This is your guide to the major nominees of the 94th Academy Awards ceremony. Part 2 covers the acting and directing awards.
There’s always a lot of talk leading up to the big day about who will win what awards. We try to make our predictions based on trends from the past, but we can’t help to be swayed by our own personal opinions. Some movies truly strike a chord with us, while others aren’t interesting at all. Furthermore, Oscar films are usually heavy in the drama department and therefore they aren’t always the easiest or most entertaining movies to watch.
That’s why we’re here. We’ve compiled the following brief summaries, interesting facts, and critical reviews for all these films and people. The goal is to give you a solid background even if you haven’t been able to catch up with this year’s nominees. So read on, and then start planning your Oscar-related drinking game. The 95th Academy Awards ceremony will take place Sunday, March 12th.
Click here for Part 1 of our Oscars Coverage!
BEST ACTOR NOMINEES
Brendan Fraser – as Charlie in The Whale
Age: 54
Previously Best Known For:
The Mummy (1999)
Encino Man
Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:
None
Interesting Fact: His father was an executive who worked in the travel industry. As a result, his family moved often when he was growing up. He lived in Ohio, Michigan, Ottawa, Holland, and Switzerland. Because of his time growing up in Canada and Europe, he is fluent in French.
Austin Butler – as Elvis Presley in Elvis
Age: 31
Previously Best Known For:
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
The Dead Don’t Die
Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:
Interesting Fact: Started working in the industry as a background actor.
Colin Ferrell – as Pádraic Súilleabháin in The Banshees of Inisherin
Age: 46
Previously Best Known For:
In Bruges
The Lobster
Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:
None
Interesting Fact: Auditioned to become a member of the Irish boy band, Boyzone, but did not win the part.
Bill Nighy – as Williams in Living
Age: 73
Previously Best Known For:
Love Actually
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:
None
Interesting Fact: He played the part of “Sam Gamgee” in the original BBC radio production of The Lord of the Rings alongside Ian Holm as “Frodo”
Paul Mescal – as Calum in Aftersun
Age: 27
Previously Best Known For:
The Lost Daughter
Normal People
Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:
Interesting Fact: Paul Mescal was once in a commercial for Denny, a sausage company. The commercial was so popular that Mescal became known as “Sausage Paul”.
BEST ACTRESS NOMINEES
Andrea Riseburough – as Leslie in To Leslie
Age: 41
Previously Best Known For:
Oblivion
Mandy
Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:
None
Interesting Fact: Owns her own all-female production company called Mother-Sucker.
Michelle Williams – as Mitzi Fabelman in The Fabelmans
Age: 42
Previously Best Known For:
Blue Valentine
Manchester by the Sea
Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:
2017 Nomination – Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role – as Randi Chandler in Manchester by the Sea
2012 Nomination – Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role – as Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn
2011 Nomination – Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role – as Cindy in Blue Valentine
Interesting Fact: Collects rare books. One highlight of her collection is a first edition of The Great Gatsby.
Cate Blanchett – as Lydia Tár in Tár
Age: 53
Previously Best Known For:
Elizabeth
Blue Jasmine
Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:
2016 Nomination – Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role – as Carol Aird in Carol
2014 Winner – Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role – as Jasmine in Blue Jasmine
2008 Nomination – Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role – as Elizabeth I in Elizabeth: The Golden Age
2008 Nomination – Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role – as Jude in I’m Not There
2007 Nomination – Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role – as Sheba Hart in Notes on a Scandal
2005 Winner – Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role – as Katherine Hepburn in The Aviator
1999 Nomination – Best Actress in a Leading Role – as Elizabeth I in Elizabeth
Interesting Fact: Was the original ‘Tim-Tam’ girl in the series of commercials promoting the product.
Ana de Armas – as Norma Jeane in Blonde
Age: 34
Previously Best Known For:
Blade Runner 2049
Knives Out
Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:
None
Interesting Fact: She only spoke Spanish before moving to the USA. When she arrived in Los Angeles, she was so determined to audition for parts that she pushed herself to learn English, which she managed to do within two years.
Michelle Yeoh – as Evelyn in Everything, Everywhere, All at Once
Age: 60
Previously Best Known For:
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Tomorrow Never Dies
Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:
None
Interesting Fact: Won several beauty pageants, including being Crowned Miss Malaysia in 1983.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR NOMINEES
Brendan Gleeson – as Colm Doherty in The Banshees of Inisherin
Age: 67
Previously Best Known For:
In Bruges
Harry Potter franchise
Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:
None
Interesting Fact: Plays the fiddle, and has been filmed playing the fiddle in several of his films, including The Banshees of Inisherin.
Brian Tyree Henry – as James in Causeway
Age: 40
Previously Best Known For:
If Beale Street Could Talk
Eternals
Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:
None
Interesting Fact: Has a Master’s Degree in drama from the Yale School of Drama.
Judd Hirsch as Uncle Bruno in The Fabelmans
Age: 87
Previously Best Known For:
Independence Day
Taxi
Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:
1981 Nominee – Best Actor in a Supporting Role – as Doctor Berger in Ordinary People
Interesting Fact: Did not start acting professionally until he was 36 years old.
Barry Keoghan as Dominic Kearney in The Banshees of Inisherin
Age: 30
Previously Best Known For:
The Killing of the Sacred Deer
Eternals
Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:
None
Interesting Fact: Is an amateur boxer.
Ke Huy Quan – as Waymond Wong in Everything Everywhere All at Once
Age: 51
Previously Best Known For:
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
The Goonies
Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:
None
Interesting Fact: His brother was the one actually auditioning for the role of Short Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Ke Huy just followed his brother along, but the casting people decided to pick him instead.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS NOMINEES
Angela Bassett – as Ramonda in Black Panther 2: Wikanda Forever
Age: 64
Previously Best Known For:
Strange Days
What’s Love Got to Do With It
Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:
1994 Nomination – Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role – as Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do With It
Interesting Fact: Bassett’s line “Right here! Right now!” from Strange Days was sampled as the only ‘lyrics’ used repeatedly in the song “Right Here, Right Now” by Fatboy Slim.
Kerry Condon as Siobhán Súilleabháin in The Banshees of Inisherin
Age: 40
Previously Best Known For:
Better Call Saul
Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri
Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:
None
Interesting Fact: Her family has many connections with horses. Her father was a breeder, her cousin is a jockey, and Condon owns her own ranch in LA which houses rescued horses.
Jamie Lee Curtis as Deirdre Beaubeirdre in Everything, Everywhere, All at Once
Age: 64
Previously Best Known For:
Halloween
True Lies
Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:
None
Interesting Fact: Saw her future husband Christopher Guest in the issue of Rolling Stone magazine with Cyndi Lauper on the cover. Guest appeared in a promotional photo for the film This Is Spinal Tap in full costume and makeup as a rock star. She fell in love at first sight of the photo and gave her telephone number to his agent.
Stephanie Hsu as Joy/Jobu in Everything, Everywhere, All at Once
Age: 32
Previously Best Known For:
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
The Path
Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:
None
Interesting Fact: In elementary school she ran for student council. Her 4th grade Vice Presidential campaign slogan was “Stephanie Hsu is the shoe for you!” Her 5th grade Presidential campaign slogan was “Stephanie Hsu is the shampoo for you!” She won both years
Hong Chau as Liz in The Whale
Age: 43
Previously Best Known For:
Downsizing
Watchmen
Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:
None
Interesting Fact: Chau was born in a refugee camp in Thailand after fleeing Vietnam in the late 1970s. Her family came to the United States when a Vietnamese Catholic church in New Orleans, Louisiana helped to sponsor Chau and her family.
BEST DIRECTOR NOMINEES
Martin McDonagh for The Banshees of Inisherin
Age: 52
Previously Best Known For:
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
In Bruges
Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:
2018 Nominee – Best Motion Picture of the Year – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
2018 Nominee – Best Original Screenplay – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
2009 Nominee – Best Writing, Original Screenplay – In Bruges
2006 Winner – Best Short Film, Live Action – Six Shooter
Interesting Fact: Before making a name for himself in film, McDonagh was a prolific playwright. All his plays except for the Pillowman are based in Ireland and he regards himself as an Anglo-Irish playwright, but he has never lived full time in Ireland.
Todd Field for Tár
Age: 58
Previously Best Known For:
In the Bedroom
Eyes Wide Shut (as actor)
Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:
2007 Nominee – Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay – Little Children
2002 Nominee – Best Picture – In the Bedroom
2002 Nominee – Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published – In the Bedroom
Interesting Fact: Despite only directing 3 feature films, Field has directed 6 different actors who were nominated for Oscars in those films: Tom Wilkinson, Sissy Spacek, Marisa Tomei, Kate Winslet, Jackie Earle Haley, and Cate Blanchett.
Ruben Östlund for Triangle of Sadness
Age: 48
Previously Best Known For:
The Square
Force Majeure
Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:
None
Interesting Fact: An avid skier, Östlund directed three ski films that demonstrated his taste for long takes—a technique that remains an important trademark of his work
Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert for Everything, Everywhere, All at Once
Age: 35/35
Previously Best Known For:
Swiss Army Man
Music Videos
Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:
None
Interesting Fact: Kwan and Scheinert met in a class learning Autodesk Maya, which is a 3D animation program.
Steven Spielberg for The Fabelmans
Age: 76
Previously Best Known For:
E.T. The Extra Terrestrial
Jurassic Park
Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:
2022 – Nominee – Best Motion Picture for West Side Story
2022 – Nominee – Best Achievement in Directing for West Side Story
2018 – Nominee – Best Motion Picture for The Post
2016 – Nominee – Best Motion Picture for Bridge of Spies
2013 – Nominee – Best Motion Picture for Lincoln
2013 – Nominee – Best Achievement in Directing for Lincoln
2012 – Nominee – Best Motion Picture for War Horse
2007 – Nominee – Best Motion Picture for Letters from Iwo Jima
2006 – Nominee – Best Achievement in Directing for Munich
1999 – Winner – Best Director for Saving Private Ryan
1999 – Nominee – Best Picture for Saving Private Ryan
1994 – Winner – Best Picture for Schindler’s List
1994 – Winner – Best Director for Schindler’s List
1987 – Winner – Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award
1986 – Nominee – Best Picture for The Color Purple
1983 – Nominee – Best Picture for E.T. The Extra Terrestrial
1983 – Nominee – Best Director for E.T. The Extra Terrestrial
1982 – Nominee – Best Director for Raiders of the Lost Ark
1978 – Nominee – Best Director for Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Interesting Fact: His favorite indoor pastimes are watching golf and playing Assasin’s Creed.
