As you’d likely be expecting, Kristen Stewart remains out in front this month in the race for Best Actress. But there’s been a shuffle of the nominees who may be joining Stewart in the final five, particularly the emergence of Nicole Kidman. There was much online backlash to Kidman’s casting as Lucille Ball in Being the Ricardos. Now that we’ve seen the film and Kidman knocks it out of the park, she launches straight into the top five this month. Could she actually be the main rival to Stewart’s crown?
Olivia Colman is also breathing down Stewart’s neck with her stellar performance in The Lost Daughter. The film is emerging as a potential dark horse across the board and Colman could be looking at her third nomination in just four years. Naturally, the fact Colman won Best Actress relatively recently may hurt her chances, but that didn’t stop Frances McDormand last year.
Now that House of Gucci has debuted to a fairly disappointing reaction from the critics (currently 61% on Rotten Tomatoes), Lady Gaga tumbles out of my top five this month. Gaga is the best damn thing about the film, so she could still snatch a nomination. Conversely, the rapturous response to Licorice Pizza might push Alana Haim towards a nomination for her debut performance. Haim faces an uphill battle against bigger names like Stewart, Kidman, Colman, and Jessica Chastain, but it’s entirely plausible.
But the one to really keep an eye on is Rachel Zelger for West Side Story. With rave reviews and a surprise win from the National Board of Review, Zegler could be the real dark horse in this race. The Academy loves to award young ingénues and a win for Zegler would make her the youngest Best Actress winner in history. Like Haim, Zegler faces tough competition against former nominees and winners, but never say never.
BEST ACTRESS PREDICTIONS:
1. Kristen Stewart – Spencer (Neon)
2. Jessica Chastain – The Eyes of Tammy Faye (Searchlight Pictures)
3. Olivia Colman – The Lost Daughter (Netflix)
4. Nicole Kidman – Being the Ricardos (Amazon Studios)
5. Penélope Cruz – Parallel Mothers (Sony Pictures Classics)
IN CONTENTION
Jodie Comer – The Last Duel (20th Century Studios)
Lady Gaga – House of Gucci (MGM)
Alana Haim – Licorice Pizza (MGM)
Jennifer Hudson – Respect (MGM)
Emilia Jones – CODA (Apple TV+)
Rooney Mara – Nightmare Alley (Searchlight Pictures)
Frances McDormand – The Tragedy of Macbeth (A24/Apple TV+)
Renate Reinsve – The World Person in the World (Neon)
Tessa Thompson – Passing (Netflix)
Rachel Zegler – West Side Story (20th Century Studios)