British stars thrilled at Oscar nominations
March 11, 2002

Britain's Oscar hopefuls pride at being nominated for the prestigious awards was revealed at a star-studded party in Los Angeles.

Sir Ben Kingsley, Kate Winslet, Jim Broadbent, Tom Wilkinson and Helen Mirren talked about their nominations as they arrived for a special lunch.

Mirren denied she is the Oscar favourite after winning the best supporting actress SAG award for her performance as housekeeper Mrs Wilson in Gosford Park.

She said: "I'm just a tiny blip on that particular radar screen. Personally I don't think I have got a chance in hell."

"It's beyond your wildest dreams," Wilkinson said of being Oscar-nominated for the first time. "But you mean it to happen, you don't play to lose. I'm delighted with the progress so far."

The Full Monty star is nominated for best actor for his role as a father whose only son is murdered in the drama, In The Bedroom.

Broadbent says his nomination in the best supporting actor category for his role as Iris Murdoch's husband John Bayley in the movie Iris is "unbelievable."

The 52-year-old said: "I don't yet know what it means to be nominated. It was a great shock. I'm just getting used to the idea."

Sir Ben added that he was "delighted" with his nomination especially coming so soon after he discovered he was being made a knight.

Winslet is shortlisted for best supporting actress for Iris. It is the third time she's been nominated for an Oscar and she said: "The nominations always mean a tremendous amount to me. To be nominated with these incredible women this year is amazing."

Source: Ananova