This is huge! Just a few weeks after winning a Golden Globe, actress/comedian Mo’Nique has received an Oscar nomination for “Best Supporting Actress” for her role in “Precious!” In addition, breakthrough actress Gabourey Sidibe received a nomination for “Best Actress” and the film’s director Lee Daniels received a nod for “Best Director.” The film itself has two nods of its own as well in the “Best Picture” and “Best Adapted Screenplay” categories. And the film’s editor Joe Klotz received his own nomination in the category of “Best Editing.”
In a call to “The Early Show” on CBS this morning, the actress gushed over her most recent honor. “I’m floating!” she exclaimed. As excited as the actress is over her nomination, she’s well aware that the proof is right there for all to see. “I believe it is about the performance,” she said, concluding, “and the performance is on the screen.” The ever-humble star was also quick to point out that awards of this sort were not the driving force behind making “Precious,” a Sundance 2009 favorite directed by “Monster’s Ball” producer Lee Daniels.
“With the campaigning, we were very much behind the movie,” she said. “The message of this movie is so strong that it changed lives. That’s what we were supportive of, that’s what we wanted to get out there.”
Mo’Nique is nonetheless honored by her nomination. “I’m very honored and grateful that they recognized the performance,” she said. “We didn’t do the project in the feeling of ‘This is going to get us an award.’ We did the project with the feeling of, ‘Oh my god, this will change lives.’ So for this to be happening, it is just — it’s beautiful.”
SOURCE: MTV
Congratulations (and good luck) to all the nominees! The Oscars will be hosted by actors Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin, and is set to air live on Sunday March 7th on ABC. Click here for the full list of nominees for the 82nd annual Academy Awards.
