Early 2016 Oscar Predictions: First Look at Best Actress

I don’t think you need to look any further than the female contenders for Best Actress at the Oscars to notice the lack of diversity for prominent roles in Hollywood for women of color. I have a list of 20 contenders at this point and not a single one of them is a woman of color. I guess I could include a few just for the sake of ensuring my list has some measure of diversity, but who? Phylicia Rashad is supporting in Creed and I assume the same goes for Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Concussion as well as Emayatzy Corinealdi in Miles Ahead. Otherwise, who is there to add?

Every year around the time I’m putting together my list of Oscar contenders and the lack of diversity always hits me square in the face. I don’t know who is to blame, but as I’m putting together that header image it’s pretty much impossible to ignore. Now, I can’t dwell on the social commentary forever but I don’t want it to be forgotten, or have you think it has been overlooked, as we take our first look at what this year has in store.

Of my top five contenders at the time, two were seen at the Cannes Film Festival and another impressed at Sundance while two others have yet to be seen.

Following the premiere at Cannes, it seems impossible not to place two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett at #1 with Carol. This film, however, may find itself with an interesting Oscar campaign as many believed Blanchett and co-star Rooney Mara (who won Best Actress at Cannes) are co-leads. For now I’m placing Mara in the supporting category, but time will tell if that’s how The Weinstein Co. will keep it as we know they are going to do whatever appears to be the best course of action to ensure the best chance for an Oscar win.

In second I can’t help but go with Jennifer Lawrence and her latest outing with David O. Russell in Joy. Three Oscar nominations in recent years and one win already in her young career, Lawrence seems primed for a fourth nom.

The hottest female actor at the moment, however, might be Alicia Vikander who makes my list of contenders not once, twice or even three times. No, I have her on here four times and it’s for The Danish Girl that I place her in the top five. Other possible films that might earn her a nomination include Ex Machina, Tulip Fever and The Light Between Oceans and that’s to leave off Testament of Youth due only to the fact it’s already in theaters and the conversation will be targeting one of these roles in the future. I have to draw the line somewhere.

Next is Emily Blunt playing a strong character in Denis Villeneuve‘s Sicario. I don’t feel quite as confident in this early pick due to the film receiving mixed-to-positive reviews out of Cannes, but the mere fact Blunt has never been nominated for an Oscar is a wrong that must be righted.

Finally, it may be time for Saoirse Ronan to get her second nomination for the much buzzed about film out of Sundance, Brooklyn. I haven’t seen the film yet, but there are plenty of high marks for her work and the film also stands a good chance at a possible Best Picture nomination at this time.

Now, personally I haven’t seen too many of this year’s contenders yet, though two I will be pulling for myself based on what I have seen are Charlize Theron (Mad Max: Fury Road) and Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina). Hell, I would even throw Maika Monroe in there for her performance in It Follows, but I know she’s not going to make it, though I’ll be pushing like crazy for that film’s score and sound to secure nominations.

All that being said, here again is my ranked top five and you can click here for my full field of 20 contenders.