Top Oscar Nod For Sidibe, Star Of Precious

[Film]

First timer Gabourey Sidibe has been nominated by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for an Oscar in the Best Actress category for the film Precious: Based on the Novel Push, which received six nominations.

The film's other nods are for: Best Supporting Actress (Monique); Best Director (Lee Daniels); Best Picture; Best Adapted Screenplay; and, Best Achievement in Film Editing.

"I'm very honored and grateful they recognized the performance, but we didn't do the project with the feeling of, 'This is going to get us an award,'" Monique said, after being informed of her nomination. "We did the project with the feeling of 'Oh my God, this will change lives.'" She portrays Mary Jones, the abusive mother in Precious.

Also in receiving a nomination for Best Director Lee Daniels has become the second African American to be nominated in that category; John Singleton was nominated for his directorial debut, Boyz In The Hood in 1992.

In receiving her nomination Gabourey Sidibe joins the ranks of legendary actresses Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross,Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Bette Midler, and Jennifer Hudson, to name a few, all of whom received Academy Award nominations for their screen debuts. Sidibe is up against Meryl Streep, Sandra Bullock, Helen Mirren, and Carey Mulligan for the Best Actress in a Leading Role Academy Award.

Since the film was released last November it has garnered numerous awards and nominations in which Monique won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Sidibe was also nominated in the Best Actress in a Leading Role-Drama category at both awards ceremonies, and the film itself was nominated in the Best Picture category at both the Golden Globes and The Screen Actors Guild Awards.

The 82nd Annual Academy Awards will be broadcast live on March 7, 2010.