As Benjamin Button, Brad Pitt portrays a man who is born old and then grows gradually younger as his life unfolds.

This is the second Academy Award nomination and the first Oscar nomination in the Best Lead Actor category for Brad Pitt. Brad Pitt was nominated in the Academy Award Supporting Actor category for his performance in "12 Monkeys" (1995).

I was born under unusual circumstances."

And so begins "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," adapted from the 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards: A man, like any of us, who is unable to stop time. From New Orleans at the end of World War I in 1918, into the 21st century, on a journey as unusual as any man's life can be, the film tells the grand tale of a not so ordinary man and the people and places he discovers along the way, the loves he finds and loses, the joys of life and the sadness of death, and what lasts beyond time.

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," stars Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Taraji P. Henson, Julia Ormond, Jason Flemyng, Elias Koteas and Tilda Swinton. The film is directed by David Fincher. The screenplay is by Eric Roth, with screen story by Eric Roth and Robin Swicord, based on the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The producers are Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Ceán Chaffin.

The behind-the-scenes team is led by director of photography Claudio Miranda, production designer Donald Graham Burt, editors Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall, and costume designer Jacqueline West. The music is by Alexandre Desplat.

Brad Pitt

BRAD PITT (Benjamin Button), one of today's most-watched film actors, is also a successful film producer, with his company Plan B Entertainment. He was an Academy Award® nominee for his performance in Terry Gilliam's "Twelve Monkeys," for which he won a Golden Globe Award. He was also a Golden Globe Award nominee for his performances in Edward Zwick's "Legends of the Fall" and Alejandro González Iñárritu's "Babel."

Pitt most recently starred in Joel and Ethan Coen's comedy thriller "Burn After Reading," which had its world premiere as the opening night attraction at the 2008 Venice International Film Festival. The previous year, he was named Best Actor at Venice for his portrayal of Jesse James in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" directed by Andrew Dominik. Opposite George Clooney, his "Burn After Reading" co-star, he also appeared in Steven Soderbergh's hits "Ocean's Eleven," "Ocean's Twelve" and "Ocean's Thirteen."

Born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, he grew up in Springfield, Missouri, and attended the University of Missouri at Columbia where he majored in Journalism. Right before graduation, he moved to Los Angeles to study graphic design, but instead began to pursue an acting career, studying with Roy London. Soon after, he began securing roles in television, including the series "Glory Days" and the acclaimed telefilms "The Image" directed by Peter Werner and "Too Young to Die?" directed by Robert Markowitz.

It was Mr. Pitt's role in Ridley Scott's Academy Award®-winning "Thelma and Louise" that first brought him national attention. He soon went on to star in Robert Redford's Academy Award®-winning "A River Runs Through It," Dominic Sena's "Kalifornia" and Neil Jordan's "Interview With the Vampire." He has also starred in Tom DiCillo's "Johnny Suede," which won the Golden Leopard Award for Best Picture at the 1991 Locarno International Film Festival; Ralph Bakshi's "Cool World," Tony Scott's "True Romance," Barry Levinson's "Sleepers," Alan J. Pakula's "The Devil's Own," Jean- Jacques Annaud's "Seven Years in Tibet," Martin Brest's "Meet Joe Black," and two previous David Fincher films "Se7en" and "Fight Club."

More recent films include Doug Liman's "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," which was one of 2005's biggest hits, Wolfgang Petersen's "Troy," Patrick Gilmore and Tim Johnson's animated feature "Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas," Tony Scott's "Spy Game," Gore Verbinski's "The Mexican," Guy Ritchie's "Snatch," as well as cameo roles in Soderbergh's "Full Frontal" and Clooney's "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind."

Pitt's Plan B Entertainment develops and produces film and television projects. Plan B has thus far produced such films as Martin Scorsese's "The Departed," which won four Academy Awards®, including Best Picture and Best Director, Michael Winterbottom's "A Mighty Heart," for which Angelina Jolie received Golden Globe, Independent Spirit, Critics' Choice, and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations, Tim Burton's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" starring Johnny Depp, Ryan Murphy's "Running with Scissors," for which Annette Bening received a Golden Globe Award

2009 Best Lead Actor Oscar Nominations
81st Academy Awards 2009 Best Lead Actor Oscar Nominations

Richard Jenkins as Walter in "The Visitor"

Richard Jenkins plays Walter, a lonely widower whose life undergoes a transformation when he finds two illegal immigrants occupying his New York apartment.

This is Richard Jenkins' first Academy Award Oscar nomination.

Frank Langella as Richard Nixon in "Frost/Nixon"

In the role of Richard Nixon, Frank Langella portrays the former president at the time of his failed attempt to resuscitate his career through a series of interviews with talk show host David Frost.

This is Frank Langella's first Academy Award Oscar nomination.

Sean Penn as Harvey Milk in "Milk"

Sean Penn plays Harvey Milk, a transplanted New Yorker whose decision to campaign for a place on San Francisco's Board of Supervisors becomes a landmark event within the gay rights movement.

This is Sean Penn's 5th Oscar nomination in the Best Leading Actor Academy Award category. Sean Penn was previously nominated for Dead Man Walking (1995), Sweet and Lowdown (1999) and I Am Sam (2001), and won the Oscar in 2003 for his performance in Mystic River.

Mickey Rourke as Randy in "The Wrestler"

Mickey Rourke plays Randy, a lonely, hard-luck wrestler who resolves to change his life following a serious injury.

This is the first Academy Award Oscar nomination for Mickey Rourke.