Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie: Celebrate together Oscar nominations double

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie: Celebrate together Oscar nominations double

The much-popular actor of Bollywood Brad Pitt and partner Angelina Jolie have told of their delight after landing best actor and best actress Oscar nominations today.

45-year old Brad Pitt earned his second Academy Award nomination for his role as a man who ages in reverse in David Fincher's 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button', which landed 13 nods.

Angelina Jolie, an Oscar-winner for 1999's Girl Interrupted, was put forward for her portrayal of an anguished mother trying to track down her son in Clint Eastwood's 'Changeling'.

The nominations capped an eventful year for Pitt and Jolie, who in July added twins to their brood of children.

Brad Pitt said: "The Oscars are the highest honour. For the film to be seen this way is a really nice thing for us.

"I'm especially happy for David Fincher who's been working nine days a week shaping this for five years."

Jolie meanwhile said her nomination was the icing on the cake after her experience of working with Eastwood.

"Working with Clint Eastwood was a reward in itself that will last me a lifetime," she told entertainment news show Extra.

"To receive a nomination from the Academy on top of that is a privilege beyond any expectation."
Meanwhile, Benjamin Button director Fincher - whose previous credits include Seven and Fight Club - was struggling to come to terms with his film's slew of nominations.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

"It's incredibly flattering," he said in Paris. "But it also feels odd. It's like picking the best fruit, the best grape, the best nectarine or apricot."

The biggest threat to Fincher's film when the awards are handed out on February 22 is likely to be feel-good movie Slumdog Millionaire, which picked up 10 nominations, including best picture and best director.

"It's an unbelievable result to have 10 nominations for the film, which is incredible," director Danny Boyle told a news conference ahead of the Indian premiere of the film in Mumbai.

British actress Kate Winslet greeted her sixth career Oscar nomination, a best actress nod for The Reader with words of thanks to director Stephen Daldry and screenwriter David Hare, who also earned nominations.

"These nominations are a testament to their unwavering commitment to this film," said Winslet, who also paid tribute to producers Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack, who died before the film was completed.

"Surely Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack are smiling down on us today," she said.

Spanish starlet Penelope Cruz, nominated as best supporting actress for Woody Allen's Vicky Christina Barcelona, told Variety magazine she had received the news in the early hours with friend Salma Hayek.

"I just flew in to LA last night and was with Salma Hayek and we watched together," she said. "Afterward, I fell back asleep for an hour.

Changeling

"It's great to start getting phone calls and people are so happy for you," said Cruz, a nominee two years ago for her role in Volver.

Anne Hathaway, who said she was was unable to sleep ahead of the nominations, was named in the best actress category for Rachel Getting Married.

"(I) decided to spend the night at my parents' apartment and had anxiety dreams all night, getting up every hour," she told Variety. "At 8:30 we were all sitting on the couch. I think my parents cheered louder than anyone."