Morgan Freeman says award nominations have done nothing for his career

Morgan Freeman says getting nominated for high-profile awards like the Golden Globes and the Oscars has done nothing for his film career.

"It does nothing... it hasn't done anything for my career," Fox News quoted him as saying at last week's Critics Choice Awards.

But nominations do have their own advantage. Freeman pointed out: "When you get nominated for anything, you're getting pats on the back. Someone is saying 'Oh, well done' and that never gets old."

The 72-year-old actor, who has won accolades for playing Nelson Mandela in Clint Eastwood's Invictus, believes that Mahatma Gandhi's work should not be overlooked.

He said: "There was also Mohandas K Gandhi, he was in my time also... So Madiba [as Mandela is popularly known in South Africa] is part of that pantheon of really great leaders, people who have done something we will never forget."

Talking about campaigning for his films' promotion, Freeman said: "It's one of the musts you do if you're pleased with your work and you want to sell it."