If we know anything this Oscar season it’s that Renée Zellweger and Scarlett Johansson are locks for a Best Actress nomination for their performances in “Judy” and “Marriage Story,” respectively. The final three slots are much more competitive. Can Cynthia Erivo ride some TIFF momentum for her performance in “Harriet”? Will Awkwafina be remembered for a career defining turn in “The Farewell”? Could Charlize Theron earn her second statue for “Bombshell”? Will Alfre Woodward‘s stunning accomplishment in “Clemency” find enough traction? Is Saoirse Ronan’s leading role in “Little Woman” worthy of a nod? Ponder. [Updated September 17]
PRETTY MUCH NOMINEES
Renée Zellweger, “Judy”
Scarlett Johansson, “Marriage Story”
ALMOST THERE
Awkwafina, “The Farewell”
Cynthia Erivo, “Harriet”
Saorise Ronan, “Little Women”
Charlize Theron, “Bombshell”
Alfre Woodard, “Clemency”
Lupita Nyong’o, “Us”
Natalie Portman, “Lucy In The Sky”
Felicity Jones, “The Aeronauts”
Kristen Stewart, “Seberg”
Constance Wu, “Hustlers”
LONGSHOTS
Julianne Moore, “Gloria Bell”
Elisabeth Moss, “Her Smell”
Jodi Turner-Smith, “Queen & Slim”
More Oscar predictions
Best Picture
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Director
Editor-at-Large Gregory Ellwood is one of the entertainment industry's most respected journalists and critics. Based in Los Angeles, he's the only current awards expert who previously worked on Oscar campaigns at a major movie studio. Over the years, he has written for the LA Times, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and Vox, among others. He also co-founded the entertainment news site HitFix, which spawned a legion of influential Emmy and WGA Award-winning alumni.
