2020 Awards Season: Oscar Highlight: Best Leading Actress

February 5, 2020

Judy

Our annual Oscar Prediction contest is underway so now is the best time to look at the nominees and try and figure out who the favorites are and which films should just feel honored to be nominated. We are continuing our shortened schedule with Best Leading Actress. In this category, there is an absolute favorite and I will be so pissed if she doesn’t finally win.

(Note: All previous awards listed are only for acting and not other categories. However, they are for supporting and lead acting. Previous awards and nominations for TV roles are not included, on the other hand.)

Best Leading Actress

Cynthia Erivo for Harriet
Tomatometer Score: 73% Positive
Movie's Previous Major Nominations: Golden Globe and SAG
Movie's Previous Major Wins: None
Actress's Previous Major Nominations: None
Actress's Previous Major Wins: None
Notes: This movie is one of the weaker films on this year’s list and Cynthia Erivo’s career is too new to earn a make-up Oscar.

Scarlett Johansson for Marriage Story
Tomatometer Score: 95% Positive
Movie's Previous Major Nominations: BAFTA, Golden Globe, SAG, and Independent Spirit Awards
Movie's Previous Major Wins: Independent Spirit Awards
Actress's Previous Major Nominations: One Oscar, Three BAFTAs, Four Golden Globes, and One Film Independent Spirit Awards
Actress's Previous Major Wins: One BAFTA
Notes: Scarlett Johansson earned two Oscar nominations this year and it is incredibly rare for an actor to do that. That said, she isn’t the favorite in either category. It does increase her chances for a win later on, as this will be seen as a double-snub by some.

Saoirse Ronan for Little Women
Tomatometer Score: 95% Positive
Movie's Previous Major Nominations: BAFTA and Golden Globe
Movie's Previous Major Wins: None
Actress's Previous Major Nominations: Three Oscars, Four BAFTAs, Three Golden Globes, Four SAGs, and one Film Independent Spirit Awards
Actress's Previous Major Wins: None
Notes: Saoirse Ronan is going to win a make-up Oscar sooner rather than later. Hopefully it is for an amazing performance in a great movie and not something I will have to grumble about.

Charlize Theron for Bombshell
Tomatometer Score: 70% Positive
Movie's Previous Major Nominations: BAFTA, Golden Globe, and SAG
Movie's Previous Major Wins: None
Actress's Previous Major Nominations: Two Oscars, Two BAFTAs, Five Golden Globes, Four SAGs, and one Independent Spirit Award
Actress's Previous Major Wins: One Oscar, One Golden Globe, One SAG, and One Independent Spirit Awards
Notes: This film earned the worst reviews on this year’s list and Charlize Theron has already won an Oscar. Maybe she will win another, but not this year.

Renée Zellweger for Judy
Tomatometer Score: 82% Positive
Movie's Previous Major Nominations: BAFTA, Golden Globe, SAG, and Independent Spirit Award
Movie's Previous Major Wins: BAFTA, Golden Globe, and SAG (One Pending)
Actress's Previous Major Nominations: Three Oscars, Thee BAFTAs, Six Golden Globes, Five SAGs, and Two Independent Spirit Awards
Actress's Previous Major Wins: One Oscar, One BAFTA, Three Golden Globes, and Three SAGs
Notes: It has been 16 years since Renée Zellweger was nominated for an Oscar. She did win for Cold Mountain and that’s the only reason she isn’t a lock for this year’s Oscar. She’s still a major favorite, as none of the other nominees have a strong story, while Oscar voters love a comeback story.

Conclusion: Renée Zellweger should win for Judy, while Scarlett Johansson is a distant second place.


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Filed under: Awards Season, Judy, Little Women, Harriet, Bombshell, Marriage Story, Charlize Theron, Renée Zellweger, Scarlett Johansson, Saoirse Ronan, Cynthia Erivo