2021 Oscar Nominations Embrace Diversity
/The nominees for the 93rd annual Academy Awards were announced on Monday by Hollywood power couple Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas in a livestream that was broadcast across the Academy of Motion Picture Sciences’ website. Of significance is the record number of women and minorities nominated this year and the number of firsts to be celebrated. Take a look at the those who were recognized for their talents and contributions to the performing arts.
Best Picture
The 2021 Oscars marks the first time an all-Black producing team has been nominated for best picture award — Shaka King, Ryan Coogler and Charles D. King for “Judas and the Black Messiah.” They will compete against “The Father,” “Mank,” “Minari,” “Nomadland,” “Promising Young Woman,” “Sound of Metal,” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7.”
Best Director
For the first time in Oscars history, two women earned nods for Best Director, as Emerald Fennell (“Promising Young Woman”) and Chloé Zhao (“Nomadland”) both earned nominations. Zhao, who is Chinese, is also the first woman of color to be nominated in this category. With six Oscar nominations, “Nomadland” has been leading the race this season, having picked up key awards in the last few months. The film about a widow (Frances McDormand) who travels the American West in a van looking for work has already won the Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Awards for Best Picture and Director. Lee Isaac Chung, the son of Korean immigrants, is also nominated for his semi-autobiographical film “Minari.”
Best Supporting Actor
The nominees in the acting categories also represent a diverse segment of the film industry, particularly in the Best Supporting Actor category. Daniel Kaluuya is expected to add another trophy to his shelf for his role as Fred Hampton, former Chairman of the Illinois Black Panther chapter, in “Judas and the Black Messiah.” He has already won the Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Award. His co-star Lakeith Stanfield is also nominated for his role as FBI informant Bill O’Neal. They will compete against Leslie Odom Jr., who played legendary singer Sam Cooke in “One Night in Miami,” Sacha Baron Cohen who played social activist Abbie Hoffman in “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” and veteran character actor Paul Raci who played a mentor to the lead character in “Sound of Metal.”
Best Actor
In the best actor category, Riz Ahmed became the first Muslim actor of Asian descent to be nominated in that category, for his role as a drummer in a band losing his hearing in “Sound of Metal.” Chadwick Boseman stands a good chance of posthumously winning an Oscar for his role in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom;” he already won the Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Award this season. In another first, Steven Yeun earned a nomination for “Minari,” making him the first Asian-American actor nominated in this category. Previous winners Anthony Hopkins (1991’s “Silence of the Lambs”) and Gary Oldman (2017’s “Darkest Hour”) also earned nominations, for “The Father” and “Mank” respectively.
Best Supporting Actress
Three actresses earned their first Oscar nominations in this category this year. South Korean actress Youn Yuh-jung is nominated for her role as a grandmother who moves to America to help raise her grandchildren in “Minari.” She will compete against 24-year-old Bulgarian actress Maria Bakalova who played Borat’s daughter in “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.” Bakalova recently won the Critics’ Choice Award for her performance. Amanda Seyfried earned her first Oscar nomination for her performance as Marion Davies in “Mank.” Veteran Oscar nominee Glenn Close earned her eighth nomination for “Hillbilly Elegy.” Rounding out this category is Oscar winner Olivia Colman (Best Actress for 2018’s “The Favourite”) for her performance in “The Father.”
Best Actress
This category includes two additional firsts. The first time a Black actress is the most-nominated, with four nominations, and the only Black woman with two best actress nominations — Viola Davis for “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” She will compete against, Frances McDormand, who has a chance to win a third Oscar in this category for her performance in “Nomadland.” She previously won for 1996’s “Fargo” and 2017’s “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” Golden Globe winner Andra Day for “The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” Vanessa Kirby for “Pieces of a Woman,” and Critics’ Choice winner Carey Mulligan for “Promising Young Woman.”
The full list of nominees can be found here. Broadway Stages offers congratulations and best of luck to all the nominees. Be sure to set you DVR for the 93rd annual Academy Awards that will air live on ABC on April 25 at 8 p.m. ET.
