THE OSCARS
BEST ACTRESS
Keisha Castle-Hughes
“Whale Rider”
First nomination
At 13, the New Zealander becomes the young- est actress to be nominated in this category. She receives her first nomination for her glowing performance as a young Maori girl who is determined to fulfill her destiny and become chief of her village. Discovered by the same agent who found Oscar-winner Anna Paquin, Castle-Hughes is also nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award in the supporting actress category.
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Samantha Morton
“In America”
Career nominations: 2
The British actress, 26, receives her second Oscar nomination and her first as best actress for her portrayal of an Irish wife and mother who, grieving over the death of her young son, moves to New York City with her family. Morton, who began her career as a child actress in British television, was previously nominated for supporting actress in Woody Allen’s 1999 comedy, “Sweet and Lowdown.”
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Naomi Watts
“21 Grams”
First nomination
Already named best actress by the Los Angeles Critics Assn. and a SAG Award nominee, the British-born, Australian-raised actress picks up her first Oscar nomination for her performance as a grieving wife and mother. Watts, 35, who stepped into the American spotlight in 2000 with “Mulholland Drive,” has been working in films for 18 years and is the daughter of the late Peter Watts, who was sound engineer for Pink Floyd.
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Charlize Theron
“Monster”
First nomination
The 28-year-old actress best known for playing the glamorous romantic interest in films such as “The Italian Job” transformed herself physically by gaining weight and donning prosthetics to play physically and psychologically damaged Florida serial killer Aileen Wuornos. Returned to her svelte, fashion-plate form, Theron received the Golden Globe for best actress in a drama and a SAG nomination and was honored for breakthrough female performance by the National Board of Review and the National Society of Film Critics.
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Diane Keaton
“Something’s Gotta Give”
Career nominations: 4
The veteran actress, 58, proved she is still one of the queens of the quirky romantic comedy, playing a divorced playwright who falls in love with the sixtysomething playboy who just happens to be her daughter’s new boyfriend. Keaton received an Academy Award for best actress in 1977 for “Annie Hall”; she was also nominated for “Reds” (1981) and “Marvin’s Room” (1996). She won the Golden Globe for best actress in a musical or comedy and was awarded best actress by the National Board of Review. She is nominated for a SAG Award.
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BEST ACTOR
Bill Murray
“Lost in Translation”
First nomination
Over the decades several performers, including Katharine Hepburn, James Cagney and Barbra Streisand, have won Oscars for playing actors. And now the 53-year-old “Saturday Night Live” alumnus has the opportunity to join the list with his turn as a disaffected movie star who arrives in Tokyo to film a commercial and finds himself platonically entangled with a young woman. Murray won the Golden Globe for best actor in a comedy or musical and has received best actor honors from several critics groups, including the National Society of Film Critics and the L.A. Film Critics Circle. He’s also a Screen Actors Guild Award nominee.
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Johnny Depp
“Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse
of the Black Pearl”
First nomination
There have been many fine swashbucklers in Hollywood history, but Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow is the first pirate to get an Oscar nomination. It’s the actor’s first as well and comes in the same year the 40-year-old actor was named People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive.” Depp, who has said he based his character on Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, also garnered Golden Globe and SAG Award nominations.
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Sean Penn
“Mystic River”
Career nominations: 4
Last year, the 43-year-actor was in the political hot seat for his controversial trip to Iraq. But Penn’s outspoken convictions have not overshadowed his acting career, as he picks up his fourth best actor nomination for his role as Jimmy Markham, a middle-aged father determined to avenge the murder of his grown daughter. Penn won the Golden Globe on Sunday night for best actor in a drama and is nominated for a SAG Award. He was also named best actor by the National Board of Review.
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Jude Law
“Cold Mountain”
Career nominations: 2
Playing Americans has suited the British-born Law. The 31-year-old actor received a supporting actor nomination four years ago as an American playboy in “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” and now he has been honored for his performance as Inman, the earnest Southern soldier facing the horrors of the Civil War. Law also has received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance.
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Ben Kingsley
“House of Sand and Fog”
Career nominations: 4
It’s been 21 years since Kingsley won best actor for “Gandhi,” but this is just his second nomination. In this psychological thriller, Kingsley plays Behrani, a proud former Iranian military officer attempting to build a new life for himself and his family in America. Kinglsley, 60, was also previously nominated for supporting actor for 1981’s “Bugsy” and the 2000 thriller “Sexy Beast” and was a Golden Globe nominee this year.
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THE OTHER NOMINEES
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Adapted screenplay
Robert Pulcini, Shari Springer Berman, “American Splendor”
Braulio Mantovani, “City of God”
Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson, “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”
Brian Helgeland, “Mystic River”
Gary Ross, “Seabiscuit”
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Original screenplay
Denys Arcand, “The Barbarian Invasions”
Steven Knight, “Dirty Pretty Things”
Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson, David Reynolds, “Finding Nemo”
Jim Sheridan, Naomi Sheridan, Kirsten Sheridan, “In America”
Sofia Coppola, “Lost in Translation”
Foreign language film
“The Barbarian Invasions” (Canada)
“Evil” (Sweden)
“The Twilight Samurai” (Japan)
“Twin Sisters” (The Netherlands)
“Zelary” (Czech Republic)
Art direction
Ben Van Os, art direction, Cecile Heideman, set decoration -- “Girl With a Pearl Earring”
Lilly Kilvert, art direction, Gretchen Rau -- “The Last Samurai”
Grant Major, art direction, Dan Hennah, Alan Lee, set decoration -- “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”
William Sandell, art direction, Robert Gould, set decoration -- “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World”
Jeannine Oppewall, art direction, Leslie Pope, set decoration -- “Seabiscuit”
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Animated feature
“Brother Bear,” (Buena Vista)
“Finding Nemo,” (Buena Vista)
“The Triplets of Belleville,” (Sony Pictures Classics)
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Cinematography
Cesar Charlone, “City of God”
John Seale, “Cold Mountain”
Eduardo Serra, “Girl With a Pearl Earring”
Russell Boyd, “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World”
John Schwartzman, “Seabiscuit”
Sound mixing
Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer, Jeff Wexler, “The Last Samurai”
Christopher Boyes, Michael Semanick, Michael Hedges, Hammond Peek, “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”
Paul Massey, D.M. Hemphill, Arthur Rochester, “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World”
Christopher Boyes, David Parker, David Campbell, Lee Orloff, “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl”
Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer, Tod A. Maitland, “Seabiscuit”
Sound editing
Gary Rydstrom, Michael Silvers, “Finding Nemo”
Richard King, “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World”
Christopher Boyes, George Watters II, “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl”
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Original score
Danny Elfman, “Big Fish”
Gabriel Yared, “Cold Mountain”
Thomas Newman, “Finding Nemo”
James Horner, “House of Sand and Fog”
Howard Shore, “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”
Original song
“Into the West” from “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” music and lyric by Fran Walsh, Howard Shore, Annie Lennox
“A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow” from “A Mighty Wind,” music and lyric by Michael McKean, Annette O’Toole
“Scarlet Tide” from “Cold Mountain,” music and lyric by T Bone Burnett, Elvis Costello
“The Triplets of Belleville” from “The Triplets of Belleville,” music by Benoit Charest, lyric by Sylvain Chomet
“You Will Be My Ain True Love” from “Cold Mountain,” music and lyric by Sting
Costume design
Dien van Straalen, “Girl With a Pearl Earring”
Ngila Dickson, “The Last Samurai”
Ngila Dickson, Richard Taylor, “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”
Wendy Stites, “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World”
Judianna Makovsky, “Seabiscuit”
Documentary feature
“Balseros” -- A Bausan Films S.L. production, Carlos Bosch and Marcos Loris Omedes (Seventh Art Releasing)
“Capturing the Friedmans” -- A Hit The Ground Running production, Andrew Jarecki and Marc Smerling (Magnolia Pictures)
“The Fog of War” -- A Globe Department Store production, Errol Morris and Michael Williams (Sony Pictures Classics)
“My Architect” -- A Louis Kahn Project Inc. production, Nathaniel Kahn and Susan R. Behr (New Yorker)
“The Weather Underground” -- A Free History Project production, Sam Green and Bill Siegel (Shadow Distribution)
Documentary short subject
“Asylum” -- A Constant Communication & Make-do production, Sandy McLeod and Gini Reticker
“Chernobyl Heart” -- A Downtown TV Documentaries production, Maryann DeLeo
“Ferry Tales” -- A Penelope Pictures production, Katja Esson
Film editing
Daniel Rezende, “City of God”
Walter Murch, “Cold Mountain”
Jamie Selkirk, “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”
Lee Smith, “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World”
William Goldenberg, “Seabiscuit”
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Makeup
Richard Taylor, Peter King, “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”
Edouard Henriques III, Yolanda Toussieng, “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World”
Ve Neill, Martin Samuel, “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl”
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Animated short film
“Boundin’,” a Pixar Animation Studios production, Bud Luckey
“Destino,” a Walt Disney Pictures production, Dominique Monfery and Roy Edward Disney (Buena Vista)
“Gone Nutty,” a Blue Sky Studios production, Carlos Saldanha, John C. Donkin (20th Century Fox)
“Harvie Krumpet,” a Melodrama Pictures production, Adam Elliot
“Nibbles,” an Acme Filmworks production, Chris Hinton
Live action short film
“Die Rote Jacke (The Red Jacket),” a Hamburger Filmwerkstatt production, Florian Baxmeyer
“Most (The Bridge),” an Eastwind Films production, Bobby Garabedian, William Zabka
“Squash,” a Tetramedia production, Lionel Bailliu
“(A) Torzija [(A) Torsion],” a Studio Arkadena production, Stefan Arsenijevic
“Two Soldiers,” a Shoe Clerk Picture Co. production, Aaron Schneider, Andrew J. Sacks
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Visual effects
Jim Rygiel, Joe Letteri, Randall William Cook, Alex Funke, “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”
Dan Sudick, Stefen Fangmeier, Nathan McGuinness, Robert Stromberg, “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World”
John Knoll, Hal Hickel, Charles Gibson, Terry Frazee, “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl”
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BEST DIRECTOR
Clint Eastwood
“Mystic River”
Career nominations: 5
Eastwood won this category 11 years ago for “Unforgiven” and was nominated this year for a Golden Globe and a Directors Guild of America Award. The 73-year-old Eastwood was named best director by the National Society of Film Critics.
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Peter Jackson
“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”
Career nominations: 8
The 42-year-old New Zealand director picks up his second Academy Award nomination in this category for the last of three films based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved fantasy novels. Jackson received a best director nomination two years ago for the first film, “The Fellowship of the Ring.” Winner of this year’s best director Golden Globe, Jackson is also a DGA Award nominee and was named best director by the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn.
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Sofia Coppola
“Lost in Translation”
Career nominations: 3
Coppola, 32, is only the third female in Academy history to be nominated for best director and the only American woman. She was nominated for a Golden Globe for best director and a DGA Award. She was named best director by the Boston Society of Film Critics and the New York Film Critics Circle.
Peter Weir
“Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World”
Career nominations: 6
The 59-year-old Australian director received his first three nominations in this category for 1985’s “Witness,” 1989’s “Dead Poet’s Society” and 1998’s “The Truman Show.” A Golden Globe nominee, Weir is also in contention for the DGA Award.
Fernando Meirelles
“City of God”
First nomination
This year’s big surprise among the nominees, the Brazilian filmmaker picks up his first nomination in this category for his gritty drama set in a violent, rundown housing project in Rio de Janeiro.
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BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Alec Baldwin
“The Cooler”
First nomination
Baldwin’s turn as an oily casino owner also got National Board of Review, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nods.
Benicio Del Toro
“21 Grams”
Career nominations: 2
Del Toro, similarly nominated for a SAG Award, won an Oscar in this category three years ago for his performance in “Traffic.”
Djimon Hounsou
“In America”
First nomination
Nominated for his role as a sullenly mysterious tenement neighbor in “In America,” Hounsou also appeared in “Amistad” and “Gladiator.”
Tim Robbins
“Mystic River”
Career nominations: 2
Previously nominated as director for “Dead Man Walking,” Robbins took home a Golden Globe for supporting actor for his performance as the tortured grown-up victim of kidnapping and sexual abuse.
Ken Watanabe
“The Last Samurai”
First nomination
Watanabe played the title character in Edward Zwick’s film, his first role in an English-language film, which also earned him Golden Globe, SAG and BAFTA nominations.
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BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Shohreh Aghdashloo
“House of Sand and Fog”
First nomination
The actress, 51, was named best supporting actress by the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. and the New York Film Critics Circle for her portrayal of an Iranian immigrant struggling with life in the United States.
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Patricia Clarkson
“Pieces of April”
First nomination
The New York-based actress, 44, plays a wife and mother dying of breast cancer who wants to have one last Thanksgiving with her family. She has won several critics’ awards and is a Golden Globe and SAG Award nominee.
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Marcia Gay Harden
“Mystic River”
Career nominations: 2
Harden, 42, picked up an Oscar in the supporting category as the wife of painter Jackson Pollock in “Pollock” three years ago.
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Holly Hunter
“Thirteen”
Career nominations: 4
A decade ago, Hunter won the best actress Academy Award for “The Piano.” She was also nominated for best actress for 1987’s “Broadcast News” and supporting actress for 1993’s “The Firm” and is a Golden Globe and SAG Award nominee.
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Renee Zellweger
“Cold Mountain”
Career nominations: 3
The 34-year-old actress previously was nominated for best actress for the 2001 comedy “Bridget Jones’s Diary” and last year’s “Chicago.” She won the Golden Globe Sunday night and is nominated for a SAG Award for her turn as the gregarious farmwoman Ruby Thewes.