Hollywood stars were up before the crack of dawn Tuesday to find out whether they’d been honored with an Oscar nomination.
And those that did make the short list were happy to share their gratitude with TheWrap — in the case of Meryl Streep, sending a GIF of herself dancing to celebrate breaking her own Oscar record with a 20th nomination for “Florence Foster Jenkins.”
Here are some of the early reactions:
Jeff Bridges, Best Supporting Actor, “Hell or High Water”
“Woke up this morning in beautiful Solano Beach after playing a cool gig at the Belly Up with my band the Abiders to find out I’ve been nominated for my performance in “Hell or High Water”.
What a thrill, especially for a movie that is so close to my heart. I really dug playing with Gil, Chris and Ben and being directed by the talented David Mackenzie. And such a GREAT script from Taylor. Woo Hoo! Thanks Academy.”
Meryl Streep, Best Actress, “Florence Foster Jenkins”
Emma Stone, Best Actress, “La La Land”
“What a morning. I am so grateful for this honor and I’m so happy to share this feeling with my La La Land family. The greatest part of life is connecting with people, and I love the deeply talented, kind and passionate people I was lucky enough to work with on this movie. I’m also overjoyed that the movie has connected with audiences in the way it has, and that it’s hopefully bringing a kick in their step to those who watch it. This is beyond any of our wildest imaginings and we can’t wait to celebrate together.”
Natalie Portman, Best Actress, “Jackie”
“I am so honored by the Academy’s recognition for ‘Jackie,’ and congratulate Mica and Madeline on their well-deserved nominations. I couldn’t be happier to share this moment with our incredible Director Pablo Larrain and the entire cast and crew who worked so hard on this film. I am also humbled to join Isabelle, Meryl, Ruth and Emma – all incredibly accomplished women I admire very much. Jackie Kennedy was a study in strength, compassion, resilience and integrity and she provided hope for our country at a time when it needed it most. It was one of life’s great honors to be able to portray her on film.”
Ruth Negga, Best Actress, “Loving”
“I am truly humbled by the news this morning, and I thank the Academy for this recognition, which I share with my co-collaborators Jeff Nichols and Joel Edgerton. It has been such an honor to have been given the opportunity to tell the incredible story of Richard and Mildred Loving, who serve as an inspiration that ordinary people can do extraordinary things. The Lovings fought quietly yet tirelessly, and changed the course of American legal history. Today, to be among such extraordinary women – my fellow nominees, my peers with films this year, and the legendary performers whose work of years past has long inspired me…this means a great deal to me.”
Mel Gibson, Best Director, “Hacksaw Ridge”
“What could be more exciting than listening to the nominations being announced while holding my newborn son! This is a truly wonderful honor. I’m especially happy for Andrew Garfield, our producers Bill Mechanic and David Permut, our editor John Gilbert and our incredible sound teams. The Academy’s recognition of our film is a testament to every single person who worked on Hacksaw Ridge, and to every soldier who made the sacrifices they made to fight for their country, including Desmond Doss.”
Nicole Kidman, Best Supporting Actress, “Lion”
“I want to thank the Academy for all of the acknowledgements you have given this heartfelt film. But, most importantly, I want to thank the Brierley family for putting themselves in such a vulnerable place and sharing their story with the world. And thanks to Garth Davis for putting his heart and soul into all of us. Woo Hoo!”
Isabelle Huppert, Best Actress, “Elle”
“I am infinitely grateful to the Academy, it is a tremendous joy and honor for me. This film means so much to me and, with this nomination, (director) Paul Verhoeven is also rewarded. I would like to sincerely thank our French producer Saïd Ben Saïd. I am also so grateful to Michael Barker, Tom Bernard and the great, great team from Sony Pictures Classics who supported the film and my work with such confidence from the beginning. Thank you, thank you, thank you…”
Director Travis Knight, Best Animated Feature, “Kubo and the Two Strings”
“I’m over the moon! An Academy Award nomination is an extraordinary and cherished gift. Two nominations is more than anyone could hope for. Every filmmaker dreams of a moment like this. But the truth is, I already lived my dream by making this film. Movies have always given me great joy. They enriched my life. They inspired me to dream. That’s the kind of film our team at Laika sought to make with ‘Kubo and the Two Strings.’ A film is a slice of a hundred souls. In this case many more. An incredible, immense community of artists gave ceaselessly and selflessly to breathe life into this story. I’m so thankful for their talents and efforts and so proud of what we’ve done together. I’m profoundly grateful to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, who somehow saw fit to include us among the finest storytellers in film. It is a tremendous honor to stand alongside them.”
Kenneth Lonergan, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, “Manchester by the Sea”
“”I’m really overwhelmed. Thank you, Academy members. Thank you and congratulations, wonderful, wonderful cast, producers and crew. It’s such an honor to be counted alongside our fellow nominees and all the really extraordinary movies that came out this year. We tried to make a movie about people standing by each other no matter what; thank you to everyone who let us try, and to everyone out there trying to tell the truth about what it is to be a human being.”
Luke Davies, Best Adapted Screenplay, “Lion”
“When I wrote the Lion screenplay, I set out to move people – to shift their emotional center. I wasn’t entirely certain if, or how much, I might succeed. But I hoped. So it was deeply gratifying and humbling to learn at our screenings – one person, one comment at a time – that I’d had some success in the matter. But the pleasantly surreal news of an Oscar nomination that I woke to this morning added a sweet note of delight: the thought that Lion might have moved peers and colleagues who had done such great work they had earned a place in the Academy. It is a terrific boost to be thought of in such a positive light by a group of people you look up to and admire.I think of the film as an anthem to the persistence of love. I didn’t consciously set out to write a film that would spark wider conversations about the ethics of adoption or the worldwide scourge of child sex trafficking. But I am so very grateful it seems to be doing that, too.”
Barry Jenkins, Best Director, “Moonlight”
“It takes a village and this morning I was moved beyond words by the love that was shown by the Academy to so many of the wonderful people in our Moonlight village. I’m in Amsterdam at the moment, sharing Chiron’s story a continent away with people of a different culture. That’s what the spirit of these nominations signals to me: an affirmation that film has the power to erode barriers and reveal what makes us all human.”
Mahershala Ali, Best Supporting Actor, “Moonlight”
“I’d like to thank the Academy for this humbling recognition. I’m so proud to have had the opportunity to contribute in some small way to both Moonlight and Hidden Figures. I’d also like to congratulate my friends, colleagues and cast mates who have been acknowledged through the nominations of both of these films. The most one can ask for in this work is to have a presence in projects that entertain and yet still hold a space to educate, inform and uplift. And for that, I am truly grateful.”
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Best Original Song, “Moana”
“Thank you to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences–thank you so much for this honor. I spent a good chunk of my childhood memorizing Billy Crystal’s musical Oscar monologues, so this is insane. Seeing ‘The Little Mermaid’ changed my life at 9-years-old, so to work with its directors Ron Clements and John Musker on ‘Moana’ has been a dream come true. I share this humbling honor with them, my ‘Moana’ songwriting partners Opetaia Foa’i and Mark Mancina, and the entire Disney family. Congratulations to all this morning’s incredible nominees. And future congratulations to the kids watching the telecast this year, singing along with their favorite songs, performing epic private concerts for the mirror with a comb or a toothbrush microphone. You’re next.”
Director Claude Barras, Best Animated Feature, “My Life as a Zucchini”
“To see ‘My Life as a Zucchini’ nominated as one of the world’s five best animation films is a rare and incredible feeling. Our foremost wish was to tell a story to children, one that teaches them not to be afraid, not to respond to violence with violence and to break down the walls that prevent us from sharing our differences. The way in which the film and its message have been received have completely overwhelmed us. We have to thank all of those who created this film with much love. To receive such love in return today is the most beautiful of rewards for all of us. We would like to share this honor with all of those who supported us in Switzerland, in France, in Europe and now in the United States.”
Producers Peter Chernin and Jenno Topping, Best Picture, “Hidden Figures”
“From the first moment we read this script, getting it made and supporting our filmmaker became our mission. We were determined to make sure that this remarkable and inspiring story remained ‘hidden’ no more. We remain in awe of the talent involved in realizing this film, and we hope it continues to inspire moviegoers, including young people everywhere. We are thankful to the Academy and congratulate our partners at Fox and fellow producers on this prestigious nomination.”
Guy Hendrix Dyas, Best Production Design, “Passengers”
“So happy and honored that the world we built for Passengers has been nominated by the Academy. Congratulations to all my fellow design nominees.”
Director Alan Barillaro, Best Animated Short Film, “Piper”
“I was watching my kids grow, learn and take brave steps in the journey of growing up when the idea for ‘Piper’ came to me. Since bringing it out into the world, I have realized ‘Piper’ is very much like a child to me, and I’ve watched with awe as it has been embraced by audiences worldwide. Now, to be recognized with a nomination is truly humbling. To the Academy, and all those that have helped shepherd Piper along her way, I am truly thankful.”
Director Aske Bang, Best Live Action Short Film, “Silent Night”
“This is amazing! I am in total disbelief. It is such an honor to be nominated, and it is even more special because it is my first film since graduating from The National Film School of Denmark.”
Director Hannes Holm, Best Foreign Language Film, “A Man Called Ove”
“This is beyond exciting and I am so happy to have been honored with this nomination. A Man Called Ove is a simple story that contains the basic human elements of love, community and a certain level of decency. Elements that feel very relevant these days. There is a surprising love affair in the film and now I think we can also speak of a budding love affair between the film and the american audience. I am looking forward to introducing a man named Ove to a man named Oscar!”
Director Patrick Osborne, Best Animated Short Film, “Pearl”
Naomie Harris, Best Supporting Actress, “Moonlight”
“‘Moonlight’ is touching many hearts at a time when people are seeking compassion and connection in the world. I am incredibly grateful to the Academy for recognizing my part of this story as well as my fellow ‘Moonlight’ family. It has truly been an honor to share Barry Jenkins’ and Tarell McCraney’s beautiful journey.”
Mood 😂 pic.twitter.com/zeSNQxHre4
— Naomie Harris (@NaomieHarris) January 24, 2017
Director Theodore Ushev, Best Animated Short Film, “Blind Vaysha”
“It’s really fantastic to get this nomination. I’m over the moon! But this honour is not just for me: I want to thank my collaborators, especially my producer, Marc Bertrand, and the author, Georgi Gospodinov. So the entire NFB will be over the moon, at a big party on the moon with Vaysha!”
