Oscar Nomination Reactions: Ariana Grande’s Therapist Called to Congratulate Her, Mikey Madison Facetimed Her Dog and Demi Moore Draws Parallels to ‘Ghost’

“Wicked” star Ariana Grande got a congratulatory call from her therapist, “Anora” actor Mikey Madison FaceTimed her dog — and then her co-star and fellow nominee Yura Borisov, who was already popping Champagne in Moscow — while Demi Moore joked that her soul hasn’t returned to her body on the occasion of her first-ever nomination for “The Substance.”

On the morning of the 2025 Oscar nods, Variety spoke to this year’s contenders — including “A Complete Unknown” writer-director James Mangold and supporting actress Monica Barbaro, and “The Substance” filmmaker Coralie Fargeat– about getting recognized by the Academy.

• Ariana Grande

  Grande was nominated for best supporting actress for “Wicked.”

  Congratulations on your first nomination. Where were you when you found out?

  I’m in London. I just got out of the bath. Oh! My therapist is calling to congratulate me. Hold on. I’ll tell her I’ll be right back. Oh my god, I’m sorry. I don’t even know what to say. It’s really hard to speak. I just got off the phone with my mom and my best friends and Kristin Chenoweth. And I have been texting with Cynthia [Erivo] and Jon [M. Chu] all morning.

  What was your reaction when you heard your name?

  I sobbed. I actually haven’t stopped sobbing since then. It’s been really overwhelming.

  How did it feel to have your co-star Bowen Yang announce your name?

  It felt like home. I love him so much, and he is my one of my best friends in the world. And he looked so chic. He texted me right before wishing me luck, and he texted me a week before saying, “I just found out that I’m doing this, and I can’t wait to hopefully utter your name.”

  What does it mean for you and Cynthia to both get nominations?

  It feels like such a magnificent celebration of this hard work that we were able to do together. It feels like we were passed the wand and broom by Kristin and Idina Menzel. They were nominated for the Tonys together, and now Cynthia and I get to have this recognition together.

  Is this better than getting a Grammy nomination?

  Oh my goodness. I’m burying my head in my tissue box. [Laughs]. Um… next question.

  “Wicked” got 10 nominations in total. Why didn’t Jon get a nod for best director?

  He is incredibly brilliant, and all of the other nominations stems from Jon. I know he feels like seeing ‘Wicked’ be celebrated is a celebration of him as well. We just got off Facetime, and I told him how much I love him, and the truth, which is that absolutely none of this could have happened without his leadership, brilliance, empathy and thoughtfulness.

  Who are you going to bring with you to the ceremony?

  I haven’t even had a chance to consider yet. I need a table for 40 Italians from Boca. How do we work that out?

• Demi Moore

  Moore was nominated for best actress for “The Substance.”

  This is the first Oscar nomination of your career. What was your reaction when you heard your name?

  I don’t know that I’m quite in my body. Life has been full of contrast with all that’s been going on, such incredible highs and devastating lows. Last night a new fire broke out in Los Angeles, and I was on alert all night because it wasn’t that far from us. I’m feeling some deep humility on many, many levels.

  In your Golden Globes acceptance speech, you said this kind of recognition has eluded you over your career. Do you feel vindicated?

  I’m so grateful for the recognition. But it’s not just for me, it’s also about what “The Substance” represents. I’m here to be in service to something bigger.

  There’s a lot of talk about what these five nominations for “The Substance” means for genre films at the Oscars.

  I’ve said many times, but this could have been an absolute disaster. There were certain parallels with this film and “Ghost.” My youngest child and her fiancé, just this past week, said they’d never seen “Ghost” and needed to watch it. I couldn’t do it, but they got me to watch the second half. I haven’t seen that film in maybe 30 years. But “Ghost” defied the norm by mixing genres. It had real heart and comedy, but it expanded toward a new way of thinking about loss. It’s been a very interesting journey.

• Mikey Madison

  Madison was nominated for best actress for “Anora.”

  You’re a first-time Oscar nominee. How are you feeling right now? 

  I am in my bed in a hotel in New York, feeling very grateful. I was on FaceTime with my mom, my dad, my dog and my twin brother this morning, and I’m humbled; absolutely overjoyed. My heart is broken for Los Angeles right now, but I feel like as a community, everyone’s coming together and celebrating film in a beautiful way.

  “Anora” scored six nominations, including one for your co-star Yura Borisov. Have you talked to him yet? 

  Yes, I did! I FaceTimed him from his country, and he was walking around a park with his wife, drinking Champagne. It was so sweet. 

  Have you heard from Sean Baker yet?

  I’m not sure if he’s awake or asleep, but I did put in a couple FaceTime calls. We’ll see if he responds! 

  Is there anyone you haven’t gotten to get to know yet this awards season that you’re looking forward to meeting at the Oscars? 

  I haven’t had a chance to meet Fernanda [Torres]. She’s just such an incredible, beautiful actress. Such a talent.

  Are there any of the nominated movies that you still need to see? 

  Admittedly, yes. There are a couple I need to see, but I have to say it’s really because I’m stubborn and I love watching films on the big screen, and I haven’t had that opportunity. So I think I’m just gonna have to suck it up and watch them on my projector back home. 

• Monica Barbaro

  Barbaro was nominated for best supporting actress for “A Complete Unknown.”

  Where were you when nominations were announced?

  I’m in London right now, and I was mid-fitting with costume designer Jenny Eagan. She kept refreshing her phone, and I was like, “I don’t want to know anything.” I looked at my phone and fell on the floor. I’m elated. This is surreal.

  Does the cast have a group chat?

  We have several group chats. Ed [Norton] and Jim [Mangold] and I are on a group chat because we were in Paris and Rome together, and then London. I sent them a video because I was walking down a street in Rome and someone was singing “Don’t Think Twice.” Now the texts are just congratulations all around.

  Who are you going to bring with you to the Oscars?

  I have no idea. This is the first time I’ve even thought about it. I’m an actor, and I’m just excited to be working. I don’t get plus ones to these things — or to parties.

  Is there anyone you are excited to meet at the ceremony?

  I grew up watching Zoe Saldaña. “Center Stage” was our film in the ballet world. So, to talk to these people and share our love of each other’s work has been the coolest thing.

  Timothee Chalamet will be the host and musical guest on “Saturday Night Live” this weekend. Any chance you’ll be singing with him?

  I’m in London. I’m doing a shoot here, and I was trying to make it work, but I don’t think I’m going to make it to “SNL.” I’m especially sad now. I want to give him a big hug and congratulate him. But I’m going to watch it for sure.

• Yura Borisov

  Borisov was nominated for best supporting actor for “Anora.”

  This is your first time being nominated for an Oscar, and for your first U.S. film. How are you feeling?

  It’s a lot of emotions. People are calling and texting me, and everybody is happy. I can’t understand what I feel right now.

  Where were you when you found out about the nomination?

  I was in my car with my family. It was very funny because my nomination was first, and my name was called first, and my wife started screaming and crying. I [didn’t hear] anything after that, all the nominations, because she was screaming.

  Have you had a chance to speak with Mikey Madison or Sean Baker about their nominations?

  With Mikey, we had a video call to congratulate each other. It’s strange because now it’s evening in Moscow and early morning in L.A. It’s like 5 a.m. there. It’s too early for news like that.

• James Mangold

  Mangold was nominated for best director and adapted screenplay for “A Complete Unknown.”

  “A Complete Unknown” received several nominations, including your first time in the best director category. How are you feeling today?

  I’m in traffic on the 101, but I’m good. It was thrilling, beautiful surprise. I was not expecting it. What we all strive for in our creative lives, at least for myself, is the respect and admiration of your peers. This is a huge lift to my spirits.

  Have you had the chance to speak with Timothée Chalamet, Monica Barbaro or any of the film’s other nominees?

  Of course, we’ve all been texting. Everyone’s so happy for everyone else. I think the camaraderie and commitment on this movie shows, it being six years in the making on the development side. The script was written in 2019. By 2020 it was certainly the movie you’ve seen, and we’ve been just looking for the window between COVID, industry strikes and schedules to make the movie. That long period has also been an incredible period of bonding and friendship for everyone involved.

  Where were you when you found out about the nomination?

  I was in my house with no power [because of the L.A. wildfires], with my wife looking at a cell phone on a single bar of data watching a infinitesimally small telecast.

  You’ve said that Bob Dylan has read the script many times. Have you heard from him on nominations morning?

  Honestly, I just drove my son to school this morning. I have heard from Jeff Rosen, who’s thrilled as his manager. I’m sure that Bob and I will communicate at some point.

• Coralie Fargeat

  Fargeat was nominated for best director for “The Substance.”

  How does it feel to be this year’s only woman director nominee?

  I’m incredibly happy and proud. It’s a huge achievement. I’m happy there’s a woman director in this group. It shows there’s still a long way to go.

  You’re only the ninth female director in Oscar history to be nominated.

  When you look at these figures, they’re just crazy. So, it’s time for a change. That’s what the film says, too. Right now it’s moving just a little bit but it should move like the end of the film, like the hectoliters of blood I spilled! I’m proud the film is a stone in that edifice. I’m proud to be able to represent something. I also got a lot of messages from young directors saying: “Thank you for making this film. It gives us so much strength, courage and hope. It shows that it’s possible.” We come, 2000 years ago, from a world organized in a very monolithic way. We’re still in that world. I don’t think we should lie to ourselves. We’re still completely in that world. We’re trying to crack it, and I made this film to express everything I wanted to say.

  Did you ever imagine you’d win a prize in Cannes and then go on to earn five Oscar nominations?

  When I make a film, I make it to be at Cannes, to be at the Oscars. I have this faith that this is what I want to do. I believe in the impossible.

  How does it feel seeing Demi Moore also nominated for her performance? I know she wasn’t the first actress you thought of for the role.

  I knew when I was writing that it’s such a risky role. It confronts you with such a vulnerable part of yourself. Demi responded to this script because she was at a point in her life where she was on a journey of liberation, to emancipate herself from a prison that the image can become. She was at a place where she could take those kinds of risks. I really believe that films are about meeting people who are willing to do the same things at the same time. 

• Andy Nelson

  Nelson was nominated for best sound for “Wicked.”

  This is your 25th nomination, making you the second-most nominated living person behind John Williams [who has 54 nominations]. What does that number mean to you?

  It’s overwhelming. I have such gratitude for all the different nominations, and can’t believe that it’s hit a quarter century. I’m thrilled to be recognized for a film that I have so much love for.

  What made “Wicked” such a special project for you?

  I’ve always loved musicals, and this one brought everything together that I’d ever hoped for: the passion, vocals, performances, working with Jon Chu. It was just an extraordinary experience all around. I can’t wait to start “Wicked: For Good.”

  What can you tease about “Wicked: For Good”?

  They’re in postproduction now, but we will start the mix in late spring. I can’t wait. I’m excited to bring everything that we put into the first one, and then just even more, because it’s going to be a very different film.

  Do you remember the first time you saw “Wicked” on stage?

  I very much remember it. And I remember within 10 minutes knowing that this would be fantastic cinema. It felt cinematic in its approach, and I couldn’t wait for it to be made into a film, never dreaming that I would be involved in it.

• RaMell Ross

  Ross was nominated for adapted screenplay for “Nickel Boys.”

  Did you watch the nominations live? Where were you when you heard the good news?

  I was by myself in my studio, under a blanket, eating popcorn, drinking a Gatorade. As they were saying “Nickel Boys,” I was getting a call from my father. He’s like, “Congratulations!” And I’m like, “Do I have a lag on my internet? You know this before I do!” 

  “Nickel Boys” got a surprise best picture nomination. What was your reaction when you heard the news?

  My expectations were almost nil, just so that I can save myself the agony of being disappointed. I went in with hopes, but there are so many films, right? Maybe 200 films could be in the top 10. It’s not exactly the least arbitrary process.

  How does it feel for “Nickel Boys” to get this kind of recognition?

  Honestly, it’s unbelievable. The irony is not lost on me, where this film is like an experiential monument for boys whose lives were cut short and were literally buried. We make this film, and now the boys are elevated to the echelons of cinema. There’s nothing more beautiful than that to me. 

  You’re a professor at Brown University. Do you think your students will treat you differently now that you’re an Oscar nominee? 

  I hope they treat me differently! Give me some slack, because their inquisitions are quite difficult. These are smart kids!