Jennifer Jason Leigh "Thrilled" With Oscar Nomination, But Thinks The Hateful Eight Deserved More

Actress calls her best supporting actress nom "incredible news"

By Marc Malkin Jan 14, 2016 7:12 PMTags
Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful EightThe Weinstein Company

Jennifer Jason Leigh was just 14 years old when she attended Stagedoor Manor, a well-known performing arts summer camp in upstate New York.

At the time, she dreamed about the day she may be nominated for an Oscar.

Fast forward 39 years and the day is here! Leigh earned a best supporting actress nomination this morning for her work in Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight.

"I think all children that love acting think about this day but as you get older and older it becomes something you think about less," the 53-year-old actress just told me. "When you're a child, it all seems possible and now I'll be contending with all the friends that I said to, 'If I ever win, I will thank you!' Friends are already reminding me in a jokey way."

The Weinstein Company

Leigh didn't hear her name being called when the nominations were announced. "I was sleeping," she said. "But when I woke up I saw all these texts from my friends and people who I haven't heard from forever. It was an incredible thing to wake up to. Incredible news. I'm thrilled."

She does think the movie deserved more nominations. The only other nom it received was for original score for Ennio Morricone. "Best picture, best director, best writing, everything," Leigh said. "I love the movie so much."

When we chatted this morning, Leigh still hadn't heard from Tarantino because he's in Australia. But no matter, because she saved the message he left on her phone offering her the part.

"I will have that forever," Leigh said. "There's just no one like him. He's just such a huge part of my performance. He really wanted us to find it together and for it to be completely organic and real."

The Oscars will be handed out on Sunday, Feb. 28, at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC at 7 p.m. ET.

Watch: Jennifer Jason Leigh on N-Word Debate in "Hateful Eight"