Chiwetel Ejiofor

Chiwetel Ejiofor

The Oscar nominations were announced earlier this week, and there are a whole host of British stars in the mix.

The four major acting categories all contain British acting talent, while there are also directors and films up for major gongs.

We take a look at the British stars that will be battling it out on the first weekend of March.

- Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years A Slave)

Chiwetel Ejiofor has seen his star rocket in recent months as he takes on the leading role in 12 Years A Slave. The movie is based on the memoir by Solomon Northup: whom Ejiofor plays in the film.

Ejiofor has been picking up Best Actor nominations and gongs throughout the awards season, as he delivers the performance of his career in the Steve McQueen directed film.

12 Years A Slave marks the first time that Ejiofor has worked with McQueen and together they have creating a powerful and moving performance.

Ejiofor is currently the bookies favourite to win the Best Actor gong - this is the role that really is going to take his career in a completely new direction.

  • - Christian Bale (American Hustle)

Christian Bale already has a Best Supporting Actor under his belt, and now he is in the Best Actor hunt for American Hustle.

American Hustle sees Bale reunite with director David O. Russell - the filmmaker he worked with for his Oscar winning turn in The Fighter.

And it seems that Bale and O.Russell have a great working relationship, as the actor has delivered another terrific and funny performance.

American Hustle leads the Oscar nominations - Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, and Jennifer Lawrence all picked up nods for their performances.

It is great to see Bale being recognised for his work, but it is unlikely he will triumph this time around.

- Judi Dench (Philomena)

Judi Dench has never won a Best Actress Oscar; she does have a Best Supporting Actress gong under her belt.

She returned to the big screen in the autumn with the fantastic Philomena - which is based on the real life story of Philomena Lee.

Dench took on the title role in the film, which followed Philomena's life-long search for the child that she was forced to give up for adoption as a young girl.

Dench is on top dramatic and comic form in this role, as she will have you both laughing and crying.

She has really got under the skin of this woman; she carries guilt about having to let her son got, and yet she is someone who does looks upon the world with forgiveness and hope.

While I would love to see Dench win absolutely every award going, she is likely to miss out to Cate Blanchett.

- Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine)

Sally Hawkins grabbed everyone's attention a few years ago with Happy Go Lucky - for which she won a Golden Globe - and since she has built on that with a varied range of roles.

She teamed up with Cate Blanchett last year in Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine, in which she gave a tremendous performance.

Hawkins has now picked up her first Oscar nomination as she is in the mix for Best Supporting Actress - in what is a wide up and competitive category.

She may have been alongside the scene stealing Blanchett in the film, but she really did deliver a terrific performance. Hawkins and Blanchett actually made quite a formidable acting team.

Jennifer Lawrence, Julia Roberts, June Squibb and Lupita Nyong'o have all been nominated with Hawkins.

- Michael Fassbender (12 Years A Slave)

Now, I know that Michael Fassbender is Irish, but he gives such a terrific performance we are thrilled to see him recognised.

Fassbender should have been in the Best Actor mix a couple of years ago for Shame, but was overlooked.

However, he has picked up his first nomination for his terrifying performance in 12 Years A Slave - seriously, it is the best turn of his career so fan.

He takes on the role of plantation owner Epps, who believes he has the right to abuse his slaves. Epps really is a monster and Fassbender is just chilling to the bone.

The Best Supporting Actor category is an interesting one as Jared Leto, Jonah Hill, Barkhad Abdi, and Bradley Cooper are all in the mix.

However, it is looking like a two-way fight between Fassbender and Leto.

- Steve McQueen (12 Years A Slave)

Steve McQueen is a director who is not afraid to tackle taboo and risqué subject matter - Hunger and Shame were his first two movies.

12 Years A Slave sees him back in the director's chair and the movie is a total triumph.

McQueen doesn't deliver a glamourized or Hollywood version of slavery; instead, hit is powerful, hard-hitting and really will leave you with lots to think about when the credits roll.

This marks the first Oscar nomination for McQueen, and he is with a real chance of winning.

David O. Russell, Alfonso Cuaron, Alexander Payne and Martin Scorsese are all also in the running. Could be a battle between McQueen and Cuaron for Gravity.

- Steve Coogan & Jeff Pope (Philomena)

Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope came together for the first time to pen the wonderful screenplay for Philomena.

The duo's work has been recognised with a Best Adapted Screenplay - the movie is based on the book by Martin Sixsmith.

While Philomena does tackle some emotional subjects, Coogan and Pope have found the perfect balance between the drama as well as humour.

The Best Adapted Screenplay category also contains the writers of Before Midnight, Captain Phillips, 12 Years A Slave and The Wolf of Wall Street.

Philomena is also in the mix for Best Picture, while Gravity, which was shot in the UK, picked up ten nominations.

It is a shame not to see Paul Greengrass in the Best Director mix, as he really deserved some recognition for Captain Phillips.

The Oscar winners are announced 2nd March.


by for www.femalefirst.co.uk
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