Now that we know Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another) will be campaigned here instead of supporting, that makes this race far more interesting. Even early in the season, it feels like Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), and Cynthia Erivo (Wicked: For Good) are a solid lock for the first three spots, but who takes the final two positions?
Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You) deserves to be there. The fact that she won Best Actress at the Berlin International Film Festival and she’s got the power of A24 behind her should be enough to get Byrne across the line. And she just nabbed a nomination at the Gotham Awards, which kicks her season off in great fashion.
That leaves the fifth spot open to numerous contenders, including Infiniti, who could ride the way of love for One Battle After Another to a deserving nomination. With Searchlight Pictures light on major contenders this year, it appears they’ll throw their weight behind The Testament of Ann Lee, which bodes well for Amanda Seyfried.
And you can’t overlook two previous winners in the form of Emma Stone (Bugonia) and Jennifer Lawrence (Die My Love). Normally, both can cake-walk their way to an Oscar nomination (five and four, respectively), especially with such lauded performances. But neither of their films has all that much buzz, making their paths more difficult than usual.
BEST ACTRESS PREDICTIONS:
1. Jessie Buckley – Hamnet (Focus Features) – Gotham
2. Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value (NEON)
3. Cynthia Erivo – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
4. Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (A24) – Gotham
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)
