1. Cate Blanchett for Blue Jasmine
Born: May 14, 1969 - Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Previous Oscar recognition in acting: 1999 - Best Actress for Elizabeth (nom); 2005 - Best Supporting Actress for The Aviator (win); 2007 - Best Supporting Actress for Notes on a Scandal (nom); 2008 - Best Actress for Elizabeth: The Golden Age (nom); 2008 - Best Supporting Actress for I'm Not There (nom)
Oscar snubed performance(s): 2000 - The Man Who Cried; 2003 - Veronica Guerin; 2005 - Little Fish; 2008 - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
COMMENT: A nomination is a guarantee for Blanchett. By far one of the best actresses working today, she's getting nominated for everything and I bet she'll win a huge amount of prizes. She's in the front, she has the raves, she's the center of one of the most acclaimed Woody Allen movies of the new century. Golden Globes, SAG Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, critics' associations prizes... she's getting nominated for all of them. Blanchett's Oscar hopes look simply beautiful.
2. Sandra Bullock for Gravity
Born: July 26, 1964 - Arlington, Virginia, USA
Previous Oscar recognition in acting: 2010 - Best Actress for The Blind Side (win)
Oscar snubed performance(s): none
COMMENT: Not a big fan of her outside the comedy field, but I have to admit Bullock is impressive in her turn in Gravity. The movie is one of the front-runners during the current awards season and judging by its success at the box-office and all the buzz, it will likely get a Best Picture nomination. She delivers a great performance and since she's one of the most beloved celebrities today, I can see her status as her biggest advantage. People love her, audiences payed to see the movie, critics raved Gravity and if she was able to take that golden man home for The Blind Side, then she will get a Best Actress Oscar nomination for breakfast easily!
3. Meryl Streep for August: Osage County
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Born: June 22, 1949 - Summit, New Jersey, USA
Previous Oscar recognition in acting: 17 nominations, 3 wins (1980 - Best Supporting Actress for Kramer Vs Kramer; 1983 - Best Actress for Sophie's Choice; 2012 - Best Actress for The Iron Lady)
Oscar snubed performance(s): 1979 - Manhattan; 2002 - The Hours
COMMENT: The Queen of Movies, in my opinion, the impossible for Meryl would be not getting an Oscar nomination for a role like Violet in August: Osage County. Critics loved her and judging by the traction she's getting during this awards season, awards organizations/associations don't seem to be tired of her. In spite of a recent Oscar win for The Iron Lady, it seems Meryl will score her 18th nomination for what is described as one of her most remarkable performances ever (people went in discussion about a possible fourth Oscar win before starting all the talk around Blanchett). I'm just kind of afraid the AMPAS decides to give the opportunity to another actress since they have already nominated Streep so many times... But I like to think the AMPAS needs Streep more than she needs the AMPAS.
4. Judi Dench for Philomena
Born: December 9, 1934 - York, North Yorkshire, England, UK
Previous Oscar recognition in acting: 1998 - Best Actress for Mrs. Brown (nom); 1999 - Best Supporting Actress for Shakespeare in Love (win); 2001 - Best Supporting Actress for Chocolat (nom); 2002 - Best Actress for Iris (nom); 2006 - Best Actress for Mrs. Henderson Presents (nom); 2007 - Best Actress for Notes on a Scandal (nom)
Oscar snubed performance(s): 1985 - A Room with a View
COMMENT: One of the most respected names in the acting industry, Dame Judi Dench has the respect from everybody and she also has the Oscar buzz for her performance in Philomena. I don't think she has done something remarkable/truly challenging since Notes on a Scandal, but it seems she delivers one of the most praised female performances of the year as an old lady in search for her lost son. Awards season is being kind with her and the Globes expressed all the love around the movie overall (Best Motion Picture - Drama, Best Actress - Drama and Best Screenplay nods), which gave her a lot of Oscar traction. She almost got nominated for Skyfall, things just seem easy on paper with a role like Philomena combined with her talent.
5. Adèle Exarchopoulos for Blue Is The Warmest Color
Born: November 22, 1993 - Paris, France
Previous Oscar recognition in acting: none
Oscar snubed performance(s): none
COMMENT: The Academy members love French actresses, they love French-speaking performances and they also love young beauties, making Adèle Exarchopoulos a perfect combination. Blue Is The Warmest Color is one of the most praised movies of the year and her performance as a young girl the emotional center of the lesbian love story is also one of the bravest and honest ones. I believe the AMPAS will go for the movie itself and since they always like to recognize a breakthrough performance in this category, Adèle Exarchopoulos seems to be in a good position to get a nod. The awards season is helping her a lot (critics associations seem to be totally in love with her and she's taking home the breakthrough performance prizes) and in spite of the Golden Globe and SAG Award snubs, we can't forget Emmanuelle Riva missed that nods too.
6. Emma Thompson for Saving Mr. Banks
Born: April 15, 1959 - Paddington, London, England, UK
Previous Oscar recognition in acting: 1993 - Best Actress for Howard's End (win); 1994 - Best Actress for The Remains of the Day (nom); 1994 - Best Supporting Actress for In the Name of the Father (nom); 1996 - Best Actress for Sense and Sensibility (nom)
Oscar snubed performance(s): 1997 - The Winter Guest; 2003 - Love Actually
COMMENT: I don't know if it is me, but I don't feel the enthusiasm around her in the predictions foruns anymore. She got nominated for the Globes and the SAG Awards, but Hanks is not getting the same support and the movie itself isn't getting a lot of recognition during the awards season. Maybe I'm wrong, but I feel she may be in danger of not getting nominated (just like Helen Mirren for last year's Hitchcock).
7. Brie Larson for Short Term 12
Born: October 1, 1989 - Sacramento, California, USA
Previous Oscar recognition in acting: none
Oscar snubed performance(s): none
COMMENT: The star of one of the indie darlings of the year, Short Term 12, Brie Larson is getting huge support from the critics associations and from the independent cinema awards, making me believe she will be one of the choices of the indie Oscar voters. Her performance is one of the year's best (my opinion) and in spite of what some would call a crucial SAG Award nom for her, I still believe she's a serious contender and she can steal a place that could be for Exarchopoulos or Thompson in the Best Actress nominees shortlist.
8. Julie Delpy for Before Midnight
Born: December 21, 1969 - Paris, France
Previous Oscar recognition in acting: none
Oscar snubed performance(s): none
COMMENT: A complex character and the third part of such a beautiful love story, Delpy is a potential "surprise Best Actress nominee". Independent Spirit Awards and the Globes nominated her, while critics raved her and the internet folks express how much they would love to see her nominated. It may sound crazy, but given all the love around Before Midnight and the internet buzz, I wouldn't be shocked if she gets nominated in the Best Actress field for this one.
9. Kate Winslet for Labor Day
Born: October 5, 1975 - Reading, Berkshire, England, UK
Previous Oscar recognition in acting: 1996 - Best Supporting Actress for Sense and Sensibility (nom); 1998 - Best Actress for Titanic (nom); 2002 - Best Supporting Actress for Iris (nom); 2005 - Best Actress for The Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind (nom); 2007 - Best Actress for Little Children (nom); 2009 - Best Actress for The Reader (win)
Oscar snubed performance(s): 2004 - Finding Neverland; 2008 - Revolutionary Road
COMMENT: Personally, I don't think Winslet will get nominated for Best Actress for Labor Day, but it would be foolish ignoring all the critical praise around her performance in Jason Reitman's latest. Reitman is good with his actors and actresses (specially actresses) and considering how talented Kate is and the previous love the AMPAS showed for her, she's a contender.
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