Mumbai, Jan 15 (IANS): Hollywood actors Eddie Redmayne and Michael Fassbender, who have been nominated in the Actor in a Leading Role category of the upcoming 88th Academy Awards, have thanked the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for recognising their work.

The nominations for the 2016 Oscars were announced on Thursday.

Redmayne, who won the Best Actor Award last year for his role in James Marsh's “The Theory of Everything”, says he is “incredibly grateful” to the Academy as there were “so many brilliant films and performances”. He is nominated this year for his role of a transgender in “The Danish Girl”.

“This nomination is a testament to the vision of our fearless director Tom Hooper, and the support of my fellow cast members, especially the incandescent Alicia Vikander. 

“Being recognised for 'The Danish Girl' is particularly special to me; if sharing Lili and Gerda's journey and their love story can in any small way be a part of positive social change - then I will be even more grateful,” Redmayne said in a statement.

Fassbender, who is acknowledged for his title role in biopic “Steve Jobs”, said: “Thank you to the Academy, I feel very privileged for this nomination and honoured to be considered in what has been such a great year for cinema”.

While “The Danish Girl”, “Steve Jobs” are produced by Universal Pictures, the studio has in total received 14 nominations this year. This includes nods for films like “Straight Outta Compton”, “Fifty Shades of Grey” and “Room”.

“The Danish Girl”, which released in India on Friday, received four nominations including Actor in a Leading Role (Redmayne), Actress in a Supporting Role (Alicia Vikander), Best Costume Design (Paco Delgado), and Best Production Design (Production Designer, Eve Stewart; Set Decorator, Michael Standish).

Vikander, who is nominated alongside Rooney Mara (“Carol”), Jennifer Jason Leigh (“The Hateful Eight”), Kate Winslet (“Steve Jobs”) and Rachel McAdams (“Spotlight”), said: “I am deeply grateful to the Academy for this honour. To be recognised alongside these actresses and their inspiring performances is humbling. To be a part of bringing 'The Danish Girl' to life was such a gift and to receive this nomination is a thrill".

“Steve Jobs” is nominated for two awards including Actor in a Leading Role (Fassbender) and Actress in a Supporting Role (Kate Winslet). 

“Straight Outta Compton” received a nomination for Best Original Screenplay (Jonathan Herman and Andrea Berloff; Story by S. Leigh Savidge & Alan Wenkus and Andrea Berloff).

In the Best Original Song category, the studio was nominated for “Earned It” from “Fifty Shades of Grey”.

Whereas,“Room” has been recognised with four nominations including Best Picture, Actress in a Leading Role (Brie Larson), Best Director (Lenny Abrahamson), and Best Adapted Screenplay (Emma Donoghue). 

At last, “Ex Machina” received two nominations including Best Original Screenplay (Alex Garland) and Best Visual Effects (Andrew Whitehurst, Paul Norris, Mark Ardington and Sara Bennett).