2021 Oscars nominations: Riz Ahmed, Chloe Zhao, Viola Davis and more react

Some of the biggest names in film are waking up Monday to find out they've been nominated for an Academy Award.

Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra Jonas delivered the nominations for the 93rd Academy Awards from London, giving film lovers something to discuss until the Oscars take place on Sunday, April 25.

"Mank" led the pack with 10 nominations while a slew of films garnered six, including "The Father," "Judas and the Black Messiah," "Minari," "Nomadland," "Sound of Metal" and "The Trial of the Chicago 7."

Below are reactions from some of this year's nominees:

Daniel Kaluuya

Daniel Kaluuya, who was nominated for best supporting actor for "Judas and the Black Messiah," was one of the first to react, saying in a statement he was "humbled" to have been nominated for playing Fred Hampton.

"Chairman Fred Hampton was a light, a beacon of a being who would illuminate all he touched with his incredible message," he said. "With the ability to command any stage and robbed of his opportunity to captivate a global audience. He created strategies that supported and uplifted the black community but also unified other communities with his laugh, his mind, his passion and his love."

He continued, "Today, I am humbled to be nominated for portraying a man whose principles I deeply respect and for guiding me to walk in his footsteps. With the blessing of Chairman Fred Hampton's family, and the unwavering support from Ryan Coogler, Shaka King and Charles King, and the cast led by LaKeith Stanfield and Dominique Fishback, I became a vessel for Chairman Fred's spirit at a time when we need his rally cry for equality and justice more than ever. I commend my fellow nominees for their impressive work. To be seen and celebrated by my peers in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences is beautifully humbling and I am deeply grateful. Thank you."

This is Kaluuya's second nomination, having first been nominated for "Get Out" in 2018.

Leslie Odom Jr.

"Good Morning America" was on the phone with first-time nominee Leslie Odom Jr. soon after he was nominated for best supporting actor for "One Night in Miami." When asked how he was doing this morning, he said he was "feeling just amazing." He added, "They can wake me up like this anytime."

"I left the Broadway stage four or five years ago and I started this journey in film," he went on. "I wanted to learn how to be on camera, I wanted to learn if I could be useful in this medium, and thanks to [director] Regina King and [screenwriter] Kemp Powers and this film, I really do feel like I'm on my way. It feels like a good beginning."

In a formal statement, Odom Jr. later said: "I am deeply honored to be a member of the new class of nominees. I am very grateful to the Academy. I am very grateful to Regina King. We will be associated with these projects, in this year, in relation to one another, for a really long time to come. There were so many who were deserving. I am humbled beyond words to have my work as a performer in 'One Night in Miami' and a co-writer of the film’s original song 'Speak Now,' included in the number."

Youn Yuh-jung

Youn Yuh-jung, who was nominated for best supporting actress for "Minari," said she is "humbled by the honor."

"Never in my dreams did I ever think a Korean actress would be nominated for an Oscar, and I can't believe it's me! I am incredibly humbled by the honor," the actress -- a first-time nominee -- said in a statement. "Thank you so much AMPAS, A24, Plan B, my Minari family and our entire cast and crew. We made this film with love, and I thank you for loving us back. And thank you, Isaac. This is all because of you!"

Viola Davis

"Absolutely thrilled!! Congratulations to the whole @MaRaineyFilm team! Deserved!" Viola Davis, who is now the most-nominated Black actress at the Oscars, wrote on Instagram after the nominations were announced.

Thomas Vinterberg

First-time nominee Thomas Vinterberg, who was recognized for directing "Another Round" (which was also nominated in the international feature film category for Denmark) reacted to the "wonderful news" in a statement.

"This is wonderful news. Thank you very much to the Academy, and congratulations to my fellow nominees. I'm honored to be in your company," he said. "I've made some films over the years, but none of them have meant so much to me as this one. During a long journey like this, it matters most to be surrounded by great collaborators who are also great friends. My actors, Mads, my co-writer Tobias, Sturla my DOP, my producers from Zentropa and the amazing behind the scenes talent were all on this journey with me and gave all they had. Thank you from Denmark."

Mads Mikkelsen, the star of "Another Round," added, "It is truly overwhelming to be elected among such strong and deserving colleagues. Our journey could not dream of a finer or more honorable peak. Thank you so much, Academy."

Riz Ahmed

Riz Ahmed, who was nominated for best actor for "Sound of Metal," thanked the Academy and everyone who starred in the critically acclaimed film, which earned him his first nomination.

"Wow! I'm honored to be nominated by my fellow actors alongside such inspiring performances, and am grateful to the Academy for their support and encouragement," he began. "I'm equally thrilled for our visionary writer-director Darius Marder and the brilliant Paul Raci, as well as our editor Mikkel, sound designer Nicolas, and co-writer Abe Marder. These nominations represents the time, generosity and talents of so many -- all of our incredible cast, crew, producers, and in particular I'd like to thank my mentors in the drumming, addiction recovery, and D/deaf communities."

"Sound of Metal is about how a health crisis can cut you off from your life and loved ones, and force you to grow in unexpected ways," Ahmed continued. "In a challenging year for so many, I hope this story can inspire us to forge new and deeper connections with ourselves and others."

Chloe Zhao

Chloé Zhao, who made history as the first female director of Asian descent to be nominated for best director, said in a statement she was "so thrilled" to be recognized and said "Nomadland" is a film that is "very close" to her heart.

"I'm so thrilled for our nominations! Thank you to the Academy," Zhao said. "I'm grateful to have gone on this journey with our talented team of filmmakers and to have met so many wonderful people who generously shared their stories with us. Thank you so much to my academy peers for recognizing this film that is very close to my heart."

Zhao is also nominated for best adapted screenplay, best film editing and -- as a producer on "Nomadland" -- best picture.

Amanda Seyfried

Amanda Seyfried, who was nominated for best supporting actress for "Mank," said being honored "feels surreal."

"Working with David Fincher on Mank has been the highlight of my career, and being recognized by the Academy for an experience that brought me this much joy and fulfillment feels surreal," the first-time nominee said in a statement. "I won't be able to thank David enough for trusting me with this role and for the honor of reintroducing the world to the Marion Davies that I've come to know. To get to study this brilliant, humble woman and help restore her legacy has been a true privilege. Congratulations to David, Gary, and the whole cast and crew of Mank today -- your brilliance has not gone unnoticed and I am humbled to share this recognition with you."

Maria Bakalova

First-time nominee Maria Bakalova, who was nominated for best supporting actress for "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm," released a statement in both English and her native Bulgarian.

"Wow Wa We Waa! Thank you to the Academy for this honor!" she began. "I really can't believe this - to hear my name in the company of these remarkable women and their breath-taking performances is a dream come true! I am so grateful to Sacha Baron Cohen and my Borat family and congratulations to them for their Adapted Screen play nomination."

Carey Mulligan

Carey Mulligan, who was nominated for best actress for "Promising Young Woman," said she is "absolutely elated."

"I'm absolutely elated this morning, and I am so honored to be in such esteemed company across all categories," the actress said in a statement. "Thank you to the Academy for embracing this story which means so much to me. It's all thanks to my dear friend - the fearless, hilarious, bold writer and director Emerald Fennell and the incredible cast and crew she assembled. We all signed on because we believed wholeheartedly in her vision, and I'm so grateful to her for inviting me to be a part of it.

This is Mulligan's second nomination, having first been nominated for "An Education" in 2010.

Gary Oldman

Gary Oldman, who was nominated for best actor for "Mank," reacted by saying it was a "great pride and an honor to be recognized alongside these other tremendous, wonderful artists."

"After such a stressed pandemic year, there is a kind of comfort and reassurance in knowing that we soldier on in many ways with important traditions," he said. "In our industry there is nothing more traditional than the Academy Awards, which hopefully sends a sign of hope that we will get out of this. The Oscars are such a sign that normalcy still exists. In my case today marks my third Academy Award Nomination. Not to trivialize the current state of the world, it is a source of great pride and an honor to be recognized alongside these other tremendous, wonderful artists."

This is Oldman's third nomination. He won an Oscar in 2018 for "Darkest Hour."

Paul Raci

First-time nominee Paul Raci said being recognized by the Academy is "so gratifying on a level that I can only describe as heavenly."

He said in a statement: "Thank you to the Academy for this honor. During my 40-something-year acting career, I have always been about the work. I've continued to work in small theater houses, like Deaf West Theatre, doing what I was trained to do from my Chicago Theater years, but to be validated in this way is gratifying on a level that I can only describe as heavenly. I'm so grateful to Darius Marder for directing and writing a script and a character seemingly for me without even knowing me that changed my life, and to Amazon for the love and support they have provided me. My heart is full, and as always, I look forward to the work and am grateful for the stillness."

Lee Isaac Chung

Lee Isaac Chung became a two-time Oscar nominee within minutes, scoring nominations for best original screenplay and best director for "Minari." In a statement, he said he was "especially thankful" for his family -- which was the main source of inspiration for him in the making of this film.

"Thank you to the Academy for this honor," Chung began. "I couldn't imagine this happening as we struggled on the journey to make this film, and now I understand why Oscar moments are filled with endless thank you's. I feel incredibly grateful to the entire family of cast and crew behind Minari who persevered to make this film. I am especially thankful to my mom, dad, and sister, who filled that small trailer home in Arkansas where we started, and my wife and daughter who mean more to me than anything. I'm blessed that the minari my grandmother planted by the water continues to grow."

Aaron Sorkin

Aaron Sorkin was nominated for best original screenplay for "The Trail of the Chicago 7" and, in a statement reacting to the news, spoke about the relevance the film's story still has today, despite it being set in the '60s.

"It took fourteen years to make The Trial of the Chicago 7 and I'm thankful for all of them," he said. "We thank the Academy for recognizing so much individual achievement this morning, but our biggest thanks is for including our film among the extraordinary movies nominated for Best Picture. We learned a lot of hard lessons last year, but a nice one was that people will find a way to go to the movies, even if they can only go as far as their living rooms."

"Chicago 7 is a very modern period piece. It takes place in 1968 but it's about today," he continued. "It's a Valentine to the patriotism of protest, and to the courage of ordinary people who stand toe-to-toe with power. Jerry Rubin called the trial 'the Academy Awards of protest.' Well this is the Academy Awards of Academy Awards, and it's an honor to be nominated."

Sorkin is a four-time Oscar nominee, having won a trophy for best adapted screenplay in 2011 for "The Social Network."

Emerald Fennell

First-time nominee Emerald Fennell, who was nominated for best director for "Promising Young Woman," tweeted that she was "sobbing" after hearing of her nomination. Fennell then added, "So proud and grateful to every amazing person who worked on this film. Never going to stop crying."

Fennell is also nominated for best original screenplay and -- as a producer on "Promising Young Woman" -- best picture.

"I'm barely able to speak in coherent sentences after this unbelievable news. I am so incredibly grateful to every single wonderful person who worked on Promising Young Woman, the greatest most hardworking and talented cast and crew in the world. For their work to be honoured by the Academy means so much, and I am especially thrilled for Carey, whose extraordinary genius made this film what it is, and for Fred whose dedication made the impossible possible, for their individual nominations. To be part of this historic year for the Academy, alongside so many exceptionally gifted filmmakers means more than I can possibly describe, and I'm particularly proud to be nominated beside the amazing Chloe Zhao. There have been so many exceptional female filmmakers this year, making such beautiful, inspiring, challenging, varied work, that I am truly honoured and grateful to be among their number. Thank you to the Academy, Focus Features, FilmNation, LuckyChap, my whole immensely patient and wonderful team. I will stop crying eventually, but not yet."

David Fincher

David Fincher, who was nominated for best director for "Mank," said: "This is truly an honor. From the entire MANK team, we could not be more grateful to the Academy for this recognition."

This is Fincher's third nomination, having previously been recognized for best director for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" in 2009 and "The Social Network" in 2011.

Vanessa Kirby

Vanessa Kirby, a first-time nominee this year, was nominated for best actress for "Pieces of a Woman." In a statement she said it the nomination means more because it's for a film that's "so deeply" in her heart.

"It is the greatest honour to be recognised by the Academy," Kirby began. "And for a film I care so much about, and is so deeply in my heart. Thank you to Kornel and Kata for so bravely telling your story and for trusting me to be your Martha, to Kevin Turin and Ashley and Sam Levinson for believing in me, the cast and crew who I share this with, and to my family at Netflix for supporting and championing our story. I am so honoured that this story has been shared; it is one of so many women, and of their babies. This belongs to them."

Glenn Close

Glenn Close was nominated for best supporting actress for "Hillbilly Elegy" and said she dedicated this honor "to all the grandmothers in the world who fight to give their children a better life."

"Congratulations to all my fellow nominees," the actress said in a statement. "I'm beyond thrilled and deeply grateful for Netflix's brilliant support of their artists. I owe so much to Ron Howard, Amy Adams, Owen Asztalos and my genius hair and makeup team. This wouldn't have happened without them. I dedicate this honor to all the grandmothers in the world who fight to give their children a better life."

This is Close's career eighth Oscar nomination, with no wins thus far.

Sacha Baron Cohen

Sacha Baron Cohen expressed thanks for being nominated for both best supporting actor for "The Trial of the Chicago 7" and best adapted screenplay for "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm."

"I'm incredibly humbled and grateful to the Academy for both nominations! First, to the team of Trial of the Chicago 7 -- acting is a team sport, and I would not be in this position if it were not for the brilliance of Aaron Sorkin and the incredibly talented actors and crew that he surrounded us with and who lifted us up every day. Thank you, also, to the Academy for nominating Borat for the second time for Adapted Screenplay and for giving us the award for hiring the most WGA members in one movie. And, of course, congratulations to the sensational Maria Bakalova for her nomination! As a cast and crew, we took insane risks because we believed so deeply in the message of this movie -- exposing the dangers of the last administration, but also celebrating the underlying goodness of ordinary people. Because underneath it all, we're all the same, as Rudy Giuliani so very nearly demonstrated in that hotel room."

Steven Yeun

Steven Yeun, a first-time nominee this year for best actor for "Minari," said he was "blessed" to have worked on this film with a "brilliant cast and crew" and noted that he's "only here because of them."

"Thank you to the Academy for this honor to be nominated alongside such incredible artists. I am also grateful to see the talent of Lee Isaac Chung, Youn Yuh Jung, Emile Mosseri, and Christina Oh be recognized as well. If I've learned anything from this past year and from the experience of this film, it is that this life is shared. I am blessed to have shared in this with our brilliant cast and crew and I am only here because of them."

The Oscars will air Sunday, April 25, live on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.