Elle Fanning Breaks Down in Shock After Oscar Nomination: “I Can’t Catch My Breath”
Elle Fanning has officially joined the ranks of Academy Award nominees, and her reaction is just as heartfelt and raw as fans might have expected. After the nominations for the 98th Academy Awards were announced on Thursday, Jan. 22, the actress took to Instagram to share her disbelief and joy over her Best Supporting Actress nod for her role in the Norwegian drama Sentimental Value.
Sharing a screenshot of a FaceTime call where she appears visibly moved to tears, Fanning revealed the intimate moment she celebrated with director Joachim Trier and his wife, Helle Bendixen Trier.
The actress was overcome with emotion as she absorbed the news that her performance as Rachel Kemp, an American starlet caught in a complex family web, had earned her a spot in Hollywood’s most prestigious race.
IS THIS REAL!?!?!?! IS THIS A DREAM!?!?!?! I can’t catch my breath, Fanning wrote in her caption, capturing the whirlwind of the morning. I am in absolute shock. What an honor to have my first Academy Award nomination be for a film that acknowledges the power of moviemaking and family! My Mom, Grandma, Sister, and Aunt were here with me this morning to scream and hug and cry.
The recognition comes at a high point for the film, which has emerged as a powerhouse in this year’s awards season. Directed by Joachim Trier and co-written with Eskil Vogt, Sentimental Value secured a total of nine nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best International Feature for Norway. Fanning’s nomination is part of a near-sweep for the cast, with her co-stars Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas also receiving acting nods.
In the film, Fanning plays Rachel, a Hollywood actress who is cast in a project by a legendary but estranged director, Gustav Borg, played by Skarsgård. The role was meta in nature, as Fanning actually traveled to Oslo to film, mirroring her character’s journey as an American outsider entering a tightly-knit European artistic circle. Critics have praised her for bringing a naive energy and earnest striving to a character that serves as a vital contrast to the heavier family trauma at the story’s core.
This milestone is a long time coming for the 27-year-old actress, who has been working steadily since she was a toddler. While she has received critical acclaim for projects like The Great and The Neon Demon, this Oscar nomination marks a significant shift into a new chapter of her career.
Fanning has noted in recent interviews that she was obsessed with Trier’s previous work, The Worst Person in the World, and would have accepted any role just to work with the filmmaker.
Beyond the success of Sentimental Value, Fanning has had a remarkably busy start to 2026. She recently attended the Palm Springs International Film Festival, where she received the International Star Award for her ensemble work. During the festival, she spoke about her goals for the year, mentioning a desire to stay more present and “spiral” less about the future.
Additionally, she has been cast in a major role for the upcoming Hunger Games prequel, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, where she will take on the iconic role of a young Effie Trinket.
The actress also recently appeared in the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown and is attached to several developmental projects, including The Nightingale, where she is slated to star alongside her sister, Dakota Fanning. With an Oscar nomination now on her resume and several blockbusters on the horizon, Fanning is firmly established as one of the most versatile and sought-after talents of her generation.
Do you think Elle Fanning’s performance in Sentimental Value was the standout of the year, or are you rooting for another nominee in the Best Supporting Actress category? Share your thoughts in the comments.