Best Actress may be the most important category of the entire Academy Awards, so to fully prepare ourselves for the show, we must review the roles these women are up for. Let’s check out the nominees.
Viola Davis, The Help
As Aibileen Clark, Davis plays a 1960s-era Mississippi servant who agrees to take part in a controversial book about African American servants and their views on the families they work for. Fresh from the Lead Actress win at the NAACP Image Awards, Davis is the strongest contender for the Oscar.
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn
Playing a lovable Marilyn, Williams tackles a role that’s hard to master by most, effortlessly characterizing the insecurities felt by the enigmatic actress. I like Williams, but I think the other nominees have a little more to offer this time around.
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Meryl Streep plays British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in this Phyllida Lloyd-directed biopic. The range of Streep’s acting ability is incredible, from a real hardass in The Devil Wears Prada to a sweet Julia Childs in Julie & Julia. It’s no surprise that she’s a nominee, but I’d be surprised if she won.
Glen Close, Albert Nobbs
Close stars as Albert Nobbs, who’s actually a woman posing as a man in order to work at a really fancy Dublin hotel in this 19th century-set movie. Though I’m not entirely familiar with Close’s work, anyone who plays Norma Desmond on Broadway gets props in my book.
Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Rooney Mara plays Lisbeth Salander, a young computer hacker who is enlisted by journalist Mikael Blomkvist to help uncover a mysterious disappearance from 40 years ago. Not to be confused with the original 2009 movie by the same name, this one’s cast with English-speaking actors so we don’t have to mess with those annoying subtitles.
From this list of superstars, I’m putting my money on Viola Davis for the win. Who has your vote?
