The following is a basket of facts about the 76th Academy Awards ceremony.

- New Zealand teenager Keisha Castle-Hughes became the youngest best actress nominee in Oscars history at the age of 13. The previous youngest person to be nominated was French actress Isabelle Adjani, who was 20 when she won a nod in 1975 for "The Story of Adele H."

While more youthful actors have been nominated in the past, it has always been in other categories from best actress. Justin Henry was eight when he won a best supporting actor nod for "Kramer v. Kramer in 1979, Jackie Cooper won a best actor nomination in 1931 for "Skippy" when he was just nine years old, and Tatum O'Neil was 10 when she was nominated for best supporting actress in 1973 for "Paper Moon." Another New Zealander, Anna Paquin, won a best supporting actress Oscar for 1993's "The Piano" at the age of 11.

- With her best actress nomination for "Something's Gotta Give," veteran Hollywood star Diane Keaton, 58, who won a best actress Oscar for 1977's Annie Hall, has now received one nomination in each of the last four decades.

- "Lost in Translation" director Sofia Coppola was the first American woman ever to be nominated in the male-dominated category at the Oscars. Female New Zealand director Jane Campion was nominated for "The Piano" in 1993 and Italian Lina Wertmueller won a directing nod for her 1976 film "Seven Beauties."

- Coppola's award made her famous family - including her father Francis Ford Coppola and grandfather Carmine - the second three-generation Oscar-winning clan. The first were the Hustons: Walter, John and Anjelica. -AFP