Cage Celebrates Oscar Nod

In the middle of a radio interview in London this morning, Actor Nicolas Cage learned from a friend that he had just been nominated for an Academy Award in Hollywood.

Th Best Actor nomination was for his work playing twins in "Adaptation."

"My friend came in and told me, so there was like a bit of -I heard a big shout, and so it was exciting," Cage told The Early Show in an interview minutes later.

Cage said there was a real challenege in playing screenwriter Charlie Kaufman and his fictitious twin brother, Donald.

"The interesting thing about it was trying to really think and feel as one character, and lose myself in that character," he said, "but in this case, having to get outside myself enough to recall what I had done as the other character. So that you're sort of doing several things at once."

He said part of the challenge was also to "sometimes looking at a tennis ball or an 'x' on the wall and trying to imagine, you know, what the other character had done and still be in character as another character. Which gets very, very confusing. And then you have to sort of switch five or six times a day, back and forth."

But Cage said he welcomed the opportunity to learn more about his craft. "And so any kind of challenge I can have is definitely exciting for me," he said.

"Adaptation" received several nominations, among them a record-setting best supporting actress nomination for Cage's co-star Meryl Streep. That is her 13th nomination; she now been nominated more than any other actor or actress in the history of the Academy Awards.

The nomination was not a surprise to Cage, he said. Though he did not get to work that much with her during the film, he said Streep's personality makes her special.

"She's a delightful person, and she's got a great sense of humor, and full of laughs, and surprises," Cage said. "I also think she cares a lot about the work. And I see her really as a maestro. But to be able to see she's also so much fun to work with is just great. And she's always been, I think, very selective and careful about how the choices she's made."

Chris Cooper, less of a household name, was nominated for Best Supporting actor for his work in "Adaptation."

"He is a decent man. And I think he really has a good soul," Cage said. "I think that that emanates in his work, in his eyes. No matter what kind of character he's playing, whether it's, you know, the father in 'American Beauty' or John Larouche in this; I see a lot of sincerity and I see a lot of depth in him. Plus, you know, real technical skill to be able to transform himself and not even really look like himself from role to role."

"Adaptation" was also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. The experience as a whole, Cage said, was gratifying and highlights the originality of the writer, Charles Kaufman.

"I'm very happy for Charlie. I think that he's a true original. You know, where some people may see the picture as being unconventional, I don't think he sets out to make pictures to be unconventional. I think this is really a sincere expression for him," Cage said.

He also praised the studio for giving the story a chance to be on the big screen.

"I'm really happy for Sony pictures, because they were courageous enough to take a chance on such unusual material," he said. "And it is a studio film. So I think we are, in terms of 'Adaptation,' seeing evolution, as well, in the studio system."