Defamer Predictions: The Best Actress Oscar Nominees
Enough of those supporting actors and actresses—let's get to some bigshots! The Best Actress category could go five for five with A-list female stars, but is the most famous contender the likeliest to get shafted?
SURE LOCKS
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road
Meryl Streep, Doubt
In a category that's never really crowned a frontrunner, Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep were always sure bets. Now, though, Kate Winslet comes charging in on the strength of her Golden Globe win for Revolutionary Road; it didn't affect her sure nomination, but suddenly this category seems like the one she'll campaign for.
LIKELY NOMINEES
Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
Cate Blanchett, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Amongst our Defamer predictions this season, Sally Hawkins and Cate Blanchett are the shakiest of the "likely" nominees. Sure, they'd seem to fit the Oscar profile: Hawkins has been a critics' favorite, while Blanchett ages an entire lifetime on-screen. So why do they still feel like vulnerable picks?
DARK HORSES
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Melissa Leo, Frozen River
Kristin Scott Thomas, I've Loved You So Long
Winslet accurately summed up Angelina Jolie's buzz at the Golden Globes: "Who's the other one?" Despite her star power and showy (if one-note) performance, Jolie hasn't been able to crack the resistance some in the industry have to this movie. Thus, the dark horses with the best chances are Melissa Leo and Kristin Scott Thomas. We'll find out if anyone but us saw their films.