Best Actress: Ranking Every Oscar Nominee
Written by Andreas Babiolakis
Last year’s winner: Renée Zellweger-Judy.
Okay, frankly, this category was the worst to rank so far. I know we’re entering the big groups now once we reach Best Actress, but still. Usually there is a little bit of give-and-take in a category like this, but I sincerely think every nominee here is worthy of even winning in their own way. It also doesn’t help that there isn’t a clear distinction of who is going to win this award yet (this is being written before the SAG Awards, so that could already be an untrue statement by the time this article is published). This was a painful list to rank. I’m really not happy at all, but I still tried my best. Don’t get too mad at me for these rankings, because I think every single candidate is fantastic in general, and especially great this year. Here are your nominees.
Biggest Snub: Sophia Loren-The Life Ahead
I don’t think the Academy got anything wrong with the five nominees it selected, but I still like to think of one omission for each group. I consider Sophia Loren’s late-career work in The Life Ahead to be the closest honourable mention here. Even in her mid-to-late eighties, Loren is a masterful actress, able to convey every emotion under the sun with complete ease. Again, the Academy didn’t make a mistake in this category, but something in me deep down wishes Loren was acknowledged for this fantastic work.
5. Frances McDormand-Nomadland
I don’t want this to be true, but I stared at my list of five nominees for who knows how long and had to face the facts: I might have to place Frances McDormand last. That devastates me, because I think we see such a beautiful side of McDormand in Nomadland: a minimalist realism that adds to her never-ending portfolio of endless possibilities. Even though McDormand isn’t getting by with monologues or other award-grabbing niches, she feels so authentic in this film, and adds to the film’s semi-documentary feel. These nominees are molecules apart, and I don’t want you leaving thinking that McDormand didn’t do a good job. She did. This is just an insanely tough year in this category.
4. Viola Davis-Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
I also don’t feel great about having Viola Davis second last, but, again, it’s that kind of a year. The slight disadvantage is that Davis isn’t in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom quite as long as you’d expect (I’d consider her almost a supporting role, which is strange since the film is somewhat about the person she is playing). However, she steals every scene she is in, so the picture is automatically Davis’ once more. Even though we’re seeing Davis doing what she does best, it’s also crazy seeing her taking on some new risks (she is a mightily believable performer for sure). You can’t go wrong with Viola Davis, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is no exception.
3. Vanesa Kirby-Pieces of a Woman
While I think Vanessa Kirby has a really good performance for the most part that might not quite match what McDormand or Davis can pull off, it’s the strong scenes in Pieces of a Woman that won me over. I mean, Kirby takes on a hell of a lot of difficult material here; from the long one-shot birth scene (even that alone is enough) to various reflections of grievances, Kirby puts on a juggling act of emotions that not just anybody can do. At her best in this film, Kirby feels almost untouchable. It’s sad that she is touted as the least likely to win, because she really does hold up amongst her peers here.
2. Andra Day-The United States vs. Billie Holiday
I thank the stars above that Andra Day was in The United States vs. Billie Holiday, because she is virtually the only major reason to watch that film. Even though the picture collapses all around her, Day is absolutely phenomenal as the late singing icon, and every single moment is hers and hers alone. Whether it’s her convincing performances (being a singer first helps, but this is still Holiday and not Day we’re watching) or the heavy scenes that she nails (again, singer first, so this is especially shocking), this is someone who should be acting. I hope we see more of Andra Day after this brilliant performance; it’s honestly strong enough to make a terrible film feel even just slightly mediocre. She really is that good.
1. Carey Mulligan-Promising Young Woman
Out of all of the strong nominees, I ultimately am going with Carey Mulligan in Promising Young Woman here. I think she has a few things going for her that I cannot deny. Firstly, the premise of the film is how her character fights against male toxicity by pretending to be vulnerable, luring awful guys, and then confronting them once they’re ready to abuse her. She is mightily convincing with both her “acts” and her interventions. Secondly, she is in this strange genre bending film Emerald Fennell has concocted, and that’s something people underestimate all the time: the ability to match each and every mood, tone, and beat. Mulligan is funny, charming, frightening, thrilling, moving, and magnetic in every single way. To be able to say this is her best role is one thing; consider everything she has done previously (all excellent), and you’ll realize just how damn good she is here.
Our Review of Promising Young Woman
Who I want to win: In all honesty, anyone here. They’re all deserving of the Oscar. However, I’ll say Carey Mulligan, because I firstly think she is the best of the group, and I secondly think she has been neglected by the Academy for far too long and has been deserving of an Oscar for a very long time; this is her year to shine.
Who I think will win: We’re twenty days away from the ceremony, and I still don’t have any idea (again, this is written before the SAG Awards, so things can change). A few thoughts. Viola Davis was the frontrunner for this category two months ago, but that seems to have changed. Then we have Carey Mulligan and Andra Day, both with major things in their favour. For Mulligan, each Best Picture nominee usually gets a win somewhere else, and its sole win could be for Mulligan (a lot of Oscar prophets seem to agree). However, I’m still not sleeping on Day after her Golden Globes win. Of course, those awards didn’t change every category (Jodie Foster won and wasn’t even nominated), however, here Day is. This is a very peculiar year. Anything can happen. Votes for Mulligan and McDormand (another Best Picture film representative) can get split, or elsewhere, and a wild card can swoop in (Day, or even Davis). I honestly couldn’t tell you, and I’m sure my answer will change very soon, but right now, I’m feeling like Carey Mulligan may finally get her Academy Award.
Tune in tomorrow for our next Academy Award category! We’re reviewing every single nominee.
Andreas Babiolakis has a Masters degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Ryerson University, as well as a Bachelors degree in Cinema Studies from York University. His favourite times of year are the Criterion Collection flash sales and the annual Toronto International Film Festival.