Actress Andrea Riseborough is allowed to keep her Oscar nomination after the film academy’s decision. The association in Los Angeles announced that the nomination of the Briton as “Best Actress” for the film “To Leslie” will not be withdrawn. Riseborough was unexpectedly nominated for her role in the little-known drama last week after a massive social media campaign.
The incident did not reach “a level” for the nomination to be revoked, Bill Kramer, executive director of the Oscar Academy, wrote in a statement. However, certain advertising tactics have raised “concerns”. The aim of the Academy is a “fair and ethical” pricing process based on the merits of the filmmakers. The guidelines would have to be further revised.
The 41-year-old Briton is in the running for the title along with Cate Blanchett (“Tár”), Michelle Yeoh (“Everything, Everywhere All at Once”), Ana de Armas (“Blonde”) and Michelle Williams (“The Fabelmans”) Lead Actress Oscar.
Unusual campaign met with criticism
Her complex role as an alcoholic single mother in “To Leslie” had received critical acclaim, but director Michael Morris’ small independent drama had few viewers and few Academy members noticed. That only changed when prominent colleagues, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Amy Adams, Kate Winslet, Susan Sarandon and Edward Norton, campaigned for Riseborough on social media or at events. The unusual grassroots movement drew criticism from some and was seen as a possible violation of the Academy’s lobbying guidelines.
The 95th Academy Awards in Hollywood is scheduled for March 12th. The science fiction comedy “Everything Everywhere All at Once” is a favorite with eleven nominations. The German anti-war drama “Nothing New in the West” is in the running with a sensational nine nominations.
