2011 Oscar Nominees

Best Actress

 

Natalie Portman (Black Swan)

If you’ve seen Black Swan, you know it’s a “nail biter.” On the face of it, Portman’s character, Nina, a fragile ballerina who’ll do just about anything to land the lead in a version of Swan Lake, seems normal. But with careful and precise acting on Portman’s part, Nina’s childlike innocence starts to come undone, and frightfully so. It’s a brave turn for Portman who churns out what has to be her best performance in years. Who else could make a ballet-psycho thriller so elegant? Her Golden Globe award win for Best Actress only confirms the fact that she’s Hollywood’s favorite and a shoe-in to take the Oscar.

 

Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole)

Nicole Kidman is no stranger to the Oscar race. She won for her portrayal as Virginia Wolfe in The Hours. She seems to have a knack for choosing roles that tug at your heartstrings, which is why it comes as no surprise that she’s gained accolades for her role in Rabbit Hole. In the film, Kidman plays Becca, who, along with her husband (Aaron Eckhart) is coping with the loss of their four-year-old son. Her dramatic and gripping turn playing a mother trying to regain control of her life and marriage reminds us why Kidman is such a great actress and deserving of the nomination.

 

Annette Bening (The Kids Are All Right)

When Annette Bening first read the script for The Kids Are All Right, she knew she had to play the role of Nic, one half of a lesbian couple raising two children. Bening is spot on as she and co-star Julianne Moore’s characters re-evaluate their lives as their two children search for their biological father (Mark Ruffalo), whom Nic and Jules used as a sperm donor. Bening’s performance is superbly real as she portrays this richly drawn portrait of a modern family. Her recent Golden Globe win for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical, gives her an edge, but will she be able to beat Portman?

 

Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone)

A major part of earning an Oscar nod revolves around an actor’s ability to dive so deeply into a character that you almost forget whom the actor is. This is the case for Lawrence who threw herself emotionally into the role of Ree Dolly, a young girl who risks her life to hunt down her drug-dealing father while trying to avoid the wrath of her outlaw kin. Even if she doesn’t take home the big award, Lawrence’s talents will definitely be exposed, opening her up to great opportunities in Hollywood.

 

 

Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine)

Michelle Williams’ best performances seem to fly quietly under the radar. She earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role opposite Heath Ledger in Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain and always manages to grab attention onscreen no matter how small the part. In Blue Valentine—co-starring Ryan Gosling—about a married couple who attempt to save their failing marriage— Williams once again proves her talent. Gosling and Williams journey through the brutal heartbreak that comes with fading love and broken promises. She portrays such a raw sense of emotion that you can’t help but get sucked into her world, which is why Williams is a top contender in this category.

By Toni-Marie Ippolito