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Oscar nominations 2022: Aussie stars Nicole Kidman, Kodi Smit-McPhee up for Academy Awards

Australian actor Nicole Kidman has revealed what she was doing when she found out she was nominated for an Oscar. See the full list of nominees.

Aussie stars Nicole Kidman and Kodi Smit-McPhee nominated for Oscars

Nicole Kidman admits she was “overwhelmed” when she found out about her latest Oscar nomination.

The Australian star is up for Best Actress for her role as the late TV comedy queen, Lucille Ball, in Being The Ricardos.

“WOW! I’m so overwhelmed,” Kidman said, of the nomination which was announced on Wednesday.

In an Instagram post, the previous Oscar-winner revealed she was “having breakfast with my family when the nominations came in”.

“What a beautiful way to find out! I share this with them, Javier, J.K., Nina and with ALL the cast & Aaron Sorkin, as this is ours together.”

Kidman said playing Ball was “the hardest role I’ve ever done and to be honoured this way is deeply appreciated”.

“Lucille Ball is one of Hollywood’s greatest icons. She was ahead of her time. From actress to producer to studio head, mother and wife, she’s an extraordinary inspiration! Thank you Lucille Ball.”

Nicole Kidman is nominated for Best Actress – her fourth nomination in the category (and fifth Oscar nod overall). Picture: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Nicole Kidman is nominated for Best Actress – her fourth nomination in the category (and fifth Oscar nod overall). Picture: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Australia and Hollywood’s golden girl, Nicole Kidman. Picture: Gregg DeGuire/WireImage
Australia and Hollywood’s golden girl, Nicole Kidman. Picture: Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

Kidman is up for the Best Actress category, alongside Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye); Olivia Colman (The Lost Daughter); Penelope Cruz (Parallel Mothers) and Kristen Stewart for playing Princess Diana in Spencer.

It marks the fourth time that Kidman has been nominated for Best Actress, having won the Oscar for 2002’s The Hours.

Joining Kidman is Australian actor Kodi Smit-McPhee, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in The Power of The Dog.

At 25, Smit-McPhee would be the second-youngest actor to win Best Supporting Actor (after Timothy Hutton, who was 20 when he won for Ordinary People in 1980), according to Variety.

Kodi Smit-McPhee would be the second-youngest Best Supporting Actor winner if he claims victory in the category at this year’s Oscars. Picture: Getty Images
Kodi Smit-McPhee would be the second-youngest Best Supporting Actor winner if he claims victory in the category at this year’s Oscars. Picture: Getty Images

“I’m so deeply honoured. And over the moon to say the least that we were all recognised for our work together. Jess/Kirsten/Benedict/Ari and of course JANE. I love you all so much,” Smit-McPhee said in an Instagram post.

The Power of The Dog is an Australian-New Zealand co-production written and directed by Jane Campion, who is nominated for Best Director.

Smit-McPhee plays Peter Gordan, an aspiring doctor who finds himself living on a remote ranch when his widowed mother (Kirsten Dunst, nominated for Best Supporting Actress) remarries a cattle baron, played by Dunst’s real-life husband, Jesse Plemons.

The film was shot in New Zealand in two Covid-interrupted shoots.

Born in Adelaide, Smit-McPhee’s father Andy is an actor and former professional wrestler, and his older sister is actor Sianoa Smit-McPhee.

Australian filmmaker Emile Sherman – a previous Oscar-winner for The King’s Speech – also stands to take home an award, as a producer of The Power of The Dog.

“It has been an incredible privilege to work with Jane Campion on The Power of The Dog,” Sherman said in a statement.

“She is a visionary director and one of the world’s finest filmmakers.

“We are equally thrilled for Jane to receive her first ever Best Picture nomination and we are so proud of our incredible ensemble of cast and crew, including those nominated today.”

Australian cinematographer Greig Fraser was also nominated for his work on Dune.

New Zealand director Jane Campion at the premiere of her now Oscar-nominated movie, The Power of the Dog. Picture: AFP
New Zealand director Jane Campion at the premiere of her now Oscar-nominated movie, The Power of the Dog. Picture: AFP

Overall, Campion’s gothic western The Power of the Dog led the Oscars nominations, receiving 12.

Sprawling sci-fi epic Dune landed in second place overall with 10 nods, including for best picture.

Will Smith earned recognition for his portrayal of Serena and Venus Williams’ father in King Richard, which took six nods overall.

He is up against Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog), Denzel Washington (The Tragedy of Macbeth), Andrew Garfield (tick, tick … BOOM!) and Javier Bardem (Being the Ricardos).

The biggest snub came for Lady Gaga, who was the surprise omission in the Best Actress category for House of Gucci. The film earned just one nomination – for best hair and make-up.

The 94th Academy Awards will be held on March 27 in Los Angeles.

OSCAR NOMINEES

Best Picture

Belfast

CODA

Don’t Look Up

Drive My Car

Dune

King Richard

Licorice Pizza

Nightmare Alley

The Power of the Dog

West Side Story

Actor in a Leading Role

Javier Bardem, Being the Ricardos

Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog

Andrew Garfield, tick, tick … Boom!

Will Smith, King Richard

Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth

Actress in a Leading Role

Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter

Penelope Cruz, Parallel Mothers

Nicole Kidman, Being the Ricardos

Kristen Stewart, Spencer

Actor in a Supporting Role

Ciarán Hinds, Belfast

Troy Kostur, CODA

Jesse Plemons, The Power of the Dog

J.K. Simmons, Being the Ricardos

Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog

Actress in a Supporting Role

Jessie Buckley, The Lost Daughter

Ariana DeBose, West Side Story

Judi Dench, Belfast

Kirsten Dunst, The Power of the Dog

Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard

Directing

Kenneth Branagh, Belfast

Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Drive My Car

Paul Thomas Anderson, Licorice Pizza

Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog

Steven Spielberg, West Side Story

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

CODA

Drive My Car

Dune

The Lost Daughter

The Power of the Dog

Writing (Original Screenplay)

Belfast

Don’t Look Up

King Richard

Licorice Pizza

The Worst Person in the World

Animated Feature Film

Encanto

Flee

Luca

The Mitchells vs the Machines

Raya and the Last Dragon

Documentary (Feature)

Ascension

Attica

Flee

Summer of Soul

Writing With Fire

Documentary (Short Subject)

Audible

Lead Me Home

The Queen of Basketball

Three Songs for Benazir

When We Were Bullies

International Feature Film

Drive My Car

Flee

The Hand of God

Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom

The Worst Person in the World

Film Editing

Don’t Look Up

Dune

King Richard

The Power of the Dog

tick … tick … BOOM!

Cinematography

Dune

Nightmare Alley

The Power of the Dog

The Tragedy of Macbeth

West Side Story

Sound

Belfast

Dune

No Time To Die

The Power of the Dog

West Side Story

Music (Original Score)

Don’t Look Up

Dune

Encanto

Parallel Mothers

The Power of the Dog

Music (Original Song)

“Be Alive” from King Richard

“Dos Oruguitas” from Encanto

“Down to Joy” from Belfast

“No Time to Die” from No Time to Die

“Somehow You Do” from Four Good Days

Costume Design

Cruella

Cyrano

Dune

Nightmare Alley

West Side Story

Makeup and Hairstyling

Coming 2 America

Cruella

Dune

The Eyes of Tammy Faye

House of Gucci

Production Design

Dune

Nightmare Alley

The Power of the Dog

The Tragedy of Macbeth

West Side Story

Visual Effects

Dune

Free Guy

No Time to Die

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Spider-Man: No Way Home

Short Film (Animated)

Affairs of the Art

Bestia

Boxballet

Robin Robin

The Windshield Wiper

Short Film (Live Action)

Ala Kachuu – Take and Run

The Dress

The Long Goodbye

On My Mind

Please Hold

Originally published as Oscar nominations 2022: Aussie stars Nicole Kidman, Kodi Smit-McPhee up for Academy Awards

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/awards/oscar-nominations-2022-aussie-stars-nicole-kidman-and-kodi-smitmcphee-up-for-top-gongs/news-story/8c0ee67d06fe5d4233c81a22fde1c9e7