This year's Oscar nominations have proven to be perhaps the most diverse and inclusive yet, and at the forefront of that is Octavia Spencer, who just scored her third consecutive nom for The Shape of Water.
Spencer is now the first black actress in Oscar history to receive two consecutive nominations after a win (she took home Best Supporting Actress in 2011 for The Help and was nominated again for her role in last year's Hidden Figures.) The nomination also makes her the first black actress in the Oscars 90-year history to receive nominations in two back-to-back years, and ties her as the most nominated black actress ever, alongside Viola Davis, who won Best Supporting Actress last year for her role in Fences.
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Black male actors have received significantly more noms throughout the Academy's history--Denzel Washington, who's nominated this year for his role in Roman J. Israel, Esq. and has earned five other nominations and two further wins, as well as a nomination as a producer on Fences.
Rachel Morrison, the cinematographer on Mudbound, also made history this year when she became the first woman ever to be nominated in the category.
