The Stage

Oscar nominees stretch UK-trained success to 24 years

Published Friday 3 February 2012 at 10:17 by Natalie Woolman

Kenneth Branagh, Gary Oldman and Janet McTeer are the latest British-trained actors to be nominated for Oscars, carrying on a continuous run that stretches back 24 years.

Actors trained in the UK have been among the Oscar nominees since 1989, when Alec Guinness was nominated in the actor in a supporting role category for his performance in Little Dorrit. Guinness trained at the Fay Compton Studio, where actor John Le Mesurier also studied.

Of the list of British-trained nominees, performers that graduated from the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama’s schools - RADA, LAMDA and Bristol Old Vic Theatre School - dominate, with nominees in the acting categories in 18 of the last 24 years. This includes Branagh and McTeer, both of whom trained at RADA.

Joanna Read, principal of LAMDA, said: “The conservatoire drama schools - BOVTS, LAMDA and RADA - train actors, directors, designers and technicians for sustainable careers in the industry. That our graduates feature regularly in nominations for awards such as the Oscars is obviously a great delight to us.

“This is a mark of their personal success and the esteem of their peers. It also demonstrates the significant and long-lasting impact UK conservatoire training in drama makes on the global film industry.”

Other Oscar-nominated CDD alumni include Jim Broadbent, Daniel Day-Lewis, Ralph Fiennes and Anthony Hopkins. Meanwhile, Central School of Speech and Drama graduate Judi Dench was nominated in 2006, Drama Studio London graduate Emily Watson was honoured in 1999 and Colin Firth, who trained at Drama Centre, won the best actor prize last year for his performance in The King’s Speech.

This year, Branagh receives his nod for his portrayal of Laurence Olivier in My Week with Marilyn, while McTeer is nominated for her turn in Albert Nobbs. Oldman is nominated for the prize for actor in a leading role for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

The 84th Academy Awards will be held on February 26 in Los Angeles.