Premature 2019 Oscar Predictions: Best Supporting Actress

We may have put the 91st Academy Awards behind us. However, it’s never too early to look ahead into what lies ahead next season. For this post, we’ll take a premature look at the Best Supporting Actress category. Typically, there’s far more speculation here and Supporting Actor than in the lead acting categories. Either because there could be a film with a co-lead that goes supporting or a film with multiple supporting performances that has people wondering who the big standout will be.
But since there are many sights unseen, we’re currently in the speculation phase. Anyhow, these are my premature predictions in the 2019 Best Supporting Actress category.

Current Predicted Five:

Bold=predicted winner

Annette Bening, The Report: While Glenn Close may have the biggest overdue narrative when it comes to being Oscarless, Annette Bening certainly has one herself. Currently with a 0-4 record, Annette Bening’s chance could finally come with The Report where she plays Senator Dianne Feinstein. Along with being overdue, what helps is her small role in the blockbuster hit Captain Marvel which’ll boost her visibility. Also, she’ll be hitting the stage this spring, doing a Broadway revival of All My Sons. Having a big year while contending for playing a real-life person sounds like a strong recipe for pulling off an Oscar win.

Laura Dern, Untitled Noah Baumbach Project: Laura Dern may not possess the same Oscar record as Annette Bening. As of now, she currently has two nominations for Rambling Rose and Wild. But there is a case to be made for her to win an overdue Oscar. She’s worked with practically everyone, is part of a beloved acting family, and even almost became AMPAS President. Also, she’s poised to have a big year with this, Little Women, and season two of Big Little Lies. Not much is known about the role she plays in the film which depicts Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson as a couple going through a divorce. But if it turns out to be a meaty role, she could be on track for her third nomination based on the material and her immense industry goodwill.

Florence Pugh, Little Women: While the Academy likes to recognize beloved veterans, they’re also about shining a light on new talent. Rising star Florence Pugh has garnered notices for Lady Macbeth back in 2017. However, 2019 looks to be her year. Along with the recently released Fighting With My Family, she also has Little Women along with the horror film Midsommar which comes later this summer. Because Little Women is unseen, it’s unclear who from the supporting female cast will be the standout. But for now, I have Florence Pugh pulling a “Jessica Chastain in The Help” and garnering a nomination to cap her potential star-making year.

Margot Robbie, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood: Speaking of young talent, Margot Robbie previously got welcomed into the Oscar club with I, Tonya. She even was in the running last year for Mary Queen of Scots and scored both a SAG and BAFTA nomination. But she’s throwing her hat back in the Oscar ring with Once Upon A Time In Hollywood where she plays actress Sharon Tate who was murdered while pregnant by the Manson family. In addition, she’ll have a role in the upcoming Roger Ailes project opposite Charlize Theron and Nicole Kidman.

Octavia Spencer, Luce: Octavia Spencer won rave reviews back at Sundance for her turn in Luce as a teacher a little too interested in the background of a pupil student. Spencer is a previous Oscar winner for The Help and has been nominated twice after for Hidden Figures and The Shape of Water. So, she already has plenty of respect and if the movie manages to land, then Spencer could easily be its acting representation.

Outside Looking In:

6. Anna Paquin, The Irishman: It’s been 26 years since Paquin won her Oscar for The Piano. But her upcoming role in The Irishman as Peggy Sheeran, the daughter of Irish mobster Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran, could manage to help net her a comeback nomination. For what it’s worth, actresses in Scorsese movies sometimes have good luck. If you ask Lorraine Bracco and Cathy Moriarty, they’ll tell you.
7. Janelle Monae, Harriet: This singer-turned-actress was previously in the running for Hidden Figures. But her role in the upcoming biopic Harriet could be the one that does the trick for her if it’s sizeable enough and the movie hits big.
8. Tiffany Haddish, The Kitchen: Tiffany Haddish’s star has fastly grown since Girls Trip which had people banging the drum for her to get an Oscar nomination. But her role as a mobster’s wife in The Kitchen could be her ticket. One key question is who the standout in the main trio (Melissa McCarthy, Elisabeth Moss, Tiffany Haddish) will be. Also, what kind of tone will the crime film go for? Will it be too comedic or serious enough to contend?
9. Allison Janney, Untitled Roger Ailes Biopic: The list of supporting actresses in this film is quite heavy. But given how Allison Janney won in this category not long ago, Janney could land an afterglow nomination. Her role as Susan Estrich, a lawyer who represented Fox News founder Roger Ailes after the sexual harassment allegations against him, could give her plenty to chew on.
10. Catherine Deneuve, The Truth: Hirokazu Kore-eda’s English language debut is about a woman (Juliette Binoche) and her diva actress mother (Deneuve) who have a rough reunion. Whether Binoche or Deneuve is the bigger lead remains to be seen. But judging by how the narrative veers mostly towards Binoche, Deneuve might be the supporting player. In addition, she’d end up securing her first Oscar nomination in 27 years.
What do you think of these predictions? Agree or disagree? Please share your thoughts in the comments section!