"I was on location when I found out about the nomination. The words in Bulgarian definitely make me happiest, because I am and will always remain a Bulgarian girl. I'm proud of that.' That's what said exclusively for NOVA TV Maria Bakalova, our first actress to receive an Oscar nomination.

She adds that even the mere fact that her name is placed next to those of Glenn Close, Olivia Colman and Amanda Seyfried is already a great success.

Maria Bakalova is writing history. She is only the third Eastern European woman and the second in the Balkans who can boast an Oscar nomination. The nominees before her were former USSR-born Polish actress Ida Kaminska in 1967 and the late Greek goddess Melina Mercuri, who won an Oscar for the 1960 film Never on Sunday.

"The price of this success is may be my childhood. I went to two schools studying from morning to night. However, one should always dream and take risks. Life is lived only once. I can say that the recipe for success is hard work and risks", says Bakalova.

"Sasha Cohen is an extremely inspiring person and a very good teacher. He's probably the guy who taught me the most things. He's willing to sacrifice his life for the sake of revolutions through his art, in the name of being equal, loving and supporting each other as people," the actress said.

She added: "Behind the mask of all these jokes and banter in Borat 2 there are much more serious messages - how we treat others, how we treat people because we are all equal. It's important that we love each other, support each other and come together again.'

On the scene with Rudy Giuliani, for which Bakalova was also nominated for "Golden Raspberry," she commented: "I can't wait for the ceremony. I'd take it for me and my screen partner, without whom the movie wouldn't be the same. I was worried and scared when this scene was shot. In such scenes, you really don't know what's going to happen. People are unpredictable, but you keep going."

"As far as I know, to a large extent Sasha is provoked to influence elections through his art. He has been living in America for about 20 years and has his own established position. He has the right arguments when he says what‘s right and what’s wrong. Certainly the film had some effect on America, but I don't know what it is," she said further.

"I heartily thank all the people who have been with me over the years. These words are simple, but they really mean a lot. I believe in love and I can't wait to go back to Burgas to see mom and dad," Bakalova said.

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