There was only one major award in November for leading acting in the form of the Gotham Awards gender-neutral leading performance category, which went to Sopé Dìrísù (My Father’s Shadow), so that obviously has no bearing on the Best Actress race. December will be the month to really see this category come alive.
After the cooler Wicked: For Good reviews (it’s tumbled down to 67% on Rotten Tomatoes) arrived in November, Cynthia Erivo takes a slight tumble down in the top five rankings. It’s still highly likely she nabs another nod for playing Elphaba, but if she starts missing with groups like SAG and BAFTA, she could be in danger of missing with the Academy.
The buzz around Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You) feels like it’s only growing stronger by the week. Perhaps she is the true dark horse contender that could dethrone Jessie Buckley (Hamnet). To be honest, I don’t think anything can stop Buckley, but it’s always fun attempting to make a set-in-stone category a bit more exciting, right?
BEST ACTRESS PREDICTIONS:
1. Jessie Buckley – Hamnet (Focus Features) – Gotham
2. Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value (NEON)
3. Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (A24) – Gotham
4. Cynthia Erivo – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
5. Amanda Seyfried – The Testament of Ann Lee (Searchlight Pictures) – Gotham
IN CONTENTION
Jodie Foster – Vie Privée (Sony Pictures Classics)
Julia Garner – Weapons (Warner Bros.)
Kate Hudson – Song Sung Blue (Sony Pictures Classics)
Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) – Gotham (Breakthrough)
Jennifer Lawrence – Die My Love (MUBI) – Gotham
Julia Roberts – After the Hunt (Amazon MGM Studios)
June Squibb – Eleanor the Great (Sony Pictures Classics)
Emma Stone – Bugonia (Focus Features)
Sydney Sweeney – Christy (Black Bear)
Tessa Thompson – Hedda (Amazon MGM Studios) – Gotham
Eva Victor – Sorry, Baby (A24)
