjoyed by this morning’s news,” Chau stated. “Being a part of this film was an unforgettable experience, and I share this nomination with the creative and talented people alongside whom I worked on this project.”
She continued: “And a big congrats to Brendan, my co-star and dear friend, as well as our amazing hair and makeup team on their nominations this morning. Thank you so much to the Academy for this recognition and a special thank you to Darren, A24, and the entire cast and crew of ‘The Whale.'”
Brian Tyree Henry earned a supporting actor nomination for Apple TV+’s “Causeway.”APGuillermo del Toro
Director, writer and producer of “Pinocchio,” nominated for Best Animated Feature Film
The Mexican filmmaker said in a statement: “We are so grateful to the Academy and honored that the medium of animation is accepted for the art form that it truly is. We made this film to reaffirm what it means to be human and to share a fable about life, love and loss. We thank all of our collaborators, our amazing cast and dedicated family of crew & animators who have painstakingly given their all throughout the many years it took to bring our Pinocchio to life.”
Judd Hirsch
Best Actor in a Supporting Role for “The Fabelmans.”
“In truth, I am surprised, humbled and thankful to be deserving of such an honor,” he said. “And Steven Spielberg … what can I say.”
Director Baz Luhrmann, center, poses with “Elvis” cast members Austin Butler, left, and Tom Hanks at the musical biopic’s premiere on May 31, 2022.REUTERSAustin Butler
Best Actor in a Leading Role for “Elvis”
“[This role] seemed as though it was this impossible mountain to climb in front of me,” Butler explained to The Hollywood Reporter.
“There were so many pitfalls, and so I just was focusing on one step at a time. And really the thing for me was just honoring the life of this man and his family,” he told the outlet.
He also added that he wished the late Lisa Marie Presley, who died Jan. 12, was still alive to celebrate with him.
“And that’s why those moments when Lisa Marie and Priscilla [Presley] got to see the film, and then I first saw them after… nothing I would do would ever top that. And especially with Lisa Marie not being here with us. I just wish she was here to celebrate today with us,” he said.
Brian Tyree Henry
Best Actor in a Supporting Role for “Causeway”
“I am beyond honored to be nominated!!!!! And in such amazing company!!! I’m so grateful,” Henry said in a statement to CNN, adding that he heard the news while standing in an elevator. “And to the random man in the elevator who saw me scream at the news, thank you for hugging me and not freaking out!!!!!!”
