Mexican actor gets surprise Oscar nod

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Recognized in his native Mexico, but little-known in the U.S. - this hasn't stopped actor Demian Bichir getting his first best actor Oscar nomination for his role in "A Better Life".
SOUNDBITE: Actor, Demian Bichir, saying (Spanish):
"It's a tremendous honor. Not just to be featured on this list of five names, or the 15 or 20 extraordinary jobs I had the year before, but that I am amongst this list of names."
Bichir plays an undocumented Mexican gardener in L.A., struggling to give his teenage son a better life.
He says he hopes the Academy Award buzz will encourage more people to see the movie, dedicating his nomination to migrant workers in the U.S.
SOUNDBITE: Actor, Demian Bichir, saying (Spanish):
"They are men, women and children that I saw and spoke to every day in Los Angeles, that are everywhere. The majority of them are invisible and they are our fellow citizens and we need to know they exist. The United States does not give them much credit."
An acting veteran, Bichir landed his first role at the age of 14.
He said he's not feeling pressured to win, even though he's battling Hollywood heavyweights George Clooney and Brad Pitt for the title.
And until the Oscars roll around on February 24th, he can be found on stage at a local theatre in Mexico City.
Tara Cleary, Reuters.