Let the victory laps and horn tooting begin.
The 2022 Oscar nominees were announced in the wee hours of Tuesday morning and A-listers are waking up to either good news — or a slap in the face.
It wasn’t the first Oscar nod for Nicole Kidman, who divided critics over her portrayal of Lucille Ball in “Being the Ricardos,” but the 54-year-old said her nomination for Best Actress was “more intense” and “more appreciated.”
“I think because of what it entailed and playing both roles and trying to play Lucy Ricardo and Lucille Ball, and just the magnitude of it,” Kidman told the Hollywood Reporter. “It felt like a massive undertaking, but it’s also just joy as well. I think everyone goes, ‘Oh, well, you just sort of pick and choose.’ No, it’s very much about a director choosing you to play a role… I am so fortunate to have this role.”
Kidman, who won a 2003 Oscar for “The Hours,” admitted earlier in her press tour for the Amazon film that she was hesitant to take on the meaty role of America’s funny, beloved sitcom redhead due to backlash.
But the honor to be acknowledged by the Academy on Tuesday is something she will remember, noting she was having breakfast with her family in Nashville and getting her children ready for school.
“It’ll be something I will never forget,” Kidman told THR.
Kidman’s “Being the Ricardos” co-star Javier Bardem said he couldn’t have done it without her.
“It’s a huge honor for me,” the 52-year-old told Variety. “My Desi wouldn’t have any meaning without [Kidman’s] Lucy. We created these two characters together. … I only have one scene [with J.K.], but he’s one of my favorite actors ever. … I truly admire him; I think he does a fantastic job.”
While she has yet to address the snub, Lady Gaga’s fans have taken to Twitter to call out her shocking omission in the Best Actress category, especially since she got nominations for a BAFTA, Critics’ Choice Award, Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for “House of Gucci.” “Patrizia Gucci truly did curse Lady Gaga,” one joked.
Jessica Chastain, nominated alongside Kidman, Olivia Colman, Penelope Cruz and Kristen Stewart, told Variety she called her competition to celebrate.
“I called Penélope [Cruz] and FaceTimed with her and I called Olivia Colman, and just the women that I’m in this category with, I think are just phenomenal and I could not be happier,” she said.
The 44-year-old “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” star also said it’s sweeter to get an acting nod for something she also produced.
“I’m still really in shock. I don’t know if there’s any difference to be nominated for a film that I produced. It’s more of like, you know, it’s been 10 years and the last time I was nominated was for ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ and that’s actually the time that I got the rights to this story,” she said. “And so to be acknowledged for this is really — I mean, I’m surprised, I’m really shocked. I did not think it was going to happen this morning.”
In what will be a memorable moment in her career spanning over 30 years, Kirsten Dunst, 39, received her first nomination Tuesday for Best Supporting Actress, along with her husband and “The Power of the Dog” co-star, Jesse Plemons.
“To be honored by the Academy is a truly humbling experience,” she said. “For both Jesse and I to get our first nominations together is beyond our wildest dreams. Congratulations to Jane, Benedict, Kodi and Jesse on their nominations and the entire cast and crew of ‘The Power of the Dog.’ Working on this film was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I’m forever grateful for Jane trusting me to bring Rose’s story to life. Thank you to the Academy for recognizing our work and for putting me amongst such a remarkable group of actresses.”
Dunst’s fellow nominee, “West Side Story” star Ariana DeBose, 31, also called her Supporting Actress nod a “moment.”
“My morning walk along the river was extra special today,” she said. “I am absolutely overjoyed by this morning’s news. To be recognized alongside such incredible women for their inspiring performances is surreal enough, but to share this celebration with Steven, Kristie, and the entire team that made our beautiful movie is a dream come true. I’m so thankful to the Academy for this acknowledgment and am beyond grateful to Steven, Kristie, and everyone at Amblin and Disney. What a moment.”
At only 20, Billie Eilish also received a nomination for her work on the “No Time To Die” song.
“Words cannot describe how honored and excited we are to have been nominated for an Academy Award for our song ‘No Time To Die,'” she said. “It was a lifelong dream of ours to write a Bond theme, and one we never thought would ever come true. It’s completely unbelievable that we are here being recognized for this song, and this is a peak life experience for us as songwriters and artists. To be recognized today among these other incredible nominees is something we most certainly do not take for granted.”
Meanwhile, Olivia Colman, who won Best Actress in 2019 for “The Favourite,” said “this feeling right now is bloody brilliant.”
Fellow veteran, nine-time nominee and two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington described “The Tragedy of Macbeth” for which he is nominated as “one of the best experiences of my career.”
“Joel Coen is a genius and I hope the nominations for the film will allow for more people to enjoy a terrific cinematic experience,” he added.
Supporting Actor nominee Kodi Smit-McPhee, 25, said in a statement that he is “simply elated” over his nomination for “The Power of the Dog.”
“This is beyond even my wildest imagination. To be nominated for an Academy Award is such a tremendous honor and I’m so thankful to everybody who has played a role in getting me to this position,” he said. “I’m forever indebted to Jane’s brilliance and am eternally grateful for her trust in me to bring Peter to life. She’s a singular talent that every actor should be so lucky to work with. I think I can speak for the cast when I say we were in the most trusted hands imaginable. I’m so proud of Jesse, Benedict, Kirsten, Ari and everybody involved in the production for being so rightfully recognized by the Academy. I’m just so humbled, reflective and appreciative right now.”
However, “Belfast” star Ciarán Hinds, 68, scored his first nod despite being an industry veteran.
“Having worked in this industry for nearly 50 years, I thought there wasn’t much that could surprise me still,” he said. “Today, I can honestly say, I am astounded, thrilled and deeply grateful.”
Jessie Buckley, nominated for Best Supporting Actress for “The Lost Daughter,” called the film “special.”
“I am in complete shock! ‘The Lost Daughter’ is so special to me. To be recognized for anything connected to it is just a wild dream come true,” Buckley shared. “And to gorgeous Olivia Colman and our leader and legend Maggie Gyllenhaal, I’m so lucky to share this ride with you incredible women. Thank you.”
Andrew Garfield received his second-ever nomination but was elated nonetheless.
“There was a moment where they said my name for the thing and that obviously kind of created a howl in my soul and my friends and my family,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “We’re all very, very excited, very, very happy, very, very grateful — mostly just grateful that maybe this is an indication that I get to keep on making things that I like to make and acting and telling stories.”
For “Encanto” composer and nominee Germaine Franco, it’s all about love, too.
“The love of music brings me here,” she told The Post. “A latina from El Paso, Texas, a drummer girl, composer, songwriter, lover of tunes and anything that makes noise.”
Meanwhile, Best Original Song nominee Diane Warren seemed shocked to receive her 13th Oscar nod, this time for the tune “Somehow You Do” from “Four Good Days,” tweeting simply, “WOW!!!!!! #13!!!!”
The Oscars will be held on March 27 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California.
