English actor Carey Mulligan, renowned for her role in ‘Maestro,’ joyously celebrated her Oscar nomination in the company of her family. The youngest of Mulligan’s three children was taken aback upon learning of her mother’s prestigious recognition.
“When my name came up, everyone screamed, and my baby started crying,” shared Mulligan, who is married to Marcus Mumford. Mulligan portrays Felicia Montealegre, the wife of iconic composer Leonard Bernstein, portrayed by Bradley Cooper, who is also an Oscar nominee. Mulligan was drawn to the film by the compelling portrayal of the real-life couple’s tumultuous connection.
Expressing her admiration, Mulligan told National Public Radio, “I think they had an incredible life. They’ve got, you know, three wonderful children, and they’ve left behind this incredible legacy of love. But I think there is a universality to the film in that it is a depiction of a marriage, you know, and every marriage, regardless of any of the details, is deeply complicated and very challenging at times.”
Mulligan and Cooper opened up to PEOPLE about the film, their camaraderie, and shared their love for music in the magazine’s annual Oscar portfolio.
“Music’s always been a big part of my life in lots of ways before I started acting at all,” Mulligan expressed. “My grandmother, I used to sing with her. She’s Welsh. She passed away, sadly. But singing is a huge part of Welsh culture.”
Reflecting on her personal connection to music, Mulligan, married to Mumford & Sons’ lead singer since 2012, added, “I grew up singing and loving music and then married a musician.”
The 96th Academy Awards, to be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, is set to broadcast live on March 10 from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, at 7 p.m. ET.
