The Help costars could continue the tradition of making Hollywood history for Black actors.

(BET) This morning, the list for the best and brightest in film for Hollywood was finally announced.  Viola Daviswas nominated for Best Actress for her role as the stoic, proud maid Aibileen Clark in the 1960s period drama The Help. Davis’ stiffest competition comes from her friend, two-time Academy Award winner and now 18-time nominee Meryl Streep her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. If Davis wins the Best Actress award, she will become only the second African-American woman in history (after Halle Berry in 2002) to receive that award in the Academy’s 84-year history.

The Help costar Octavia Spencer received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her turn as the spunky and spirited ‘revenge pie baker’ Minnie Jackson. Last year the 39-year old actress told Anderson Cooper that she beat out A-list actresses Queen Latifah, Mo’Nique and Jennifer Hudson for the breakout screen role. Spencer’s potential win in this category will put her in the ranks of Hattie McDaniel,Whoopi Goldberg and of course, Mon’Nique and Hudson.

Having two Black actresses nominated in two major categories at this year’s Oscar telecast, makes one wonder how differently fun the upcoming ceremony would be if originally tapped host Eddie Murphy worked the stage. But of course now we’ll never know. With nine-time Academy Award veteran host Billy Crystalonce again helming emcee duties, even if we get few fresh surprises we know at least we will be promised laughs. All in all, it should make for a very interesting night.

The Help received four nominations, included one for best picture. See below for a complete list of the nominees.

 Watch the 84th Academy Awards broadcast on Sunday, February 26 on ABC.

Best Actor:

Demian Bichir for A Better Life
George Clooney for The Descendants
Gary Oldman for J. Edgar
Jean Dujardin for The Artist
Brad Pitt for Moneyball

Best Actress:

Glenn Close for Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis for The Help
Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady
Rooney Mara for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Michelle Williams for My Week with Marilyn

Best Supporting Actor:

Kenneth Branagh for My Week with Marilyn
Jonah Hill for Moneyball
Nick Nolte for Warrior
Christopher Plummer for Beginners
Max von Sydow for Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Best Supporting Actress:

Berenice Bejo for The Artist
Jessica Chastain for The Help
Melissa McCarthy for Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer for Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer for The Help

Best Director:

Michael Hazanivicus
Alexander Payne
Martin Scorsese
Woody Allen
Terrence Malick

Best Original Screenplay:

The Artist
Bridesmaids
Mdinight in Paris
Margin Call
A Separation

Best Adapted Screenplay:

The Descendants
Hugo
The Ides of March
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Best Foreign Film:

Bullhead
Footnote
In Darkness
Monsier Lazhar
In Separation

Best Animated Feature:

A Cat in Paris
Chico & Rita
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss in Boots
Rango

Best Picture:

War Horse
The Artist
Moneyball
The Descendants
The Tree of Life
Midnight in Paris
The Help
Hugo
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close