Just two years after the Academy selected an all-white group of acting nominees, launching the #OscarsSoWhite boycott and pledge for diversity in the industry, #BlackExcellence has prevailed in the 2018 nominees.
Mary J. Blige, Jordan Peele, and Kobe Bryant were all first-time nominees for this year’s award ceremony, joining the likes of Denzel Washington, Common and Octavia Spencer, who made history with her two “The Shape of Water” nominations.
Not only did the film lead the pack with 13 nominations, but it also scored Octavia Spencer two nominations, etching her name in the Academy Awards history books.
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According to Entertainment Weekly, Spencer has just become the only black actress to follow up an Oscar victory with two nominations. While already holding the record for the first black woman to receive a post-win nomination for her Supporting Actress role in ‘Hidden Figures” after winning in 2012 for her role in ‘The Help,’ Spencer is the only black woman to receive two consecutive nominations back-to-back. In addition, she has also become the most nominated black actress in the Awards’ history, tying for first place with Viola Davis.
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Spencer wasn’t the only woman to make history in this year’s Oscar nominations though. Rachel Morrison has become the first female nominated for best cinematography for ‘Mudbound,’ which also scored Blige two nominations.
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Congratulations to #OctaviaSpencer and #RachelMorrison! #BlackGirlMagic
