Though it’s only October, and not all “Oscar caliber” movies have been seen by critics or Academy voters, it’s rather safe to predict that five of the women listed below (in the first two categories) will be vying for Best Actress Oscar gold.
Two of the five may be African-American!
If you want to know more about the Oscars, please read my book, All About Oscar: History and Politics of the Academy Awards (11th edition).
Frontrunners (in alphabetical order)
Annette Bening (20th Century Women)
Viola Davis (Fences)
Taraji P. Henson (Hidden Figures)
Ruth Negga (Loving)
Natalie Portman (Jackie)
Emma Stone (La La Land)
Meryl Streep (Florence Foster Jenkins)
Strong Contenders
Amy Adams (Arrival)
Marion Cotillard (Allied)
Isabelle Huppert (Elle)
Also in the Run
Jessica Chastain (Miss Sloane)
Rachel Weisz (Denial)
Long Shots
Emily Blunt (The Girl on the Train)
Rebecca Hall (Christine)