Oscars 2022: ‘The Power of the Dog’ Actor Kirsten Dunst Reveals ‘Shell Shocked’ Reaction to Her ‘Storybook’ Nomination Alongside Her Real-Life Fiancé Jesse Plemons
Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog dominated awards show conversations rather early in the season. However, the film isn’t only a frontrunner in the Best Picture category. Critics and audiences also praised Campion’s cast and its gorgeous technical qualities. The Power of the Dog actor Kirsten Dunst revealed how she reacted to her Oscars 2022 nomination alongside her co-star and real-life fiancé, Jesse Plemons.
‘The Power of the Dog’ actors Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons are a couple in real life
Campion’s The Power of the Dog is based on Thomas Savage’s 1967 novel that goes by the same name. It follows Phil Burbank, who is a domineering rancher. He torments a young man named Peter Gordon (Kodi Smit-McPhee) and his mother, Rose (Dunst). However, Phil’s life takes a sudden turn when his brother, George (Plemons), soon marries Rose and she brings her son to live with the Burbanks.
Dunst and Plemons play a married couple in The Power of the Dog. However, they’re also a couple in real life. They officially engaged in 2017. The couple welcomed their first son into the world on May 3, 2018, and their second in May 2021. It’s no wonder why they deliver such wonderful chemistry on the silver screen.
Kirsten Dunst reveals her ‘shell shocked’ reaction to her Oscar 2022 nomination alongside Jesse Plemons
Dunst revealed how she reacted to her Oscar 2022 nomination for The Power of the Dog to Variety. This marks the first Oscar nomination for both Dunst and Plemons.
“So Eric Kranzler, my manager, calls me,” Dunst said. “And I’m watching the feed on my phone because my kids are watching cartoons and Jesse’s at work. He had to go to work super early today. And [Eric] called me and he said that I was nominated, so I’m crying with my kids and then they’re like, ‘Why the hell is mom crying?’”
Dunt continued: “And then he calls me back, Eric, and meanwhile I’m like in the throes, talking to my mom or whatever. And then he calls me, he was like, ‘Jesse just … ’ And I started screaming and I hung up the phone. And then Megan, one of my publicists, called me because she’s trying to tell me and I just screamed at her.”
“And then I called Jesse, and I was the first person to tell him and he was a little shell shocked,” Dunst said. “I mean, it’s just so crazy to be a couple and have our first nominations together. It’s like a storybook. You know what I mean? It’s so weird. It’s amazing.”
‘The Power of the Dog’ leads the Oscars 2022
The Power of the Dog is leading all of the Oscar 2022 contenders with 12 nominations. Campion’s film is one of the top frontrunners for Best Picture, although it’s also in the race for several other major categories. The Power of the Dog also earned nominations for Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, two entries in Best Supporting Actor, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Netflix’s film is also in the running for Best Production Design, Best Sound, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Score.
The Power of the Dog is exclusively streaming on the Netflix streaming platform.
