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Guy Pearce gets first ever Oscars nod, Nicole Kidman snubbed

Geelong’s favourite son, Guy Pearce, has been nominated for his first Academy Award but Nicole Kidman failed to get a nomination. See full list of contenders.

The Brutalist: Guy Pearce LOVES Being Bad!

Geelong’s favourite son, Guy Pearce, has been nominated for his first ever Academy Award thanks to his critically acclaimed performance in the post-World War II epic, The Brutalist.

The Aussie star, who began his career alongside Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan on Neighbours, was nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category for his role as a wealthy yet sinister American benefactor to an immigrant Jewish architect (Adrien Brody) in The Brutalist.

Brody was nominated in the Best Actor category for his performance in the film, which is considered one of the frontrunners for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

Guy Pearce is up for his first Oscar thanks to his performance in the post-WWII epic, The Brutalist. Picture: Getty Images
Guy Pearce is up for his first Oscar thanks to his performance in the post-WWII epic, The Brutalist. Picture: Getty Images

Pearce joins Margot Robbie, as Oscar nominees who began their careers on the iconic Australian soap (Robbie has three Academy Award nominations to date).

But the 57-year-old Pearce will face stiff competition from Kieran Culkin who is nominated for his stellar performance in Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain. In a moment of kismet, Culkin’s former Succession co-star – and on-screen sibling – Jeremy Strong, is also nominated for his work as Donald Trump’s early mentor, controversial lawyer, Ray Cohn.

The news was not as good for Nicole Kidman, however, with the Australian superstar missing out in the Best Actress category for her role in the raunchy Baby Girl. And fans were not impressed.

Nicole Kidman in Halina Reijn’s erotic drama Babygirl.
Nicole Kidman in Halina Reijn’s erotic drama Babygirl.

“The academy snubs nicole kidman for yet another bold and daring performance. adding babygirl to the long list that includes birth, the paperboy, to die for, destroyer, dogville, eyes wide shut, and the list goes on and on,” wrote a film enthusiast on X.

Another posted: “Still can’t believe the Oscars acting branch would nominate Nicole Kidman for Being the Ricardos and not for Babygirl.”

“Nicole Kidman and Angelina Jolie. The two most painful snubs,” said a third, referring to Jolie’s role s the legendary soprano Maria Callas in Maria.

“Nicole Kidman delivered an incredible performance, full of intensity and vulnerability, in Babygirl. I really wish she had received more recognition this year — she truly deserves it #Oscars Cheers to our Babygirl,” said another passionate film lover.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo promote Wicked in Sydney last November. Picture: Don Arnold/WireImage
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo promote Wicked in Sydney last November. Picture: Don Arnold/WireImage

Melbourne-filmed Robbie Williams biopic, Better Man (directed by Aussie Michael Gracey) received only one nod for Best Visual Effects.

Emilia Perez, Jacques Audiard’s audacious musical about a ruthless Mexican drug lord who transitions to life as a woman, leads the nominations with 13 nods.

Epic immigrant saga The Brutalist and show-stopping musical adaptation Wicked each picked up 10 nominations while the Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown, and Vatican thriller, Conclave, bagged eight nods apiece.

In the acting categories, Wicked stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were both nominated – Erivo in the Best Actress category, Grande in Best Supporting Actress – for their performances in the 2024’s biggest film, Wicked.

Ralph Fiennes was brilliant as a cardinal with the weight of the world on his shoulders in the papal thriller, Conclave. Picture: Supplied
Ralph Fiennes was brilliant as a cardinal with the weight of the world on his shoulders in the papal thriller, Conclave. Picture: Supplied

And Hollywood veteran Demi Moore has received her first ever Oscar nomination at the age of 62 for her exposing turn in The Substance and, given her recent Golden Globe victory, is every chance to win the big one.

Emilia Perez’s star Karla Sofia Gascon became the first openly trans acting nominee in the Best Actress category and her co-star, Golden Globe winner Zoe Saldana, was nominated for best supporting actress.

Mikey Madison for Anora and Fernanda Torres for I’m Still Here round out the Best Actress category.

Karla Sofia Gascon (left) became the first trans actress to be nominated for Best Actress for Emilia Perez. Zoe Saldana (middle) was also nominated but Selena Gomez (right) missed out. Picture: AFP
Karla Sofia Gascon (left) became the first trans actress to be nominated for Best Actress for Emilia Perez. Zoe Saldana (middle) was also nominated but Selena Gomez (right) missed out. Picture: AFP

Leading the pack for Best Actor is Adrien Brody who could pick up his second Oscar (the first was for The Pianist in 2003) as a Jewish immigrant searching for the American dream after fleeing post World War II Europe. Although, British actor Ralph Fiennes could be a smoky for the win thanks to the dignified yet quiet fury of his performance as a Cardinal overseeing the vote of a new Pope in Conclave.

Timothée Chalamet is nominated for his performance as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, while Colman Domingo for Sing Sing and Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump in The Apprentice are also nominated.

Up for Best Picture are Anora, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Pérez, I’m Still Here, Nickel Boys, The Substance and Wicked.

Coralie Fargeat is the only woman nominated in the Best Director group for her work on The Substance. Sean Baker for Anora, Brady Corbet for The Brutalist, James Mangold for A Complete Unknown and Jacques Audiard for Emilia Pérez round out the category.

Voting deadlines had to be extended this month due to the Los Angeles wildfires, which devastated the city, but the ceremony will still go ahead on Sunday, March 2 (local time) at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and will hosted by American TV personality, Conan O’Brien.

SEE THE FULL LIST OF NOMINATIONS BELOW:

Adrien Brody could take home his second Oscar for his performance as László Tóth in The Brutalist. Picture: A24
Adrien Brody could take home his second Oscar for his performance as László Tóth in The Brutalist. Picture: A24

Best Picture

Anora

The Brutalist

A Complete Unknown

Conclave

Dune: Part Two

Emilia Pérez

I’m Still Here

Nickel Boys

The Substance

Wicked

After a 40-year career Demi Moore could take home her first Oscar for her role in The Substance. Picture: Supplied
After a 40-year career Demi Moore could take home her first Oscar for her role in The Substance. Picture: Supplied

Best Actress

Cynthia Erivo – Wicked

Karla Sofía Gascón – Emilia Pérez

Mikey Madison – Anora

Demi Moore – The Substance

Fernanda Torres – I’m Still Here

Best Actor

Adrien Brody – The Brutalist

Timothée Chalamet – A Complete Unknown

Colman Domingo – Sing Sing

Ralph Fiennes – Conclave

Sebastian Stan – The Apprentice

Zoe Saldana was nominated for Emilia Pérez. Picture: Supplied
Zoe Saldana was nominated for Emilia Pérez. Picture: Supplied

Best Supporting Actress

Monica Barbaro – A Complete Unknown

Ariana Grande – Wicked

Felicity Jones – The Brutalist

Isabella Rossellini – Conclave

Zoe Saldana – Emilia Pérez

Australian actor Guy Pearce has received his first Oscar nomination. Picture: AFP
Australian actor Guy Pearce has received his first Oscar nomination. Picture: AFP

Best Supporting Actor

Guy Pearce – The Brutalist

Yura Borisov – Anora

Kieran Culkin – A Real Pain

Edward Norton – A Complete Unknown

Jeremy Strong – The Apprentice

Isabella Rossellini and Ralph Fiennes (with co-star John Lithgow, far left) are both nominated for Conclave. Picture: Getty Images
Isabella Rossellini and Ralph Fiennes (with co-star John Lithgow, far left) are both nominated for Conclave. Picture: Getty Images

Best Director

Sean Baker – Anora

Brady Corbet – The Brutalist

James Mangold – A Complete Unknown

Jacques Audiard – Emilia Pérez

Coralie Fargeat – The Substance

Best Original Screenplay

Anora

The Brutalist

A Real Pain

September 5

The Substance

Director James Mangold and Timothee Chalametare both nominated for A Complete Unknown. Picture: Supplied.
Director James Mangold and Timothee Chalametare both nominated for A Complete Unknown. Picture: Supplied.

Best Adapted Screenplay

A Complete Unknown

Conclave

Emilia Pérez

Nickel Boys

Sing Sing

Best Cinematography

The Brutalist

Dune: Part Two

Emilia Pérez

Maria

Nosferatu

Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg in A Real Pain. Culkin is up for Best Supporting Actor. Picture: Supplied
Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg in A Real Pain. Culkin is up for Best Supporting Actor. Picture: Supplied

Best Original Score

The Brutalist

Conclave

Emilia Pérez

Wicked

The Wild Robot

Best Original Song

El Mal – Emilia Pérez

The Journey – The Six Triple Eight

Like a Bird – Sing Sing

Mi Camino – Emilia Pérez

Never Too Late – Elton John: Never Too Late

Best Costume Design

A Complete Unknown

Conclave

Gladiator II

Nosferatu

Wicked

Wicked received 10 nominations. Picture: Supplied
Wicked received 10 nominations. Picture: Supplied

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

A Different Man

Emilia Pérez

Nosferatu

The Substance

Wicked

Best Visual Effects

Alien: Romulus

Better Man

Dune: Part Two

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Wicked

Best International Feature

I’m Still Here (Brazil)

The Girl with the Needle (Denmark)

Emilia Pérez (France)

The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany)

Flow (Latvia)

Demi Moore could take home her first Oscar. Picture: AFP
Demi Moore could take home her first Oscar. Picture: AFP

Best Animated Feature

Flow

Inside Out 2

Memoir of a Snail

Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

The Wild Robot

Best Animated Short

Beautiful Men

In the Shadow of the Cypress

Magic Candies

Wander to Wonder

Yuck!

Best Live-Action Short

A Lien

Anuja

I’m Not a Robot

The Last Ranger

The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent

Best Documentary Feature

Black Box Diaries

No Other Land

Porcelain War

Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat

Sugarcane

Originally published as Guy Pearce gets first ever Oscars nod, Nicole Kidman snubbed

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Original URL: https://www.ntnews.com.au/entertainment/awards/oscars/guy-pearce-leads-aussie-hopes-at-oscars/news-story/657f4cbfc32c5236502b9f4a6e82e150