2015 Oscar Nominees React: Emma Stone Is "F--king Excited," Eddie Redmayne "Feeling Pretty Good" and More!

Plus, Julianne Moore, J.K. Simmons, John Legend and more express gratitude and thanks to the Academy

By Rebecca Macatee Jan 15, 2015 3:36 PMTags
Eddie Redmayne, Theory Of EverythingFocus Features

It's an honor just to be nominated!

Alfonso Cuarón, J.J. Abrams, Chris Pine and Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Cheryl Boone Isaacs announced the the 2015 Oscar nominees bright and early Thursday morning, and unsurprisingly, the stars whose names were called out were quite happy about it!

Eddie Redmayne, whose portrayal of Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything earned him a nod for best actor, told Sky News he was "feeling pretty good" after waking up to the good news. "It's an amazing, amazing thing," he said. "It's the crack of dawn here in Los Angeles...Suddenly there was a rap on the door, and I stumbled to the door and it was my manager there with a team of people on the phone screaming, which was very exciting, but I'm just trying to come to terms with it all...It's extraordinary!"

He later released a statement, saying: "I'm so incredibly honored to be recognized by the Academy, and even more thrilled to share this honor with the entire family of filmmakers, cast, and crew of 'The Theory of Everything..' This role was a once in a lifetime experience. Congratulations to my fellow nominees, thank you to the Academy, and thank you most of all to Stephen and Jane Hawking."

Universal Pictures

Eddie's Theory of Everything co-star Felicty Jones received a best actress nod for her role in the film. "I'm overwhelmed at this incredible news," she said in a statement. "This is a huge, huge honor. My deepest gratitude to the members of the Academy. I'll look forward to celebrating this with everyone involved in THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING. Thank you so much."

The Weinstein Company

Benedict Cumberbatch, a best actor nominee for his role in The Imitation Game, said in a statement: "I am knocked for six by this. So excited and honoured to receive this recognition. It's wonderful to be included by the academy in this exceptional year of performances. To ring my parents who are both actors and tell them that their only son has been nominated for an Oscar is one of the proudest moments of my life."

Bradley Cooper, whose performance in American Sniper earned him a best actor nod, said: "This is a tribute to Chris Kyle, his family and all of the service men and women who sacrifice their lives for their countries and their families. It is a privilege and an honor to play Chris and I share this with Sienna, Clint, Jason Hall, the rest of SEAL Team 3 and everyone involved with the film."

Killer Films

Julianne Moore, a best actress nominee for her role in Still Alice, said in a statement: "I am over the moon-actually I am on a plane, flying over the United States. My old friend Bruce Cohen was the first to reach me to tell me the news.   I can't believe that I have gone from doing plays in the 8th grade with Bruce Cohen, to him texting me 100 years later to tell me about an Oscar nomination.  I feel so lucky and proud to be in the company of the other talented actors who were nominated today.  My heart is beating so fast!"

She also took to Twitter to express her appreciation for all the well wishes.

Reese Witherspoon, who received a best actress nod for her role in Wild, tweeted her congrats to co-star Laura Dern, who received a best support actress nod...

Laura also issued a statement: "I feel so grateful to the Academy for this gorgeous honor. It means so much to celebrate the life and the wisdom of Cheryl Strayed's amazing mother, Bobbi. Reese, who worked so diligently to protect this story, and I share this with our amazing producers, as well as Jean-Marc Vallée and Nick Hornby, who gave their art to shape 'Wild.'"

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Another nominee, Emma Stone, received a best supporting actress nod for her role in Birdman.  "Well, this is surreal. I am completely knocked out," she said in a statement. "Thank you to the Academy for this incredible honor. I am very proud and lucky to be a part of Birdman and can't believe it came to this. I am so f--king excited. Are you allowed to say f--k when you're making a statement for the Oscars? I'm just really f--king excited."

Birdman star Michael Keaton, nominated for best actor, said in a statement: "Humbled, thankful and more than anything, grateful.  So, so happy that Alejandro and the cast and crew are getting recognized. I am proud to be a part of such a bold, gutsy and daring experiment that is Birdman. Now, if you'll excuse me, I am going to try as best I can and see if I can wipe this smile off my face. Wish me luck."

John Lesher, one of the film's producers, said in a statement: "Thank you Academy for recognizing BIRDMAN. 9 nominations is a huge feather in our cap. I am particularly proud of my friend Alejandro for his fearlessness and creativity and to our entire cast and crew for their unparalleled precision and excellence. Congratulations as well to our fellow nominees."

Fellow Birdman producer James Skotchdopole said: "Today's nine Oscar nominations for the singularly original BIRDMAN sends a clear message to the filmmakers around the world: 'taking risks while on a creative tightrope (without a net!) can have an incredible outcome!' Thanks to members of the academy for recognizing our unique film!"

Scott Garfield/Fair Hill

Foxcatcher star Steve Carell tweeted about his best actor nomination.

Mark Ruffallo, who earned a best supporting actor nod for his role in Foxcatcher, tweeted his reaction, too.

Sony Pictures Classics

Also excited? Those who worked on Whiplash—which was nominated for best film, best supporting actor (J.K. Simmons), best adapted screenplay, film editing and sound mixing!

"Wow. This is pretty darned cool," J.K. said in a statement. "A guy doesn't think about things like this when he starts doing summer theatre in Bigfork, Montana in the 70's. (In fact, I didn't think about this when we shot 'Whiplash,' but here we are).

"I'm ecstatic that our little movie is nominated for best picture, and equally thrilled that Damien, The Boy Wonder, is being recognized for his work.  Richly deserved.  I'd also like to congratulate the Academy on their very wise choices of nominating Tom Cross, our editor, and Craig Mann, Ben Wilkins and Thomas Curley our sound mixers. Huge congrats to Damien, and producers Helen Estabrook, David Lancaster and Couper Samuelson on our best picture nod.
I'm humbled, and very grateful to the members of the Academy for this honor."

Miles Teller was pretty thrilled for the film and his co-star, too.

And Whiplash producer Jason Blum said in a statement, "I never thought Paranormal Activity would one day lead to an Oscar nomination."

Paramount Pictures

As for Selma? Many felt its stars were snubbed in the acting categories, but it did receive a nod for best picture. Director Ava DuVernay reacted on Twitter.

Also, "Glory," written for the Selma by John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn and performed by John Legend and Common, was nominated for best original song. Both artists expressed their gratitude for the nod on social media.

Big Hero 6 was nominated for best animated feature, and director Don Hall released a statement on behalf of himself, director Chris Williams and Producer Roy Conli: "As kids growing up in Canada and Iowa, Chris and I both dreamt of becoming Disney animators.  Never could we have imagined that, one day, we would get to make a film like Big Hero 6, and that one day, the film and all of the talented artists who made it would be recognized by the Academy. Roy, Chris and I are deeply honored by the nomination and thank everyone at Disney Animation who made this possible."

Oscars host Neil Patrick Harris probably had the cutest reaction of all to the nomination news (even if he did lose $20 to a toddler)...

Keep checking back for more Oscar nominees' reactions throughout the day!