Celebrity Chatter: Oscar-Nominated 'Fighter' Actors, Producers 'Screaming' Over Nods

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Oscar-Nominated 'Fighter' Actors, Producers 'Screaming' Over Nods

'They're just as happy if the other one wins,' producer Ryan Kavanaugh says of Amy Adams' and Melissa Leo's Best Supporting Actress noms.
By Kara Warner

Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg
Photo: John Sciulli/ Getty Images

While the teams behind "The Social Network" and "The King's Speech" are toasting their Oscar noms, another group of folks is also celebrating Tuesday morning's (January 25) Academy Award nominations announcement. The cast and crew of "The Fighter" earned seven nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director (David O. Russell), Best Supporting Actor (Christian Bale), and two Best Supporting Actress nods for Amy Adams and Melissa Leo.

MTV News spoke with "Fighter" producer and Relativity Media CEO Ryan Kavanaugh (Relativity fully produced and financed the film) just after he heard the big news.

"When I got the news, I was on the phone with David O. Russell and [Mark] Wahlberg and myself, kinda watching and I think you could hear screaming through each house," he said of their reactions. "The person I'm most excited for is David O. Russell because he really deserved it, he really delivered this package. He's obviously had his ups and downs in his career, as many people have. He really came through on this movie and it's nice that the Academy noticed that for him."

Kavanaugh's fellow producer and the star of the film, Mark Wahlberg, also praised the director and his co-stars in a statement: "It has been such an incredible journey with 'The Fighter' and one that I am grateful to share with David O. Russell, Christian, Melissa, Amy, my fellow producers and the Ward and Eklund families, who are the heart and soul of the film. Thank you to the Academy for this tremendous honor."

Regarding Adams' and Leo's dual nominations in the Best Supporting Actress category, the Relativity Media CEO said the actresses won't be thinking about competition at all.

"It's funny because I think Amy and Melissa, they're just as happy if the other one wins," he said. "They are competing against each other but at the same time, I think they're both really happy for the other one."

Kavanaugh went on to say that although he'd like to go back to bed — Oscar nominations were announced at 5:30 a.m. on the West Coast — he has a long day of work and, later, congratulating to do.

"I've got a pretty full day coming up. I'll stop by Mark's house, I'll stop by David's house, give 'em both a big hug," he said. "[I'll] try and stop by Christian's house although he's probably holed up and won't even turn on the TV until 10 a.m."

Check out everything we've got on "The Fighter."

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