Not only is she Grammy nominated, but M.I.A. can now add Oscar nominee to her résumé. And to think, one year ago, most people didn’t even know her name.
The Sri Lankan artist was nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Original Song for “O… Saya,” her collaboration with composer A.R. Rahman featured on the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack. Nominees were announced in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Thursday.
The rapper, born Maya Arulpragasam, received a Record of the Year Grammy nod for her hit “Paper Planes” in December. She is pregnant with her first child and the baby is due next month, around the same time as the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on February 8.
The 81st Annual Academy Awards will air live on February 22 from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Calif.