Lupita Nyong'o found it ''surreal'' to hear she was nominated for an Oscar and says she cried when she heard the news.

 The '12 Years A Slave' actress watched the nominations broadcast on TV with her friends and found it ''surreal'' when her name was read out in the Best Supporting Actress category. She said: ''I chose to watch it. I had a deliberation with my best friends, we were together here in LA and I chose to watch it because I thought, you know, I want to hear it from the horse's mouth either way.

''I raised my hand up and I just closed my eyes and cried and said thank you, thank you, thank you. It was so surreal to hear my name in that context.'' The 30-year-old actress is excited about the forthcoming ceremony, whether she wins the award or not, but is viewing it as the ''final celebration'' for '12 Years a Slave'.

Speaking on 'Piers Morgan Live', she said: ''I am just so grateful and stoked to be going to the Oscars and to be going there with so many other people from this amazing picture that I got to be a part of. I mean it's going to be the final celebration, you know.''