Actress Priyanka Chopra and husband/singer Nick Jonas announced the nominees for the 93rd Academy Awards on Sunday, via a global livestream. The couple unveiled nominees in all 23 categories in a two-part live presentation streamed online. This year's Oscar happens to be the most diverse and inclusive yet. There are more than one female nominations, and 20 acting nominees from ethnic minority backgrounds. British performers also have made their way into the prestigious selection.
Asian influence in the Best Actor Race
Briton Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal) became the first Muslim, and person of Pakistani descent to ever be nominated in the Oscars while Steven Yeun (Minari) became the first Asian-American to find a place in the Academy race. Both of them have found critical acclaim for their respective roles.
In 'Sound of Metal', Ahmed plays the role of a drummer who loses his hearing. Yeun's performance as a Korean immigrant father who moves his family to the Ozarks, has struck a chord with several hearts.
'The White Tiger' makes it to the list
Bollywood actors Rajkummar Rao, Gourav Adarsh, and Priyanka Chopra are on Cloud 9 as their film 'The White Tiger' was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Adapted Screenplay category. Based on Aravind Adiga's Booker Prize-winning novel by the same name, the film was written and directed by Ramin Bahrani.
The movie, which was released on Netflix earlier this year, features Priyanka and Rajkummar in supporting roles as Adarsh plays the lead. It follows the story of a downtrodden driver who makes certain difficult choices to climb up the ladder of life.
Brits and women champion nominations
Britain's Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman) made history as the first British woman ever nominated in the Best Director category. She is also only the third woman ever to receive nominations in direction, production, and writing. Other British nominees include Sacha Baron Cohen (The Trial of the Chicago 7), Daniel Kaluuya (Judas and the Black Messiah), Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman), Olivia Colman (The Father), Gary Oldman (Mank), Vanessa Kirby (Pieces of a Woman), and Sir Anthony Hopkins (The Father).
