2011 Academy Award (Oscar) Nominees: Best Actress in a Leading Role

Natalie Portman is an early Academy Award (Oscar) front-runner for the lead actress category after winning "Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama" for her starring role in "Black Swan" at the 2011 Golden Globe Awards . The nomination for "Black Swan" marks Natalie Portman's 2^nd Academy Award nomination. In 2005, she was nominated for "Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role" for her work in the 2004 movie "Closer." Natalie Portman has yet to win her first Academy Award.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Oscar Nominee #2

Annette Bening is an early Academy Award (Oscar) front-runner for the lead actress category after winning "Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical" for her starring role in "The Kids Are All Right" at the 2011 Golden Globe Awards . The nomination for "The Kids Are All Right" marks Annette Bening's 4th Academy Award nomination. Most recently, in 2005, she was nominated for "Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role" for her work in the 2004 movie "Being Julia." Annette Bening has yet to win her first Academy Award.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Oscar Nominee #3

Nicole Kidman falls in the second tier of nominees for the Academy Award for "Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role" for her performance in "Rabbit Hole." She is one of three lead actress Oscar nominees that were also nominated for Golden Globe Awards for "Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama," but did not win. This is Nicole Kidman's third Oscar nomination. In 2003, she won her first and only Oscar, to date, for "Best Actress in a Leading Role" for her performance in the 2002 movie "The Hours."

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Oscar Nominee #4

Jennifer Lawrence falls in the second tier of nominees for the Academy Award for "Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role" for her performance in "Winter's Bone." She is one of three lead actress Oscar nominees that were also nominated for Golden Globe Awards for "Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama," but did not win. Jennifer Lawrence may be helped out by the fact that the movie she starred in, "Winter's Bone," was nominated for an Academy Award for "Best Motion Picture of the Year." This is Jennifer Lawrence's first Oscar nomination.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Oscar Nominee #5

Michelle Williams falls in the second tier of nominees for the Academy Award for "Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role" for her performance in "Blue Valentine." She is one of three lead actress Oscar nominees that were also nominated for Golden Globe Awards for "Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama," but did not win. This is the second Academy Award nomination for Michelle Williams. In 2006, she was nominated for "Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role" for her work in the 2005 movie, "Brokeback Mountain." Michelle Williams still seeks her first Academy Award win.

Be sure to check out, " Golden Globe Awards an Indication of Academy Award (Oscar) Success? " analyzing whether winning a Golden Globe Award for acting is indicative of winning an Oscar for acting.

Sources:

http://oscar.go.com/

http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000204/awards

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000906/awards

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000173/awards

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2225369/awards

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0931329/awards