Early Thursday morning, Alfonso Cuaron along with Chris Pine and JJ Abrams presented this year's list of nominees.

 As expected, the stars, which featured a good mix of award show veterans and first time nominees were thrilled about it.

 Eddie Redmayne, who plays Stephen Hawking in the biopic, The Theory of Everything earns his first nomination for best actor.

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 "It's an amazing, amazing thing," he said. "It's the crack of dawn here in Los Angeles...Suddenly there was a rap on the door, and I stumbled to the door and it was my manager there with a team of people on the phone screaming, which was very exciting, but I'm just trying to come to terms with it all...It's extraordinary!"

In a statement, he also adds: "I'm so incredibly honored to be recognized by the Academy, and even more thrilled to share this honor with the entire family of filmmakers, cast, and crew of 'The Theory of Everything..' This role was a once in a lifetime experience. Congratulations to my fellow nominees, thank you to the Academy, and thank you most of all to Stephen and Jane Hawking."

Fellow British actor, Benedict Cumberbatch who secured a nominee for his role in The Imitation Game says:

"I am knocked for six by this. So excited and honored to receive this recognition. It's wonderful to be included by the academy in this exceptional year of performances. To ring my parents who are both actors and tell them that their only son has been nominated for an Oscar is one of the proudest moments of my life."

Best actress nominee, Julianne Moore for her role in Still Alice says:

"I am over the moon-actually I am on a plane, flying over the United States. My old friend Bruce Cohen was the first to reach me to tell me the news.   I can't believe that I have gone from doing plays in the 8th grade with Bruce Cohen, to him texting me 100 years later to tell me about an Oscar nomination.  I feel so lucky and proud to be in the company of the other talented actors who were nominated today.  My heart is beating so fast!"

Another first timer, Emma Stone, who gets a nod for a supporting actress role in Birdman shares:

"Well, this is surreal. I am completely knocked out," she said in a statement. "Thank you to the Academy for this incredible honor. I am very proud and lucky to be a part of Birdman and can't believe it came to this. I am so f--king excited. Are you allowed to say f--k when you're making a statement for the Oscars? I'm just really f--king excited."

TagsAcademy Awards, Emma Stone, Benedict Cumberbatch, eddie redmayne, julianne moore