Kentucky's Michael Shannon was nominated for an Academy Award for his sterling work in Revolutionary Road, as the human truth serum who angrily tells Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet the facts of life.

As a first-time nominee -- and one of the four men who, honourably, lost the best supporting actor Oscar to Heath Ledger -- there is the sense that Shannon has finally been "discovered" as a great American character actor.

At 34 and as a veteran of 17 years of stage and screen work, Shannon finds that notion amusing, even bizarre.

"It's interesting to me because I've been acting for a very long time," Shannon tells Sun Media as Revolutionary Road debuts on DVD this week.

"Even after Revolutionary Road -- which has been very thrilling, especially to receive all these accolades and, of course, the nomination -- it is actually not even close to what I am most recognized for.

"The two things that I am most recognized for are 8 Mile and Bad Boys II. So it's kind of ironic to me to hear that I have been 'discovered' in Revolutionary Road because I've literally had people yell down the block, 'You're the guy in ... "

One New York fan, Shannon remembers, went by on a bike, stopped and turned to say: 'You're in 8 Mile! You're the one who blank, blank, blanks the mom!' "

Shannon remembers thinking, 'Hey, you've got some manners on you. What a lovely young man you are!'

Shannon has also been in small roles in big movies such as Pearl Harbor, Vanilla Sky and World Trade Center.

"The big Hollywood pictures, the studio spectacles, those are the ones where you lose a little bit of your anonymity. I actually don't have many people come up to me on the street and say, 'Oh, you were in Revolutionary Road.' So I guess the word 'discovered' depends on what arena you're in."

Shannon has also had bigger roles in smaller movies such as Bug, a role he originated on stage. But he never sneers at working in the mainstream movies, including both 8 Mile and Bad Boys II.

"When I did those films, those were huge opportunities for me. I was working with some of the biggest stars in the world. So it is not as if I don't take them as seriously. Not only are they important in and of themselves, but they are an important part of building your career. You can't just do little tiny movies that nobody sees, because then people won't hire you. You've got to be visible."

Shannon's current visibility may help sell Sam Mendes' minor masterpiece on DVD. Revolutionary Road, which cost $35 million, earned a relatively modest $75.2 million worldwide, almost 70% of that outside of North America, according to Box Office Mojo.

"Yes, I think it suits DVD viewing," Shannon says. "There are some films that are better seen in a theatre and some films that may actually benefit from watching at home. This is a very contemplative film. It is not a blockbuster. There are no giant robots that are going to jump in your face. It is a very thoughtful, meditative film."

Shannon is a big believer in the bonus materials. He recommends the director's commentary.

"To hear Sam Mendes talk about what he does is a real pleasure," Shannon says. "That guy is so smart it's ridiculous. So it is a privilege to get a glimpse into how he approaches things."

'Freak' says 'people are kind of scared of me'

Despite his thrilling Oscar nomination for Revolutionary Road, American character actor Michael Shannon does not expect to generate a lot of work from his newfound fame, unlike best supporting actress nominee Tariji P. Henson.

"I think people are kind of scared of me," Shannon tells Sun Media when asked about the heat generated in his career since the nomination.

Henson, who co-starred with Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, revealed recently she has won a slew of new roles without even having to audition. Shannon says it is easier for her than it is for him.

"Tariji is like, this sweet, beautiful woman who is very charming, a lovely personality, and I'm basically like, this freak!"

Shannon plays Kathy Bates' son in Revolutionary Road, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as a married couple experiencing a crisis in their cozy suburban life in the 1950s. Shannon's character is a blunt-spoken man who lives in an insane asylum and dispenses truth on his day outings.

Shannon is working, however.

"The truth of the matter is that I had already signed on to do some things before the nomination, so I am fulfilling obligations I had from before."

That includes the action horror movie Jonah Hex and TV pilot, Boardwalk Empire.

There is one possible new role, as the manager in the Joan Jett biopic, The Runaways, with Kristen Stewart (Twilight) as the rocker.

"That's no comment," Shannon says of the rumours. "We're still trying to figure that out. But I'm definitely interested in it."

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