In an industry where early recognition is often prized, acclaimed actor Delroy Lindo is savouring a monumental milestone: his first Academy Award nomination. At 73, after more than five decades in the business, Lindo received a Best Supporting Actor nod for his portrayal of blues musician Delta Slim in Ryan Coogler's record-breaking film, "Sinners."

Speaking on Good Morning America, Lindo shared his heartfelt reaction, "It feels terrific," he said. "I'm still processing, if I'm really honest, but it's wonderful. And part of my response has to do with how positive everybody else's response has been. A lot of support, a lot of love. It feels really good," he added.

He recounted the perfect moment he received the news. "My son called me. I was in bed," Lindo said, describing being halfway between sleep and waking. "The phone rang, and I picked it up, and my son was on the other line, and it's perfect that I got the news from him," he narrated.

Despite his extensive experience, the role of Delta Slim presented a unique challenge. Lindo highlighted the difficulty of the musical aspects, explaining, "The musical aspect -- the piano, the keyboard and the harmonica -- it's a different side of the brain... sometimes the mind and the fingers, they don't line up well," he stated. He credited incredible musicians who helped him prepare for the part.

His admiration for director Ryan Coogler, whose film earned a historic 16 nominations, was overflowing. "I don't have the words to articulate how thrilled I am for Coogler," Lindo expressed. "From the very first time I read the script, I saw what he was trying to do, and it's extraordinary that audiences have embraced it and embraced his vision." He added that in a recent long talk, Coogler, in typical fashion, wanted to focus the conversation on Lindo.

Lindo said he "had no idea" the genre film would become such a cultural phenomenon, with fans returning to theatres multiple times. "I think the fact that there are so many narratives going on in this film is part of the reason that audience members are going back two, three, four, five times to see this," he observed. "People are saying that when they go back and watch it, they're seeing different things... a testament to Ryan Coogler."

The film is returning to select IMAX 70mm theatres starting January 30 for audiences to experience it anew during awards season. Lindo will await the results at the 98th Academy Awards, broadcast live on ABC and Hulu on Sunday, March 15.