Best Supporting Actress Nominees 2012: Did You Know?

Berenice Bejo

Nominated for: "The Artist"Award-Worthy: nominated for a BAFTA, Golden Globe and SAG Award for "The Artist"Interesting Fact: Berenice grew up in Paris but was born in Buenos Aires.Quote: One of Bejo's regrets while working on "The Artist" was not having more screen time with Uggie, the Jack Russell terrier. "I only got to do two scenes with him. It's too bad. He's a big star now. He's even got the Palm Dog at Cannes."

Jessica Chastain

Nominated for: "The Help"Award-Worthy: nominated for a Golden Globe, BAFTA and SAG Award for "The Help"Interesting Fact: Chastain is a vegan.Quote: "I love that people don't know me. I was just at the airport [and] there's a guy with a camera, asking me a couple of questions. I get into my car and I hear him say to someone else, 'I don't know... Kate Walsh?' So that's the stage I'm in right now."

Melissa McCarthy

Nominated for: "Bridesmaids"Award-Worthy: nominated for a BAFTA and SAG Award for "Bridesmaids"Interesting Fact: She is Jenny McCarthy's cousin.Quote: McCarthy on the famous dressing-room scene in "Bridesmaids": "It was a train wreck that we were all trying to stop. To me that's not raunchy. It was wildly embarrassing and sad."

Janet McTeer

Nominated for: "Albert Nobbs"Award-Worthy: Oscar nominated for "Tumbleweeds" (1999)Interesting Fact: She and co-star Glenn Close became good friends while filming "Albert Nobbs."Quote: On working with Close: "When we work together, there's a combination of extremely committed hard work and a huge amount of laughter. We're very sync in that sense."

Octavia Spencer

Nominated for: "The Help"Award-Worthy: a Golden Globe, BAFTA, and a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting RoleInteresting Fact/Quote: While working with the child actors who played her kids during the filming of "The Help," Spencer realized they needed a better grasp of what life was like for African Americans in the 1960s."They had to be in as much distress as I was in," the actress explained to Entertainment Weekly. "[To] one little boy, the youngest one, I said, 'Well what do you want to be when you grow up?' and he said, 'A fireman!' and I said, 'Well, you can't. The only thing you can do is mow lawns.' And his little lip quivered. He was just heartbroken." Apparently, they nailed the scene and Octavia showered them with "lots of gifts."

The Extra List: 2012 Oscar Nomination Reactions

Glenn Close

For her riveting performance as a man in "Albert Nobbs," Glenn Close was honored with a Best Actress nod. It is her sixth Oscar nomination.Close noted her fierce competition for Best Actress, saying, "It's an incredibly strong year for women. It's just so thrilling to be in the company of these other women -- and cross-generational, which is great."To celebrate her nomination in NYC, "Extra" gave the star a big box of chocolates, which she had a difficult time opening.Close even enlisted the help of actor Henry Winkler, who said, "I'll hold, you open it." After many tries, she finally opened the box of sweets, and thanked "Extra" for the thoughtful present.[http://cdnbakmi.kaltura.com/p/594231/sp/59423100/thumbnail/entry_id/1_trm8nwf8/width/120/height/90/bgcolor/000000/type/2]

Michelle Williams

Michelle Williams received a Best Actress nomination for her role in "My Week with Marilyn.""I am so grateful to be acknowledged by the Academy for my work, which was made possible by the support of our director Simon Curtis and the camaraderie of a terrific ensemble of actors -- a special congratulations to Kenneth Branagh -- and the fearless Harvey Weinstein. This role has been the challenge and privilege of a lifetime. I would like to think that the recognition our film has received by the Academy is a testament to Marilyn's legacy."

Rooney Mara

Newcomer Rooney Mara was nominated for Best Actress in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," and told "Extra" she feels honored to be in a category with such talented actresses."Those are women I've looked up to, and that has inspired me."[http://cdnbakmi.kaltura.com/p/594231/sp/59423100/thumbnail/entry_id/1_jym6mx28/width/120/height/90/bgcolor/000000/type/2]

Octavia Spencer

Nominated for Best Supporting Actress for "The Help," Octavia Spencer beamed, "I am on a cloud of happiness."[http://cdnbakmi.kaltura.com/p/594231/sp/59423100/thumbnail/entry_id/1_taxvuwtt/width/120/height/90/bgcolor/000000/type/2]

Viola Davis

Actress Viola Davis, nominated for Best Actress for her work in "The Help" had a special message to fellow nominee George Clooney. "Stop following me George. You're obsessed with me," she laughed with "Extra."[http://cdnbakmi.kaltura.com/p/594231/sp/59423100/thumbnail/entry_id/1_am0synwe/width/120/height/90/bgcolor/000000/type/2]

Jonah Hill

Making his mark on Hollywood, Jonah Hill received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his role in "Moneyball" with Brad Pitt."For the rest of your life, people are going to say, 'Academy Award Nominee Jonah Hill.' It doesn't seem real yet."[http://cdnbakmi.kaltura.com/p/594231/sp/59423100/thumbnail/entry_id/1_64iirj71/width/120/height/90/bgcolor/000000/type/2]

James Cromwell

"The Artist" star James Cromwell talked with "Extra" host Mario Lopez at The Grove about the Oscar-nominated film.[http://cdnbakmi.kaltura.com/p/594231/sp/59423100/thumbnail/entry_id/1_v8jfuu1m/width/120/height/90/bgcolor/000000/type/2]

Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan

Husband and wife team Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan received a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy."O'Connor, who died at the age of 49 in 2010 from cancer, received a posthumous nod.Her husband Peter released this statement:"I'm stunned and thrilled to hear about the nomination. I wish more than anything in the world that my wife Bridget O'Connor -- who did the lion's share of the adaptation -- could be here to enjoy this moment. She would be so happy and so proud. I'm going to go and meet my daughter now and tell her how clever her mother was!"

Max von Sydow

"Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" was recognized twice -- with a nod for Best Picture and another for Best Supporting Actor to Max von Sydow."My sincere thanks to my colleagues at the Academy. It is wonderful. I don't know what to say -- I am dumbfounded."

Screenwriter for 'The Ides of March'

Beau Willimon, the screenwriter for "The Ides of March" starring George Clooney and Ryan Gosling, expressed his excitement after receiving a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay."It's been an incredible eight year journey from the first draft of the play until this moment.Working with George and Grant has been one of the most rewarding collaborations of my career, and I couldn't be more thrilled that our film is getting this kind of recognition."

Melissa McCarthy

Funnylady Melissa McCarthy received a Best Supporting Actress nod for her feisty role as Megan, in the comedy "Bridesmaids.""My fingers are crossed. Anytime you get a comedy in there I just root for it!"

Brad Pitt

"This is an extraordinary honor.I am dizzy with joy... and caffeine.Considering both films, 'Moneyball' and 'The Tree of Life,' nearly didn't make it to the screen, this is especially sweet.And I'd like to thank all the artisans and craftsmen who gave their best to each film.I am especially over the moon for Jonah (and the other Moneyballers acknowledged today), Terry Malick and the tribute this is to Billy Beane and the Oakland A's organization.My congratulations to all the nominees...pancakes for everyone."

The Top 5 Women of Comedy 2011

Melissa McCarthy

Entertainment Weekly dubbed this funny lady the Queen of Comedy - and it pretty much fits the bill! McCarthy made a huge splash this year in the film "Bridesmaids," starring as a lusty bridesmaid, and hosting one of the most watched "Saturday Night Live" shows of the season. Then, as icing on the cake, she won the Lead Actress in a Comedy Emmy for her nuanced turn on the sitcom "Mike & Molly." Best Quote: "I fell off a cruise ship. Yeah, oh, shit. Took a hard hard violent fall, kinda pin-balled down hit a lot of railings, broke a lot of shit. I'm not gonna say i survived I'm gonna say I thrived. I met a dolphin down there and I swear to God that dolphin, looked not at me, but into my soul, looked into my G**damn soul." - Megan in "Bridesmaids."

Zooey Deschanel

Mostly known as an indie film darling, starring in gems such as "500 Days of Summer," Zooey decided to branch out this year into television - and to smashing success. As FOX's "New Girl," Deschanel continues to delight as Jess, living with three guys and infusing her adorkableness into the proceedings. Best Quote: Schmidt (Max Greenfield): "I'll be, like, your guide." Jessica Day: "Like Gandolf... through Middle Earth?" Schmidt: "Probably not like... okay... first off let's take the 'Lord of the Rings' references and put them in a deep, dark cave where no one's going to find them." Jessica Day: "Except Smeagol... [whispers] He lives in a cave."

Kristen Wiig

We already know how excruciatingly funny Wiig can be on "Saturday Night Live" and in films like "Knocked Up" and "MacGruber," but in 2011 Kristen really showed her comic mettle - and how well she could carry a film — as the beleaguered maid of honor in "Bridesmaids," which she also co-wrote. Best Quote: Annie: "What kind of a name is 'Stove' anyway? What, are you like a kitchen appliance or something?" Flight Attendant: "No. My name is Steve and I'm a man." Annie: "You are a flight attendant."

Tina Fey

Although she's has taken a break this fall with "30 Rock," after having her second child, Fey still managed to make us laugh with her bestselling autobiographical book "Bossypants." Oh, and she still kills it when she impersonates Sarah Palin. Liz Lemon and "30 Rock" returns early 2012 - and we can't wait. Best Quote: Liz Lemon: "Look, Jack, I don't have a lot of personal life experience, but if I have learned anything from my Sims family... when a child doesn't see his father enough, he starts to jump up and down, and then his mood level will drop until he pees himself." Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin): "Why don't I have any other friends?"

Amy Poehler

As another "SNL" alum, Poehler really found her comic niche this year as Pawnee, Indiana's biggest champion, Leslie Knope, in the hit NBC show "Parks and Recreation." She also pretty much stole the 2011 Primetime Emmys show when she orchestrated all of the Lead Actress in a Comedy Series nominees to come up on stage, ala a beauty pageant, before the winner was announced. Hysterical. Best Quote: "Every great work of art contains a message, and the message of this painting is, "Get out of my way unless you want an arrow in your ass." - Leslie Knope in "Parks and Recreation" Honorable Mentions: Emma Stone — "Crazy, Stupid Love" and "The Help" Whitney Cumming — NBC's "Whitney" Martha Plimpton — FOX's "Raising Hope" Laura Linney — Showtime's "The Big C" Kat Dennings — CBS' "2 Broke Girls"