British actors Cynthia Erivo and Felicity Jones have also secured nods.
Renowned British actor Ralph Fiennes has expressed his delight at receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his role in Conclave, a gripping drama centred on the election of a new pope.
“I’m thrilled to be nominated and to be celebrating the other nominations for Conclave,” said Fiennes, who plays a pivotal role in Edward Berger’s critically acclaimed film. “Edward brought together an extraordinary cast and crew—he is an inspirational director with rare insight and a unique vision, which lies at the heart of this film.”
Conclave secured a total of eight nominations, adding to an impressive Oscars line-up that includes Wicked and The Brutalist with 10 nods each, and Spanish-language musical Emilia Perez, leading the pack with 13 nominations.
Isabella rossellini pays tribute to late filmmaker David Lynch
Fiennes’ co-star, Italian actress Isabella Rossellini, also received a nomination for her portrayal of Sister Agnes in Conclave. Reflecting on her journey, Rossellini expressed gratitude to her parents, legendary filmmaker Roberto Rossellini and actress Ingrid Bergman, and paid tribute to the late David Lynch.
“Our collaboration was key to my understanding of the art of acting,” she said. “This honour is deeply moving, and I’m grateful to Edward Berger, Ralph Fiennes, and the entire Conclave team for this extraordinary experience.”
Strong competition in acting categories
Fiennes faces tough competition in the Best Actor category. Nominees include Adrien Brody for The Brutalist, Timothée Chalamet for the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, Colman Domingo for Sing Sing, and Sebastian Stan for his portrayal of Donald Trump in The Apprentice.
Meanwhile, the Best Actress category boasts equally impressive contenders, with Cynthia Erivo earning her second Oscar nod for Wicked. The category also includes Mikey Madison (Anora), Demi Moore (The Substance), Karla Sofia Gascón (Emilia Perez), and Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here), marking a historic moment with Gascón as the first transgender actress nominated.
Felicity Jones among British talent recognised
Felicity Jones, nominated for Best Supporting Actress for The Brutalist, is another British star shining at this year’s Oscars. Jones shares the category with Wicked star Ariana Grande, Conclave’s Isabella Rossellini, and Zoe Saldana for her role in Emilia Perez. Grande, a first-time nominee, described the recognition as “unfathomable” in an emotional Instagram post.
The Supporting Actor category is similarly stacked, featuring Succession stars Jeremy Strong and Kieran Culkin (The Apprentice and A Real Pain, respectively), alongside Yura Borisov (Anora), Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown), and Guy Pearce (The Brutalist).
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Sir Elton John secures fifth Oscar nod
British music legend Sir Elton John received his fifth Oscar nomination for the original song Never Too Late, featured in his Disney+ music documentary of the same name. Competing in the Best Original Song category are Emilia Perez’s El Mal and Mi Camino, Sing Sing’s Like A Bird, and The Six Triple Eight’s The Journey.
Elton John, who previously won for The Lion King and Rocketman, described the nomination as an “incredible honour” and credited collaborators Brandi Carlile, Bernie Taupin, and Andrew Watt.
Animated features and additional highlights
Wallace and Gromit are back in the spotlight with a nomination for Vengeance Most Fowl, competing against Inside Out 2, Latvian cat film Flow, Memoir Of A Snail starring Sarah Snook, and The Wild Robot.
Notably absent from the nominations are Nicole Kidman for Babygirl and Daniel Craig for Queer.
March ceremony and British coverage
The 97th Academy Awards will take place on 2 March at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, hosted by Conan O’Brien. In the UK, ITV’s Oscars companion show will return, hosted by Jonathan Ross with celebrity guests and film experts analysing the night’s proceedings.
This year’s Oscars promise to be a celebration of cinematic excellence, with Conclave, Wicked, and Emilia Perez leading a star-studded field of contenders.
