Stars wouldn't feel snubbed.

Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe never took Oscar nominations for granted, and would not feel snubbed by their failure to be listed as finalists for an Academy award, their Australian publicist said.

"No-one expects to be nominated, it's a nice surprise if they do. If they don't, it's not their year," Wendy Day said.

"I don't think either Nicole or Russell expect to win, nobody ever expects it."

Ms Day said she had not yet spoken to either of her star clients about not making the cut for the 76th Annual Academy Awards.

Kidman, considered an Oscar sweetheart after last year's win for The Hours, could not gain enough votes to make it into the best actress category for her epic Cold Mountain.

Her best buddy, Naomi Watts, was nominated for the movie 21 Grams.

"Congratulations go out to Naomi, she's the Aussie nominated this year," Ms Day said.

"It's great when any Australian gets nominated, we've been very lucky in recent years - I think we all expect too much."

Crowe, a best actor Oscar winner for Gladiator in 2001 and a nominee two other years, also failed to make the cut for his starring role in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.

But that film's director Peter Weir could walk away from the February 29 ceremony with two Academy Awards.

Weir was nominated in the director's category, and as producer of the film he will claim an Oscar if it wins in the best film race.

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Half of a set :halo: