Ariana Grande, Sebastian Stan & More First-Time Nominees

Karla Sofía Gascón

Best Actress (Emilia Pérez)

“I was in a room at the airport in Brazil waiting for the nominations. It was completely crazy, I didn’t sleep all night. What an illusion, what an honor, what love. I feel fulfilled. It is the culmination of nine months of promotion and two years of work on a historic work in acting and cinematography. I am immensely happy. It is an honor for me that the Film Academy and its members have nominated me as best actress.

“It is something cinematographically historic because playing two characters in a film, so different and equal at the same time, was quite a challenge.

“I would also like to send a message of hope to all those people who suffer hatred: They will never be able to take away our pride in our existence, they will never bring me down, I will continue to fight for a more just humanity. Now it is time to focus on my performance and put aside my ethnicity, sexuality or hair color, to move forward in ‘integration.’

“This record of 13 nominations for Emilia Pérez is proof that good always triumphs over evil — we are on the right side of history. Thank you to all of you who walk with us for a more just world full of peace and respect. Today it is proven that art does not understand hate — no one can question my work and even less that I am an actress. An actress who deserves to be recognized solely and exclusively for her sublime performance in Emilia Pérez.”

Demi Moore

Best Actress (The Substance)

“I’m still floating a little bit, I’m just so thrilled, honored. … It’s very humbling, and so exciting on so many levels, because it feels like this is not just for me, but for everything that the film represents. I look back to May, when we started in Cannes, and it has just been such an incredible journey. And an unexpected one.” 

Yura Borisov

Best Supporting Actor (Anora)

“It’s an unreal and surreal moment. I’m just trying to feel this is real. … My life is I create characters and meet some very interesting people. This is a very special project — it’s my first time working in America. … I want to create cheers from the screen, and I want to create a person that’s bigger than me.”

Monica Barbaro

Best Supporting Actress (A Complete Unknown)

“It’s impossible to wrap my head around it yet. I don’t mean this to sound insincere, but I really just wake up feeling so excited that I’ve gotten to be a working actor and that I continue to work. That blows my mind on a regular basis, so this is completely beyond. It’s incomprehensible and beautiful and amazing. I think that’s a big part of this for me, is always just like, ‘How do I keep getting to do the thing I love?’ What this represents is a beautiful part of that and just goes beyond anything I’ve ever experienced in this industry before. I’m so excited for everyone else, too. Just immediately seeing everyone’s names roll out. I mean, Jim Mangold, Ed Norton, Timmy [Chalamet]. And Elle Fanning and Boyd Holbrook and what they brought to this film. I’m so happy to have gotten to work with any of them at all and to have made this movie that I’m so proud of. [The recognition] is like the utmost validation of all the hard work that everyone’s put into this movie. [Costume designer] Arianne Phillips is brilliant. It’s just kind of mind-blowing.”

Mikey Madison

Best Actress (Anora)

“It’s such a special film to me, and it changed my life. I never thought this would be a reality, and I’m really trying to soak it in and be present. I’m inspired by these [veteran] women and their incredible intelligence and talent. … I’m Gen Z, and I’m very proud to be Gen Z — and there’s so much talent [among our generation] now, too.”

Ariana Grande

Best Supporting Actress (Wicked)

“Getting to play Glinda was the greatest gift of my life. So just to be recognized in this way for that is an unfathomable honor. I’m so deeply moved and grateful, and it is far beyond comprehension.” 

Sebastian Stan

Best Actor (The Apprentice)

“I’m speechless. I’m humbled. I guess this is what they mean by the American dream. I’m so grateful to everyone who made the impossible possible. Thank you for this brave recognition.”

Zoe Saldaña

Best Supporting Actress (Emilia Pérez)

“I don’t think I can properly express the deep levels of gratitude and joy I feel for the recognition Emilia Pérez has been given. Being part of the beautiful family [writer-director Jacques Audiard] created was a dream, and every person involved poured their love into telling this powerful story. I’m especially grateful to Karla, whose bravery and talent brought so much depth and authenticity to Emilia. It’s a bittersweet moment as our community in L.A. is processing the heartbreaking losses from the ongoing fires — homes, schools, businesses and entire neighborhoods. My heart is with all those affected, and I’m sending endless love and appreciation to our fearless first responders and everyone working to help rebuild our city.”

This story appeared in the Jan. 29 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.