Oscars 2021
These stars make history with their nominations
Viola Davis won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2017 for her role in Fences.
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The nominations for this year's Oscars have been known since Monday morning (March 15th). Some of them are truly steeped in history.
On Monday morning (March 15th) Nick Jonas (28) and Priyanka Chopra Jonas (38, "Quantico") announced the nominations for this year's Academy Awards on behalf of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The committee wrote history several times with its selection.
Most nominated African American: Viola Davis
Above all with that of Viola Davis ("The Help"). Thanks to her role in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" by director George C. Wolfe (66), the 55-year-old can win the golden boy in the category "Best Leading Actress" in 2021, thus booking her fourth Oscar nomination. No other African American actress received more before her. She is also the only African American woman who has twice had the chance to win an Oscar in the main female category.
In previous years, Davis was nominated for "Faith Question" (2009) and "The Help" (2011), among others. Four years ago she won her first Oscar for her performance alongside Denzel Washington (66) in "Fences" – as "Best Actress".
Oldest Leading Actor Nominee: Anthony Hopkins
Thanks to his role in "The Father" by filmmaker Florian Zeller (41), veteran Anthony Hopkins ("Rendezvous with Joe Black") also has the chance of an Academy Award this year. At 83, the actor is the oldest ever nominee for "Best Actor". His colleague Richard Farnsworth (1920-2000) previously held this record. In 2000, at the age of 79, he entered the race for his portrayal in "A true story – The Straight Story" – but Kevin Spacey (61) and his performance in "American Beauty" had to admit defeat.
For Anthony Hopkins it is the sixth Oscar nomination. His last was just a year ago. In 2020 he lost to Brad Pitt (57, "Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood") in the "Best Supporting Actor" category with "The Two Popes". Hopkins received his only golden boy to date in 1992. The Briton won the leading actor's Oscar 29 years ago for "The Silence of the Lambs".
The first Muslim lead actor nominee: Riz Ahmed
Riz Ahmed (38) takes it on thanks to his performance in "Sound of Metal" by director Darius Marder (46) in the category "Best Actor" with Sir Anthony Hopkins. The actor and musician is also making history – as the first Muslim nominee in the main male category. For the Brit with Pakistani roots it is the first ever Oscar nomination.
In 2017 Mahershala Ali (47) became the first Muslim to win an Academy Award. With "Moonlight" he convinced as "Best Supporting Actor". In 2019 the American won again with his supporting role in "Green Book – A special friendship".
First Asian American Lead Actor Nominee: Steven Yeun
Like Riz Ahmed, Seoul-born Steven Yeun (37) is nominated for an Oscar for the first time – and in the same category. His appearance in "Minari" by filmmaker Lee Isaac Chung (42) inspired the Academy and made the American with South Korean roots the first Asian-American actor to have the chance of winning the golden boy as "Best Actor".
Yeun can celebrate another premiere together with Ahmed. The two stars are the first actors of Asian origin to compete against each other in a category in the same year.
The first "Woman of Color" as a nominee for a director: Chloé Zhao
Filmmaker Chloé Zhao (38) from Beijing concludes the historic nominations. Thanks to her film "Nomadland", the Chinese is the first "Woman of Color" to win for "Best Director". Next to her is the British Emerald Fennell (35) with her work on "Promising Young Woman" in the race. It is the first time in the 93-year history of the Oscars that two women have been nominated in the directing category.
Chloé Zhao has already entered the history books this year by winning another important film award. She was the first woman of Asian descent to receive the director's award at the 78th Golden Globes.