Based on the films that have been seen and just expected performances, I don’t think you’ll find too many rabid disagreements with my predictions for the top five in the Best Actress category. You may have a couple of possible alternatives, just as I do, but unless something goes radically wrong with Meryl Streep‘s performance in The Iron Lady it would seem at least three nominations are pretty much guaranteed at this point. But I’m not about to say things can’t change. I have a 4-6 person race for the final two spots at this point, which only proves… it’s still early.
First, as I mentioned already, is Meryl Streep. Sixteen Oscar nominations to her name, two wins and considered by most to be the best actress of all-time. However, of the top five contenders… in fact, of my top seven contenders, her’s is one of two performances no one has seen yet. I have her as my #1 at this point, but everyone knows these early season number ones are tough to hold on to.
In second I have Viola Davis who gives an excellent performance in The Help, but I’m still not sure it’s a performance that will take her into the winner’s circle She has a strong chance at this point and should she pull it off she would become only the second black actress to ever win the Best Actress Oscar. Come to think of it, should she be merely nominated she would only be the ninth black actress to even be nominated, that, at the very least, I hope we can count on.
Glenn Close is my third pick and it seems buzz on her performance in Albert Nobbs is solid, but that many believe she is somewhat overshadowed by Janet McTeer’s supporting performance. Could that end up working against her?
Michelle Williams has the other performance no one has yet seen, and should she be able to pull off Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn you better believe the buzz surrounding this two-time Oscar nominee will get louder.
Finally, for my number five I’m currently going with the newcomer, Elizabeth Olsen, for her performance in Martha Marcy May Marlene. The young actress blew ’em away at Sundance, again at Cannes and will probably do the same in Toronto where she will also be seen in Peace, Love and Misunderstanding. I recently sat down with the actress and her director, Sean Durkin, in Seattle and just a few minutes with her shows what a professional she is and just how great her performance is. For her to stifle such a buoyant personality in such a reserved and paranoid role was just marvelous.
Where questions begin to rise are with my current #6 and #7 placements, Keira Knightley (A Dangerous Method) and Jodie Foster (Carnage) respectively. Buzz on both is high and both could probably also campaign in the Best Supporting Actress category. For now it appears Sony Classics is looking at Best Actress for both, but the campaigning has yet to officially begin.
Behind them you have Charlize Theron (Young Adult) and Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), both of which could blow us all away and turn this into a real dogfight. Personally, that’s what I’m rooting for.
I’ve listed out my top five in order below, but to check out the full list of all 17 contenders and notes on each you can click here.
- Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady)
- Viola Davis (The Help)
- Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs)
- Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn)
- Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene)
Tomorrow I will reveal my Best Actor predictions so stay tuned, and if you haven’t yet checked out the new Oscar Predictions homepage click here and be sure to bookmark it.
As the season continues any update I make to the predictions will be revealed on that page and as more and more categories are revealed the page will begin to fill up as we head toward Tuesday, January 24 when the Oscar nominations are announced.
