10 Best Actress in a Leading Role Potentials for the 2010 Oscar Awards

Only one actress can take home the golden statue for Best Actress in a leading role when the Academy Awards air in March. This year the field is full of talent, versatility, and experience. Most of these thespians are no stranger to a Hollywood movie set. Here are my ten picks of actresses who could possibly earn the title of Best Actress in a Leading Role.

Meryl Streep 'Julie and Julia' Columbia Pictures. Our list starts off with a seasoned veteran that holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations received by any actor in the business. Meryl Streep, motion picture, TV, and stage star plays the chef Julia Childs in the movie, Julie and Julia. As always,she is convincing in the role. Meryl has a gift for handling accents and mannerisms,which she does effectively in this film as she bounces around the kitchen reminding you of the celebrity chef. Written and directed by Nora Ephron, Stanley Tucci also stars as her hubby. Meryl's performances are always strong, so look for her to be a definite stand out in the field. Release date: August 7, 2009.

Gabourney Sidibe 'Precious' Lionsgate Films. Since its release, there has been quite a stir about this movie that takes place in Harlem, circa 1987. Newcomer Gabourney Sidibe plays tormented teen Precious who was raped by her father and abused by her mother. She is the only newby in the group but you would never know it, because she performs like a seasoned pro. Her character Precious has a lot on her plate-- two babies as a result of her father's rape, and school which is a bummer as she finds herself sixteen and not able to read and write. All of this, and she has to find a way to deal with the pain and still go on. Many have commented that it is a difficult movie to watch and it is hard to shake off after you have left the theater. Based on the novel "Push" by Sapphire, it was released November 6, 2009.

Helen Mirren 'The Last Station' Sony Classic Pictures. Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer present the story of Leo Tolstoy's last chaotic years. Mirren is Countess Sofya, Tolstoy's spirited wife, who has her whole world turned upside down after 50 years of marriage and loyal devotion. Picture this: it's 1910 in Russia, and Tolstoy, an aristocrat who has had one of the most prolific writing careers of his time suddenly decides to toss it all away, discarding his noble title, and all he owns, even his 13 children, choosing poverty and celibacy. Sofya becomes engaged in a battle to protect her husband's literary works from Tolstoyians who are trying to take his writings and keep her wits during this time of crisis. Like Meryl, Helen has been to the Academy Awards before and is a consummate professional. The stakes are even higher when you do a movie based on a true story, like the films both these women appeared in because people know the characters, so you have to be good. Release date: December 4, 2009.

Michelle Moaghan 'Trucker' Plum Pictures. This is an Indy drama about a woman who is a little rough around the edges and drives a big rig. When her ex-husband becomes seriously ill, he can no longer care for their 11 year old son, so he has to come to live with her. Of course, being a mom is the last thing she wants. As the picture unfolds, you see the adjustments she and her son have to make, especially dealing with life on the road. Moaghan earned the San Diego Critics Society's Best Actress Award and many consider it her best performance to date. Release date: October 9, 2009.

Robin Wright Penn 'The Private Lives of Pippa Lee' Screen Media Films. Release on November 27, 2009, this picture is a sleeper and did not do well at the box office, but Robin Wright Penn has been around the block a few times and she puts in a solid performance. Married to a man thirty years her senior, she has two children, and from outward appearances it seems she has it all together. But, in actuality, her sense of self and identity is slipping away. Throughout the film she works to get her life back. Keanu Reeves, Blake Lively, and Julianne Moore also star.

Saoirse Ronan 'The Lovely Bones' DreamWorks Pictures. Although this actress is only 15 years old, she is a previous Academy Award nominee, too, for Best Supporting Actress in the movie "Atonement." Ronan has had an incredible meteoric rise and may find herself at Oscar's door once again. She portrays 14 year old Susie Salmon, who was murdered and can see her family while dead. Ronan also sees the effects her death has on her family, but more importantly, she can see the killer covering his tracks after killing her and preparing to kill again. This film had three releases: a limited one on Dec 11, 2009, an expanded one on Christmas Day, and wide release was on January 15, 2010, when it hit major theaters across the US.

Sandra Bullock 'The Blind Side' Warner Bros Pictures. Sandra Bullock has always been one of my favorite actresses and this movie is a departure from her usual romantic comedies. Never mind that, she shows you what she's got in this film based on a true story. Bullock portrays Leigh Ann Tuohy, a strong-willed, wealthy southern wife who takes in one of her daughter's friends that is almost basically homeless and gives him a new chance at life. Bullock pulls off bossy, confident, and supportive, convincing you she is Leigh Ann Tuohy. I think Bullock has a very good chance of winning an Oscar with this performance. This could be her year. Release date: November 20, 2009.

Abbie Cornish 'Bright Star' Apparition. Love is in the air in this film that goes back in time to the year 1818 in London, where the poet John Keats begins a secret love affair with his neighbor, Fanny Browne. Ben Wishaw is Keats and Cornish, the outspoken fashion student Fanny. Charles Brown (Paul Schneider) is Keat's best friend who tries to break them up. However, when Keat's brother dies, Fanny consoles him and the two grow close and they have a beautiful love affair until Keats becomes ill. I like movies based on true stories. A Jane Champion film, it appeared at the Cannes Film Festival. Release date: 2009.

Zoe Saldana 'Avatar' 20th Century Fox. Sci-fi thriller "Avatar," starring Zoe Saldana as Neytiri and Sam Worthington as Jake has already passed the movie "The Dark Knight" in sales at the box office, making it the second-highest-grossing film ever. And, it is slowly closing in on the number one movie of all time--"Titanic." James Cameron, who directed "Titanic" 12 years ago, can thank his lucky stars that he is also the screenwriter and director of "Avatar." An incredible feat by all Hollywood standards. Zoe hit the scene in the first "Pirates of the Caribbean," and also appeared in "Star Trek." In this flick, Saldana is a brave warrior living on the planet Pandora in the future and a member of the Na'vi people. Ex-marine Jake Sully, (Sam Worthington), comes to Pandora and Saldana befriends him and teaches him the ways of her people. There is only one problem--Sam is there to mine a rare substance that is located at a spiritual site. Saldana could be nominated for this performance, or her movie, "Star Trek." She's an upcoming actress on the rise and we look froward to seeing more of her. Hollywood released this picture on December 18, 2009, just before Christmas, which is an excellent strategy Cameron also used with "Titanic" to boost ticket sales.

Emily Blunt 'The Young Victoria' Apparition. Emily Blunt could be the dark horse of this group and walk away with the Oscar. She portrays the young princess Victoria, who ascends the throne at the tender age of 18. Considered young and inexperienced, she is easily influenced by her advisors, including her mother, which results in decisions that are not beneficial to her country. The blossoming relationship with her cousin Prince Albert (Rupert Friend) ends up in marriage and she discovers that he is the only one in her life who has no intention of controlling her and his only desire is to be a loving husband and friend. Release date: December 18, 2009.

The 82nd Annual Academy Awards will be presented on Sunday, March 7, 2010 in the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood and Highland Center in Hollywood and will be televised on ABC TV. Mark the date for an exciting evening when we will find out which one of these deserving actresses will be awarded one of the Academy's highest honors--Best Actress.

Rhonda Manning, http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/oscar_nominations, http:/movies.about.com/od/awards/tp/Best-Actress-2009.html, www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2009/20090325.html, Associated Content.