While by far not the biggest name nominated at this year’s Oscars Andrea Riseborough has been the star dominating the headlines.
While the highly respected actress has been in the industry for two decades she rose to prominence when she bagged her first Oscar nomination this year for little-seen movie To Leslie.
Yet instead of being able to bask in her remarkable success, Andrea found herself at the centre of this year’s biggest Oscars scandal.
Now we take a look at the Oscars strict lobbying rules, why Andrea’s nomination came under review and what changes the Academy will be making next year.
Centre of attention: While by far not the biggest name nominated at this year’s Oscars Andrea Riseborough has been the star dominating the headlines (pictured in September 2022)
What was the scandal?
Fans were shocked when Andrea scored herself a Best Actress nod for To Leslie at the Oscars given that both she and the film had flown under the radar at other big award ceremonies.
To Leslie stars Andrea as a Texan alcoholic mother who seeks redemption years after squandering lottery winnings, and while it received good reviews from critics the film flew under the radar, making only $27,322 in gross box-office earnings worldwide.
It was later claimed that an ‘aggressive’ lobbying campaign put the little-seen movie on the map, with To Leslie publicised by stars like Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow and Charlize Theron.
The Academy was also accused of ‘snubbing’ two prominent African-American films and their stars, with some claiming acclaimed black actresses Viola Davis (The Woman King) and Danielle Deadwyler (Till) would have made the Best Actress list until the A-list campaign for Andrea kicked off.
The Academy’s 54-person board then launched an investigation too see whether the campaign to score her a nomination broke their strict lobbying rules.
While they eventually concluded that rules had not been broken and Andrea could keep her nomination, they stated that tactics used in her film’s campaign had ’caused concern’ and revealed they would be making changes to campaign regulations next year.
One to watch: To Leslie followed Andrea as a West Texas alcoholic mother who seeks redemption years after squandering her lottery winnings
What are the Oscar campaign rules?
The Academy have strict rules on how to conduct Oscar campaigns – which can cost studios up to $15 million.
Campaigning is big business, with Hollywood studios and production companies hiring strategists and consultants to catch the attention of voters who could help them score a nod.
For example, Harvey Weinstein was famed for his prolific and shameless lobbying tactics, credited for scoring Shakespeare In Love its Best Picture gong in 1999 over the critically acclaimed Saving Private Ryan.
The list of rules is lengthy, one of which is that contacting any of the 6,000 Academy members by telephone to promote a film or achievement is expressly forbidden.
Rule 10 for lobbying states: ‘Contacting Academy members directly and in a manner outside of the scope of these rules to promote a film or achievement for Academy Award consideration is expressly forbidden.’
In 2017, Greg P. Russell, a sound mixer on 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, was stripped of his Oscar nomination after he was caught phoning his fellow members from the Academy’s Sound Branch ‘to make them aware of his work on the film.
The calls were a ‘direct violation of a campaign regulation that prohibits telephone lobbying,’ a statement from the Academy said.
Film companies must also limit the volume of mail and email sent to members during Oscar season.
In 2014, the song Alone Yet Not Alone from the little-known film of the same name had its nomination for Best Original Song rescinded after composer Bruce Broughton, an Academy member and former governor, contacted fellow branch members by email, breaking Academy rules
Meanwhile rule 11 for References to Other Nominees states: ‘Ads, mailings, websites, social media (including Facebook and Twitter) or any other forms of public communication by anyone directly associated with an eligible film attempting to cast a negative or derogatory light on a competing film or achievement will not be tolerated.’
‘In particular, any tactic that singles out ‘the competition’ by name or title is expressly forbidden.
‘In addition to reserving all available remedies, Academy members who are found to have violated this regulation will be subject to a one-year suspension of membership for first-time violations, and expulsion for any subsequent violations.’
The Academy also state that any comments made directly or on social media that attempt to ‘cast a negative or derogatory light’ on rival movies ‘will not be tolerated.’
In 2010, Nicolas Chartier, one of the producers on film the Hurt Locker, was banned from attending the Oscars for sending out an email asking voters to back his movie over ‘a $500m film’ – a clear reference to rival Best Picture nominee Avatar.
The film was still eligible for consideration, however, and went on to win the big prize, with Nicholas sent his award in the post a month later.
In 2012, the Academy clamped down on Oscar campaigns that included lavish parties for members where the food and drink flowed.
They passed new rules that prohibited receptions after screenings, a longtime Hollywood lobbying ritual, and limited to two the number of panel discussions that filmmakers can attend.
The rules also barred inviting Academy voters to attend events designed specifically to promote a nominated movie or individual.
Campaigning: It’s been said that Mary McCormack, the wife of To Leslie director Michael Morris and Andrea’s manager Jason Weinberg were at the forefront of the Oscars campaign
What did the Academy conclude from their internal review?
Academy CEO Bill Kramer said in a statement: ‘The Academy has determined the activity in question does not rise to the level that the film’s nomination should be rescinded.
‘However, we did discover social media and outreach campaigning tactics that caused concern.
‘These tactics are being addressed with the responsible parties directly.’
What changes will be made going forward?
Bill Kramer said that the board will make changes to its campaign regulations next year.
‘The purpose of the Academy’s campaign regulations is to ensure a fair and ethical awards process, these are core values of the Academy.
‘Given this review, it is apparent that components of the regulations must be clarified to help create a better framework for respectful, inclusive, and unbiased campaigning.
‘These changes will be made after this awards cycle and will be shared with our membership. The Academy strives to create an environment where votes are based solely on the artistic and technical merits of the eligible films and achievements.’
Helping hand: Andrea’s shock Best Actress nomination came after several Hollywood stars used their fame to help promote her struggling movie
Why did Andrea’s lobbying campaign cause concern?
It has been reported that Andrea had help from some of Hollywood’s most powerful figures, starting off with actress Mary McCormack who also happens to be the wife of To Leslie director Michael Morris.
She spread the word to her celebrity friends to watch the movie and share their love of it after To Leslie’s distributor, Momentum Pictures, apparently ‘dropped the ball.’
It’s been said that Andrea’s manager Jason Weinberg and Mary were at the forefront of To Leslie’s campaign to reach wider audiences.
An email from Mary is said to have read ‘If you’re willing to post every day between now and Jan 17th, that would be amazing! But anything is helpful, so please do whatever makes you comfortable. And what’s more comfortable than posting about a movie every day!’
While it may have been a particularly enthusiastic campaign, the film’s stars claimed they had to take matters into their own hands because To Leslie’s distributor, Momentum Pictures, apparently ‘dropped the ball.’
To Leslie star, comedian Marc Maron, made the accusation on his WTF podcast in January, saying: ‘The f***ing distributor dropped the ball on facilitating something that would bring a lot more attention to the movie.
‘And now this movie with a 100 per cent Rotten Tomatoes score that everyone should see has been hobbled by the people responsible for putting it out there.’
Andrea was a guest on his popular podcast when he made these comments.
Friends in high places: Gwyneth Paltrow (pictured with To Leslie star Andrea, director Michael Morris and Demi Moore) held a screening just days before Oscar nominations voting started
Shared post: The actress told her 8.2 million followers that the movie was a ‘masterpiece’ in a post that was shared on her account and the movie’s page
Which famous stars promoted Andrea’s film?
Among those singing the movie’s praises was Academy Award winner Charlize Theron, who first hosted a screening for the movie in November.
‘It’s the kind of movie that stays in your mind. It stays in your bones. [It] even stays in your skin,’ she said of To Leslie, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Even before this, Howard Stern, who was shown To Leslie by its director and his wife back in July, had been singing its praises on his SiriusXM show in October, Variety reported.
Friends star Jennifer Aniston and Glass Onion actor Edward Norton also held screenings at their homes.
After seeing the film, Edward wrote: ‘I don’t post a lot about films or actor performances… maybe I should more often. But for those interested in really great acting I’ll share that Andrea Riseborough’s portrayal in “To Leslie” just knocked me sideways.
‘It’s about the most fully committed, emotionally deep, physically harrowing performance I’ve seen in a while. Just raw & utterly devoid of performative BS.
‘It’s a tough but really elegant & compassionate film (by Michael Morris) where the emotion is really earned.
‘I happened to catch it and, wow, I was really staggered by the depth she reached. Very rare. Check it out.’
Support: Glass Onion actor Edward Norton also held a screenings at his home and tweeted that ‘Andrea Riseborough’s portrayal in “To Leslie” just knocked me sideways’
Following these events, Andrea and a team of publicists ‘started working the phones,’ and got their ducks in a row with a good base of support during the holidays at the end of 2022.
As the new year came, Hollywood powerhouse Gwyneth Paltrow played host to a January screening, declaring To Leslie a ‘masterpiece,’ just days before voting for Academy Award nominations was poised to begin.
‘Last night we had the true pleasure of watching a masterpiece of a film called To Leslie. Directed by our friend [Michael Morris] and starring the incomparable [Andrea Riseborough],’ the Iron Man actress wrote in a January 11 Instagram post.
‘I am stunned by all of the performances. Andrea should win every award there is and all the ones that haven’t been invented yet.’
Shout out: Cate Blanchett, who is also nominated for an Oscar, shouted out Andrea’s performance during her Best Actress acceptance speech at the Critics Choice Awards
Four days later at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, Cate Blanchett, who won Best Actress for Tár, shouted out Andrea’s performance during her acceptance speech.
‘It is extremely arbitrary considering how many extraordinary performances there have been by women [this year], not only in this room, but Andrea Riseborough and Tang Wei and Penélope Cruz. The list goes on and on and on,’ she said.
During a Q&A for the film, host Kate Winslet praised Andrea’s performance.
‘This was so fantastic. I loved it. You should be up for everything, you should be winning everything,’ she told the To Leslie star who was appearing alongside the director during the session.
‘I think this is the greatest female performance on-screen I have ever seen in my life. And I love you, and congratulations.’
Despite all the backings of some of Hollywood’s most powerful actors and actresses, Andrea was surprised by her Academy Award nomination.
‘I’m astounded,’ she told Deadline on Tuesday when the nominations were announced.
‘It’s such an unexpected ray of light. It was so hard to believe it might ever happen because we really hadn’t been in the running for anything else. Even though we had a lot of support, the idea it might actually happen seemed so far away.’
Andrea is up against Tár’s Cate Blanchett, Blonde’s Ana de Armas, The Fabelmans’ Michelle Williams and Everything Everywhere All At Once’s Michelle Yeoh.
At the moment the Best Actress is tipped to be won by with Cate or Michelle.