Andrea Riseborough

How Andrea Riseborough built a celeb-backed Oscar campaign for indie film 'To Leslie' and scored a nomination.

“To Leslie” director Michael Morris and his wife, actor Mary McCormack, showed the movie to Stern in July during the annual wedding anniversary celebration they share with the Sterns. McCormack sent an email to friends asking them to publicly support the movie and Riseborough’s performance, even including images and suggested hashtags and accounts to tag in social media posts. And what’s more comfortable than posting about a movie every day!” “It genuinely caught everyone by surprise,” a source tells me. It feels like the film community rallied around and made a noise.” [To Leslie](https://variety.com/t/to-leslie/),” an indie film about a woman trying to rebuild her life while battling drug addiction and alcoholism.

Andrea Riseborough gets her first Best Actress Oscar Nomination for her role in the little-seen indie To Leslie, after a strong grassroots campaign.

“It takes one person to believe that it’s worth sharing.” She was in London this afternoon with her partner, Karim Saleh, who was watching the livestream and told her the good news while she was “busying myself trying to find a sock or something, just to take my mind off it.” It has been special to feel so supported by the community — especially by actors — and to feel like the work has broken through that. A fellow nominee today, Blanchett, singled out Riseborough’s performance in interviews at the recent [Critics Choice Awards](https://deadline.com/2023/01/2023-critics-choices-awards-winners-list-1235221917/), where [Blanchett won Best Actress](https://deadline.com/2023/01/cate-blanchett-tar-critics-choice-awards-best-actress-1235223276/). [ Independent Spirit Award-nominated](https://deadline.com/2022/11/independent-spirit-award-nominations-2022-1235179928/) for the role in late November and earlier won the Best Actress prize at the Raindance Film Festival in London, few prognosticators saw this coming. [Michael Morris](https://deadline.com/tag/michael-morris/) and based on the semi-autobiographical experience of writer Ryan Binaco, To Leslie premiered at last year’s SXSW but flew largely under the radar, grossing a little over $27,000 on an underwhelming release by Momentum Pictures in October. It was so hard to believe it might ever happen because we really hadn’t been in the running for anything else.

Oscars best actress nominee and 'To Leslie' star Andrea Riseborough rode a wave of celebrity support to Oscars recognition in a last-minute campaign.

Riseborough isn’t the only surprise nomination in one of the year’s most competitive categories. [Heat Vision](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/e/heat-vision/) [Oscars: ‘Black Panther’ Star Angela Bassett Makes Marvel History With Best Supporting Actress Nod](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/angela-bassett-first-marvel-actor-nominated-oscar-1235305707/) [Robert De Niro](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/t/robert-de-niro/) [Cosmo Jarvis to Star Alongside Robert De Niro in Barry Levinson’s Gangster Drama ‘Wise Guys’ (Exclusive)](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cosmo-jarvis-wise-guys-de-niro-casting-1235307052/) [Awards](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/e/awards/) [Oscar Nominee Ke Huy Quan Talks ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ Recognition: “None of This Feels Real Right Now”](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ke-huy-quan-everything-everywhere-all-at-once-oscar-nomination-1235308362/) [Oscars 2023](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/t/oscars-2023/) [Austin Butler Remembers Lisa Marie Presley Following ‘Elvis’ Oscar Nom: “I Just Wish She Was Here to Celebrate”](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/austin-butler-lisa-marie-presley-elvis-2023-oscar-nomination-1235308446/) In addition to de Armas, Riseborough is nominated in the 2023 best actress category alongside Cate Blanchett for Tár, Michelle Williams for The Fabelmans and Michelle Yeoh for Everything Everywhere All at Once. [Andrea Riseborough](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/t/andrea-riseborough/) has secured [a surprise leading actress nomination](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/oscar-nominations-2023-nominees-list-1235307974/) for [To Leslie](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/t/to-leslie/), Michael Morris’ small indie drama about a Texas woman trying to get her life back on track after years of battling addiction, ahead of the 95th Academy [Awards](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/t/awards/). [Charlize Theron](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/t/charlize-theron/), [Sarah Paulson](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/t/sarah-paulson/) and [Edward Norton](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/t/edward-norton/) have all hosted screenings, with additional enthusiasm coming from Gwenyth Paltrow and Courteney Cox. [Subscribe Sign Up](https://cloud.email.hollywoodreporter.com/signup/) Ana de Armas also cracked the top five as the sole nominee for Blonde, meaning other top contenders like Viola Davis in The Woman King and Danielle Deadwyler in Till missed out. Names who have tweeted or otherwise expressed digital kudos include Susan Sarandon (“beautiful, lil gem of a film”); Helen Hunt (“If you’re out there voting for performances, don’t do it till you see Andrea Riseborough”); Zooey Deschanel (“amazing movie”); Melanie Lynskey (“even for her this is next level”); Mira Sorvino (“absolutely stunning, wrenching and beautiful”); Constance Zimmer (“you’ll never forget this performance”); Rosie O’Donnell (“devastatingly beautiful film”); Minnie Driver (“run don’t walk”); Alan Cumming (“an insanely raw and beautiful performance”); and Daphne Zuniga (“incredible performance”). [Share this article on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/andrea-riseborough-to-leslie-surprise-oscar-nomination-1235308245/&title=Andrea%20Riseborough’s%20Last-Minute%20and%20Star-Studded%20Oscars%20Campaign%20Pays%20Off%20With%20Surprise%20Best%20Actress%20Nom&sdk=joey&display=popup&ref=plugin&src=share_button&app_id=1153511048447777) [Share this article on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/andrea-riseborough-to-leslie-surprise-oscar-nomination-1235308245/&text=Andrea%20Riseborough%E2%80%99s%20Last-Minute%20and%20Star-Studded%20Oscars%20Campaign%20Pays%20Off%20With%20Surprise%20Best%20Actress%20Nom&via=thr) [Share this article on Email](mailto:?subject=thr%20:%20Andrea%20Riseborough’s%20Last-Minute%20and%20Star-Studded%20Oscars%20Campaign%20Pays%20Off%20With%20Surprise%20Best%20Actress%20Nom&body=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/andrea-riseborough-to-leslie-surprise-oscar-nomination-1235308245/%20-%20Andrea%20Riseborough’s%20Last-Minute%20and%20Star-Studded%20Oscars%20Campaign%20Pays%20Off%20With%20Surprise%20Best%20Actress%20Nom) [Show additional share options](#) [Share this article on Print]() [Share this article on Comment](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/andrea-riseborough-to-leslie-surprise-oscar-nomination-1235308245/#respond) [Share this article on Whatsapp](whatsapp://send?text=Andrea%20Riseborough’s%20Last-Minute%20and%20Star-Studded%20Oscars%20Campaign%20Pays%20Off%20With%20Surprise%20Best%20Actress%20Nom%20-%20https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/andrea-riseborough-to-leslie-surprise-oscar-nomination-1235308245/) [Share this article on Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=1&url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/andrea-riseborough-to-leslie-surprise-oscar-nomination-1235308245/&title=Andrea%20Riseborough’s%20Last-Minute%20and%20Star-Studded%20Oscars%20Campaign%20Pays%20Off%20With%20Surprise%20Best%20Actress%20Nom&summary&source=thr) [Share this article on Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/andrea-riseborough-to-leslie-surprise-oscar-nomination-1235308245/&title=Andrea%20Riseborough’s%20Last-Minute%20and%20Star-Studded%20Oscars%20Campaign%20Pays%20Off%20With%20Surprise%20Best%20Actress%20Nom) [Share this article on Pinit](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/andrea-riseborough-to-leslie-surprise-oscar-nomination-1235308245/&description=Andrea%20Riseborough’s%20Last-Minute%20and%20Star-Studded%20Oscars%20Campaign%20Pays%20Off%20With%20Surprise%20Best%20Actress%20Nom) [Share this article on Tumblr](https://www.tumblr.com/widgets/share/tool/preview?shareSource=legacy&canonicalUrl&url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/andrea-riseborough-to-leslie-surprise-oscar-nomination-1235308245/&posttype=link&title=Andrea%20Riseborough’s%20Last-Minute%20and%20Star-Studded%20Oscars%20Campaign%20Pays%20Off%20With%20Surprise%20Best%20Actress%20Nom) Social media in particular has seen massive support for the film, and Riseborough’s performance, with an overwhelming eclectic bunch of celebrities expressing online praise. To Leslie had gone virtually unnoticed this awards season until late-breaking support from scores of A-list actors propelled Riseborough over the finish line. In a year crowded with best actress contenders, it pays to have famous friends in your court.

The star of the small indie film "To Leslie" crashes the Academy Award nomination party thanks to heavy stumping from her A-list actor peers.

See our [latest prediction champs](https://www.goldderby.com/best-prediction-scores/awards/league-data/). Speak up and share your huffy opinions in our [famous forums](https://www.goldderby.com/forums/) where 5,000 showbiz leaders lurk every day to track latest awards buzz. [Make your predictions](https://www.goldderby.com/leagues/) at Gold Derby now. And yet early Tuesday morning, there she was on the list of [Best Actress nominees](https://www.goldderby.com/article/2023/2023-oscar-nominations-full-list/), seemingly against all odds. Download our free and easy app for [Apple/iPhone devices](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1460576753) or [Android (Google Play)](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pmc.goldDerby) to compete against legions of other fans plus our experts and editors for best prediction accuracy scores. But for an actress who was on nobody’s radar to come within 10,000 miles of an Oscar nomination as recently as November to pull it off – and for a movie made in 19 days on a budget of less than a million bucks – is astonishing.

British actress Andrea Riseborough has been nominated for her first Academy Award following a star-studded campaign supporting the nomination.

She also starred in Battle Of The Sexes about the 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, playing King’s lover Marilyn Barnett. Also in the running for the performance by an actress in a leading role at the Academy Awards is Ana de Armas for Blonde, Michelle Williams for her role in The Fabelmans and Michelle Yeoh in Everything Everywhere All at Once. Andrea should win every award there is and all the ones that haven’t been invented yet.”