Do we possibly finally have a frontrunner for Best Supporting Actress forming? After earning rave reviews for her spectacular performance in West Side Story, Ariana DeBose has begun to dominate the wins from the critics groups. Add that to her Golden Globe and Critics Choice Awards nominations and the growing buzz for her film overall, and DeBose is emerging as a formidable contender.
But let’s not get too ahead of ourselves. Best Supporting Actress is easily the most fiercely contested of the four acting categories, and DeBose certainly has a tough battle on her hands against contenders like Caitríona Balfe, Kirsten Dunst, Aunjanue Ellis, and Ruth Negga. The latter three have also picked up their fair share of love from the critics groups and Balfe stars in a bonafide Best Picture contender in a performance that’s borderline category fraud.
So what when will this race really begin to firm up? The SAG nominations in mid-January will certainly shed some light on the possible final five. Without a live ceremony, the winner of the Golden Globe won’t get the press that’s usually elicited from those awards, but it’s likely to still be a nice boost for their campaign.
While I’m starting to think these five are becoming more concrete, there’s still a chance the Belfast love pulls Judi Dench along for a nomination. The Academy might not be able to resist the chance of nominating the legendary Rita Moreno, who won an Oscar in 1961 for the role DeBose breathes new life into. And it’s never wise to discount the possibility of another nomination for Meryl Streep, even if the reaction to Don’t Look Up has been less than stellar.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS PREDICTIONS:
1. Ariana DeBose – West Side Story (20th Century Studios)
2. Caitríona Balfe – Belfast (Focus Features)
3. Kirsten Dunst – The Power of the Dog (Netflix)
4. Aunjanue Ellis – King Richard (Warner Bros.)
5. Ruth Negga – Passing (Netflix)
IN CONTENTION
Cate Blanchett – Nightmare Alley (Searchlight Pictures)
Jessie Buckley – The Lost Daughter (Netflix)
Glenn Close – Swan Song (Apple TV+)
Toni Collette – Nightmare Alley (Searchlight Pictures)
Judi Dench – Belfast (Focus Features)
Ann Dowd – Mass (Bleeker Street)
Sally Hawkins – Spencer (Neon)
Kathryn Hunter – The Tragedy of Macbeth (A24/Apple TV+)
Marlee Matlin – CODA (Apple TV+)
Rita Moreno – West Side Story (20th Century Studios)
Martha Plimpton – Mass (Bleeker Street)
Meryl Streep – Don’t Look Up (Netflix)