Regina King seems to be in utter shock after the actress was nominated for the first time for an Academy Award thanks to her role in Oscar-nominated film If Beale Street Could Talk.
“Wow, wow, wow,” she said in a statement.
“The word I keep coming back to is proud,” King continued. “Proud of our cast and crew with all the work we put into this amazing, yet still timely story. I’m grateful to Barry Jenkins for creating this beautiful role out of the great James Baldwin’s words. Collaborating with Barry has been a highlight of my career and this recognition is icing on the cake! And thank you to The Academy!”
Barry Jenkins sent his love to King for her work in his film.
“I’m always overseas when noms come out and I don’t watch. Instead my publicist slips notes under my door and I find them when I return,” he explained in a tweet.
He added: “MUCH love from the [If Beale Street Could Talk] family to QUEEN [Regina King] and my right-hand [Nicholas Britell] on their Oscar Noms!!!”
The film overall received three nominations: Best Supporting Actress (King), Best Adapted Screenplay (Jenkins) and Best Original Score (Nicholas Britell).
The movie is an adaption of the iconic James Baldwin’s novel, and tells the gut-wrenching love story of a newly engaged and pregnant Harlem woman, who tries aimlessly to prove her love’s innocence.
The 91st annual Academy Awards will be held on February 24.