Oscars President addresses the controversy surrounding Brit Andrea Risborough’s best actress nomination

British actress Andrea Risborough found herself in the middle of a Hollywood scandal when she earned the surprise Best Actress nomination for To Leslie.

The nomination came after the film was promoted by stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Mia Farrow, Jennifer Aniston, Charlize Theron, Susan Sarandon and Edward Norton – despite only making £22,000 at the box office.

But Academy President Janet Yang spoke about the controversy on Good Morning Britain on Thursday, ahead of Sunday’s 95th Academy Awards, saying: “We felt Andrea deserved her nomination fair and square.”

She did admit, however, that the Academy will review campaign rules in light of what happened.

She said, “At the same time — right after the Oscars — we’re going to look at the campaign rules very, very closely and make sure they reflect our changing environment.

Janet said on GMB on Monday: ‘Right after the Oscars, we’re going to look very, very closely at the campaign rules and make sure they reflect our changing environment’

Means a lot more social media and how things are communicated. So it was a good wake-up call for us.’

Andrea, 41, had been hit with her nomination because many believed her celebrity friends’ campaigning for her film violated the strict rules governing the Oscars races.

Andrea gave her side of the story, admitting she found the uproar “deeply confusing” and criticized the “abhorrently unequal” film industry after she was accused of having black actresses like Viola Davis (The Woman King) and Danielle Deadwyler (Till) ‘cherished’. a nomination.

“It’s been confusing. I agree with what the nomination means, to me and to others,” Andrea told The Hollywood Reporter.

“It not only makes sense for this conversation to be sparked, but it is also necessary. The movie industry is horribly unequal in terms of opportunity. I am careful not to speak for other people’s experience, because they are better placed to speak, and I want to listen.’

She added: “I’m grateful for the conversation because it needs to be had. It touched me deeply.’

Andrea said she is the “bright ray of light” that the film is seen and is thankful that her work is “absorbed,” but acknowledges, “You can’t control how people absorb it.”

The actress plays an alcoholic who has won the lottery and is out of money.

Oh no! Andrea, 41, found herself in the middle of one of Hollywood’s biggest scandals in years when she earned the surprise Oscar nomination for To Leslie (scene from movie pictured)

Backlash: Andrea’s celebrity colleagues have supported her in various ways, through screenings or moderated discussions such as Q&As

Hit back: Andrea denounced the ‘abhorrently unequal’ film industry after being accused of ‘cost’ black actresses like Viola Davis (The Woman King pictured) a nomination

Missing: Danielle Deadwyler in Till was also rejected for the Best Actress nomination

Low budget: The film, which grossed just £22,000 at the box office, was promoted by stars pictured from left: Andrea Riseborough, Demi Moore, Michael Morris and Gwyneth Paltrow

The other nominees for Best Actress are Cate Blanchett (Tar), Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All At Once), Michelle Williams (The Fabelmans) and Ana de Armas (Blonde).

But the star faced controversy when news channel CNN remarked “how much of a benefit it is to have famous white friends.”

Andrea’s celebrity colleagues have supported her in various ways, through screenings or moderated discussions such as Q&As.

Some believed that the campaign for her film by her celebrity friends violated the strict rules governing the Oscars races, as it is forbidden to contact members of the Academy to promote a film or to get the price.

Many of them also posted their support on Twitter, using almost identical statements in support of To Leslie, calling it a “little movie with a giant heart.”

But an emergency meeting of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences last month ruled that Riseborough’s nomination should stand.

A statement read: “The Academy has determined that the activity in question has not reached the level where the film’s nomination should be withdrawn.

“However, we have identified social media and outreach campaign tactics that raise concerns,” the statement said. “This tactic is being raised directly with the responsible parties.”

Now support for the actress is on the rise: screenwriter Paul Schrader, known for films such as Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, announced that he would cast his Oscar vote for Riseborough.

“She has my vote,” he wrote on Facebook. “Go ahead, examine me.”

Actress Christina Ricci said the Academy’s investigation was an “elitist” inquisition: “It seems hilarious that the ‘surprise nomination’ (meaning tons of money weren’t spent to position this actress) of a justifiably brilliant performance is answered with an investigation.

In February, two Academy voting members told the Mail on Sunday that they would cast their vote for Riseborough.

Meanwhile, Andrea called her Oscar nomination “surreal” and told a friend, “At least people now know who I am.”

She has been praised by critics for years for her performances in films such as WE, Amsterdam and Made in Dagenham and many consider To Leslie to be her best acting performance to date.