Reaction to nominations for the 79th Academy Awards:

"I am very pleased that 'The Departed' has been honored with five nominations and particularly happy that the hard work of the entire cast and crew has been rewarded with a Best Picture nomination and that the specific contributions of Mark Wahlberg, our screenwriter William Monahan and my longtime editor, Thelma Schoonmaker, have been recognized as well."

-- Martin Scorsese, Oscar-nominated director of "The Departed."

"On a professional level, what's really wonderful about it is to be part of a film that dealt with these difficult and painful and contentious events."

-- Paul Greengrass, director nominee for "United 93," speaking on BBC television.

"I think the Academy responded to the movie on an emotional level."

-- Jon Kilik, a producer of Best Picture nominee "Babel."

"If you get put in a list with those guys you've done pretty well."

-- Stephen Frears, director of "The Queen," talking to BBC television about fellow Best Director nominees Clint Eastwood ("Letters From Iwo Jima") and Martin Scorsese ("The Departed").

"The biggest effect it's having on little kids is they all want to go to tap-dancing lessons."

-- George Miller, director of animated feature nominee "Happy Feet."

"It is one of the hardest roles to play, not just a living person but one who is part of our everyday lives in Britain. ... I hope that my performance has conveyed a sense of Elizabeth the woman as well as the queen."

-- Helen Mirren, on her Best Actress bid for "The Queen."

"I'm in frighteningly good company. It is very nice of the queen to allow me in for a minute."

-- Judi Dench, Best Actress nominee for "Notes on a Scandal," with a nod to Helen Mirren, in a statement from London.

"I am going to be screaming and whooping all day long. I really thought I wasn't going to get a nomination. I am really going to try to enjoy this moment. I'm speechless."

-- Kate Winslet, Best Actress nominee for "Little Children."

"I'm honored to receive this nomination from the Academy, especially in a year full of such worthy nominees. I'm grateful to everyone who has supported 'Blood Diamond.' Being nominated is a tribute to everyone who worked on this film -- especially Ed Zwick. I am also thrilled for Djimon, Mark and Marty -- all so deserving of this recognition.

-- Best Actor nominee Leonardo DiCaprio, from London, where "Blood Diamond" was premiering.

"I have tremendous respect for all the actors in this category and it's a great honor to be in their company. It's extremely encouraging to see a small film be recognized at this level. By recognizing me I feel that it honors everyone I love, and for that I am truly grateful."

-- Best Actor contender Ryan Gosling, from "Half Nelson."

"Without a doubt, receiving this nomination will stand out as one of the highlights of my career."

-- Eddie Murphy, Supporting Actor nominee for "Dreamgirls."

"Any time someone says you have an opportunity to work with Martin Scorsese you jump at the chance."

-- Mark Wahlberg, Supporting Actor nominee for "The Departed."

"I was like 'Oh, my God!' and I screamed kind of a little bit like how I did in the movie,"

Abigail Breslin, whose mother woke her with the news about her supporting bid for "Little Miss Sunshine."

"I still can't believe that I was one of the cast members. I was nominated because of the energy and teamwork from every one of the talented people involved in the film." -- Rinko Kikuchi, Supporting Actress nominee for "Babel."

"For years he's been in the wilderness on global warming. Now he's ready for his grand walk. Now he's at the Academy Awards. It's a hero's return."

-- Davis Guggenheim, director of Al Gore's "Inconvenient Truth," a documentary feature nominee.

"I am now going out to buy a new dress."

-- Susanne Bier, director of Denmark's foreign language nominee, "After the Wedding," talking to Copenhagen's TV2 News.

"If each one of them got nominated on their own, that would be great, but the fact that they all did ... that's just too much for one little girl this early in the morning."

-- Salma Hayek, nominations announcer, on a slew of bids for Hispanics, including friends Penelope Cruz ("Volver") and director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu ("Babel").