Oscar: The next generation

The next generation

By Susan King, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Gina Piccalo and Rachel Abramowitz contributed to this report

Though the majority of the Academy Award nominees in the major categories are 40 and older -- in fact, supporting actress nominee Ruby Dee is 83 and supporting actor nominee Hal Holbrook is 82 -- there are several who haven't hit their fourth decade. Of those, only Paul Thomas Anderson, 37, is a previous nominee in the original screenplay category (for 1997's "Boogie Nights" and 1999's "Magnolia").

This year, he's a first-time nominee in the adapted screenplay, director and best picture contests for his Daniel Day-Lewis starrer, "There Will Be Blood." Here's a look at the rest of the field of younger hopefuls celebrating their first nominations.