Ava DuVernay is ''hurt'' David Oyelowo has not been nominated for an Oscar.

The 38-year-old Brit stars as civil rights leader Martin Luther King in the DuVernay-directed hit 'Selma', but his performance - which has been widely praised - has not been rewarded with a nomination for the Academy Awards.

She said: ''I was hurt by the fact that David wasn't nominated because I know what it took to get that performance.

''I don't need anyone to tell me that it's one of the best performances of 2014; no one needs to even say that to me because I already know.''

What's more, DuVernay revealed she did not expect to receive a Best Director nomination, despite the movie being a critical success.

She asked: ''There has been no precedent for a black woman to be nominated for best director, so why was it going to change with me?''

However, DuVernay admits to being honoured that 'Selma' has been nominated for one of the top awards.

She remarked: ''We were nominated as best picture, which is nothing to sneeze at. People act like we dragged out of there with nothing. I mean, best picture.''