"Belfast" director Kenneth Branagh was a big hit with the Academy this year, earning Oscar nominations in seven different categories — including best original screenplay and best picture — for his autobiographical film. However, Caitriona Balfe failed to make the cut for best actress in a supporting role, despite predictions that she'd snag her first nomination.
Branagh touched on Balfe's snub with "Entertainment Weekly," saying, "We know that this is a phenomenally competitive year. They are just some wonderful films out there, and inevitably, there are wonderful performances. What I know for sure is that I wouldn't have any nominations, for sure, without the incredible work of Jamie Dornan, Caitriona Balfe, and Jude Hill. It sounds clichéd, but I mean it when I say these nominations absolutely belong to them."