Kate Winslet: "Extremely Happy" Over Oscar Bid

Quick to speak up about her just-announced Oscar nomination, Kate Winslet is "thrilled" to be one of the names in the Best Actress category during this year's Academy Awards ceremony on February 22.

“I'm extremely happy to have been nominated. And very fortunate," Kate told press in a statement released after her nomination was announced. "Playing Hanna Schmitz will always remain one of the biggest challenges I've ever been blessed with."

Talking about her film The Reader's director and screenwriter, both up for Academy Awards themselves, the British actress tells, "I'm genuinely thrilled not just for myself but for the wonderful Stephen Daldry and David Hare."

"These nominations are a testament to their unwavering commitment to this film. And I'm also very happy for all the people in Germany whose hard work on The Reader has been rewarded by these nominations. Surely Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack are smiling down on us today!” Kate proudly adds.

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