With three weeks to go until nomination voting is completed, the Best Actress race is extremely competitive for that one last slot. Frances McDormand (“Nomadland”) Vanessa Kirby (“Pieces of a Woman”), Viola Davis (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”), and Carey Mulligan (“Promising Young Woman”) are pretty much locked at this point. Waiting in the wings to crash the party are Michelle Pfeiffer (“French Exit”), Andra Day (“The People vs. Billie Holiday”), Zendaya (“Malcolm & Marie“),. Oh, and is there room for screen legend Sophia Loren (“The Life Ahead”) or surprise SAG Awards nominee Amy Adams (“Hillbilly Elegy”)? Ponder oh Oscars. Ponder. [Updated Feb. 17]
THE FOUR
Frances McDormand, “Nomadland”
Viola Davis, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
Vanessa Kirby, “Pieces of a Woman”
Carey Mulligan, “Promising Young Woman”
FIGHTING FOR THE FIFTH SLOT
Michelle Pfeiffer, “French Exit”
Zendaya, “Malcolm & Marie”
Andra Day, “The United States vs. Billie Holliday”
Sophia Loren, “The Life Ahead”
Amy Adams, “Hillbilly Elegy”
Sidney Flanigan, “Never Rarely Sometimes Always”
Yeri Han, “Minari”
2021 Oscar Contenders and Predictions
Best Picture
Best Director
Best Actress
Best Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actor
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.
