The star of “Sound of Metal” is also part of another academy record: with Steven Yeun of “Minari,” it’s the first time two men of Asian descent are up for best actor at the same time.
For an actor notorious for not sleeping before shooting a new movie, Riz Ahmed sounded remarkably laid-back recounting how he’d learned Monday about his best-actor Oscar nomination for “Sound of Metal.” He was in bed. From which, before dawn in Northern California, he had calmly turned on YouTube, watched the results and then called his family. And then his adrenaline started pumping. To play Ruben, a punk-metal drummer and recovering heroin addict struggling with hearing loss, the British-born Ahmed spent nearly a year learning American Sign Language and drumming — dedication that has already earned him Golden Globe, BAFTA, Critics Choice and SAG nominations. Now “Sound of Metal,” a high-octane, critically heralded Amazon drama, is a multiple Oscar contender. “It feels lovely, particularly to see the film get six nominations,” he said. “For your own nomination, you feel very lucky and humbled. But for your teammates, seeing things like best editing and best picture and Paul Raci” — his co-star — “you’re punching the air and you’re jumping up and down in your bed. I feel over the moon and just so excited for the rest of the team.
