Oscar nominations: Jackman, Cooper, Day-Lewis on best actor list
Hugh Jackman was trying to avoid hearing the Oscar nominations this morning as he rode to the Atlanta set of his movie “Prisoners.” But the actor’s gadget-equipped driver intervened.
“As I got into the car, he goes, ‘Look man, I’m streaming live,’ ” said the Australian actor, who soon learned he was nominated for best actor for his performance as ex-convict Jean Valjean in the musical “Les Miserables.”
“I’m thrilled the movie got eight nominations. It’s been a massive labor of love. Anybody involved in the business understands how easy it is to screw up a musical.”
The other best actor nominees are Bradley Cooper, who played a young man suffering from bipolar disorder in “Silver Linings Playbook”; Daniel Day-Lewis, as the 16th president in “Lincoln”; Joaquin Phoenix as troubled World War II vet Freddie Quell in “The Master”; and Denzel Washington as an airline pilot with a substance abuse problem in “Flight.”
Jackman, 44, and Cooper, 38, are first-time Oscar nominees. They also are nominated for Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards.
This is the fifth Academy Award nomination for Day-Lewis, 55, who won a best actor Oscar for the 1989 biopic “My Left Foot” and for the 2007 drama “There Will Be Blood.” He also earned an Oscar nomination for the 2003 historical drama “Gangs of New York.”
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Day-Lewis has received several critics’ honors for “Lincoln,” including from the New York Film Critics Circle and the National Society of Film Critics. He’s also nominated for Golden Globe and SAG awards.
Although Phoenix, 38, last fall declared the Academy Awards “the stupidest thing in the whole world,” his remarks didn’t stop him from receiving his second lead actor Oscar nomination. Phoenix was nominated previously for his portrayal of Johnny Cash in 2005’s “Walk the Line.” He also received a supporting actor nomination for 2000’s “Gladiator.” He won the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. honors for best actor for “The Master” and is nominated for a Golden Globe.
The 58-year-old Washington receives his fourth lead actor Oscar nomination with his role as airline pilot Whip Whitaker. He received a supporting actor Academy Award 23 years ago for “Glory” and took home the lead actor Oscar 11 years ago for “Training Day.” He also earned a supporting actor nomination for 1987’s “Cry Freedom” and lead actor nods for 1992’s “Malcolm X” and 1999’s “The Hurricane.” He’s in contention this year for a Golden Globe and a SAG Award.
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Three of the nominees -- Cooper, Jackman and Washington-- share another accolade: Each has had a turn being named People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive.
“That’s the high point in a career so it’s difficult to find anything else that gets the adrenaline running,” Jackman quipped of the shared honor.
The 85th Academy Awards will take place Feb. 24 at Hollywood’s Dolby Theater.
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