The race is on!
On Tuesday, Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs was joined by a number of Oscar winners and nominees including Jennifer Hudson to announce this year’s nominees.
The 2017 awards ceremony will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, taking over for Chris Rock, who hosted the ceremony last year amid the #OscarsSoWhite backlash. And, it seems Hollywood has finally taken steps in correcting its lack of diversity as the nominees for many of the major categories include actors of color.
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It comes as no surprise after her stellar performance in Fences that Viola Davis received a Best Supporting Actress nod for her role as Rose Maxson, the under appreciated hardworking mother and wife who delivers one hell of a monologue in the film. Davis has been nominated for two Oscars, but has yet to take one home. This could be the year. Davis’ costar Denzel Washington also landed a much-deserved nomination for Best Lead Actor with the film grabbing a nod for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture.
Moonlight, arguably the best film of the year, earned nominations for Best Picture, Best Editing, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, Best Film, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor for Mahershala Ali’s amazing performance.
I Am Not Your Negro, Ava DuVernay’s 13th, and O.J.: Made In America landed nominations for Best Documentary Feature, while Naomie Harris and Octavia Spencer earned nominations for their roles in Moonlight and Hidden Figures, respectively. And, Ruth Negga earned a Best Lead Actress nomination for Loving.
The Academy Awards air Feb. 26 at 7p.m. on ABC.