Oscars coup for Aussies

Australians Simon Baker and Kirk Baxter have been invited to join Hollywood's most exclusive club - the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Baker, star of the television series The Mentalist, and film editor Baxter, who has won back-to-back Oscars, are among 176 actors, directors, designers, cinematographers, editors and other professionals who have been asked to become Academy members.

"These film professionals represent some of the most talented, most passionate contributors to our industry," Academy president Tom Sherak said in a statement.

"I'm glad to recognise that by calling each of them a fellow Academy member."

Other invitees include Matthew McConaughey, Jean Dujardin, Octavia Spencer, Bryan Cranston and Andy Serkis.

Baker was recently seen on the big screen in Margin Call.

Baxter took home the editing Oscars in 2011 for The Social Network and this year for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. In 2009 he was nominated for his work on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.