2011 Academy Awards: Best Actress Nominations and Predictions

When the 2011 Academy Awards nominations were announced on Tuesday, January 25, 2011, there were many well deserved nominations as well as a few Oscar snubs. The Best Actress category is one of the most interesting races this year. As the 2011 Academy Awards Best Actress nominations were read that morning, I felt that the Academy got it right by recognizing some performers, but there were also a few glaring omissions. Which actresses deserved their 2011 Academy Awards nominations and who got the big Oscar snub? Who will win the 2011 Academy Award for Best Actress?

2011 Academy Awards Nominations for Best Actress (and Oscar Snubs)

One thing is for certain: actress Natalie Portman is having an amazing year. The star received a richly deserved 2011 Academy Award nomination for her work in the psychological thriller "Black Swan" and she is definitely the front runner to take home the Best Actress prize on Oscar night. Natalie Portman trained in ballet for a year before filming "Black Swan" and her total commitment to the highly demanding role of Nina resulted in a mesmerizing performance.

The next well deserved 2011 Academy Award nomination for Best Actress goes to Annette Bening in "The Kids Are All Right." In this movie, Bening and Julianne Moore star as a long-term lesbian couple with issues, complicated by the emergence of their children's biological father. Bening's work in this ensemble film is strong; however, I wonder why she and co-star Mark Ruffalo were Oscar nominated while Julianne Moore was overlooked for a Best Actress nod.

Jennifer Lawrence in "Winter's Bone" deserves her place in this year's 2011 Best Actress Oscar nominations. Lawrence gives a career making performance in this small independent film that was one of the year's best movies. It's wonderful to see the Academy recognize an indie film like "Winter's Bone" and reward the skill, depth and maturity of Lawrence's performance, which launched her as a rising star in Hollywood.

Michelle Williams received a 2011 Academy Award nomination for her work in "Blue Valentine" and I can't argue with her inclusion in this stellar group of female performers. "Blue Valentine" is a gritty look at a couple trying to save their marriage; the script was largely improvised and Michelle Williams disappears into this difficult role (but I wonder why her co-star Ryan Gosling was snubbed for Best Actor).

The remaining 2011 Academy Awards Best Actress nomination for Nicole Kidman in "Rabbit Hole" surprised me. I was expecting Hailee Steinfeld to receive a Best Actress nomination for her excellent work in "True Grit," and even though she has a lead role in the movie, Steinfeld ended up being nominated for "Best Supporting Actress" instead. Her inclusion in the supporting category edged out "Black Swan" actresses Mila Kunis and Barbara Hershey, who were snubbed by the Academy.

Was Nicole Kidman in "Rabbit Hole" more deserving of a 2011 Academy Awards Best Actress nomination than Julianne Moore for "The Kids Are All Right?" I don't think so. Julianne Moore being passed over for an Academy Award nomination is perhaps this year's biggest Oscar snub. Four time Oscar nominee Moore has never won an Academy Award, and to add insult to injury, she also received a huge Oscar snub last year when she wasn't nominated for her outstanding role in "A Single Man."

Other notable Oscar snubs for the 2011 Academy Award for Best Actress include: Halle Berry in "Frankie and Alice," Lesley Manville in Mike Leigh's "Another Year," and Tilda Swinton in "I Am Love." Anne Hathaway received some early Oscar buzz for her performance in "Love and Other Drugs" but it didn't result in a nomination. Hathaway and James Franco will co-host the eighty third Academy Awards ceremony this year. Franco is nominated for Best Actor for "127 Hours" but Anne was snubbed by Oscar--I wonder if this will be awkward for her?

2011 Academy Awards Nominations: Who Will Win Best Actress?

For the past few years, there hasn't been much suspense during Hollywood awards season. For example, last year Sandra Bullock was projected to win Best Actress for "The Blind Side" and she ended up taking home that prize at all the major awards ceremonies. It was the same situation with Jeff Bridges, Mo'Nique and Christoph Waltz, who claimed the top acting awards last year.

This season, the foursome of Colin Firth, Natalie Portman, Melissa Leo and Christian Bale are sweeping all the major awards. I feel happy for all these deserving actors, but it isn't very exciting to watch all the award shows when everything seems preordained.

With this in mind, my choice for the 2011 Academy Award for Best Actress is Natalie Portman. She has been winning all the major acting awards this year for "Black Swan," she certainly deserves the Oscar and I find no fault with her potential win. There is such a huge momentum behind her that she is almost certain to take home Oscar gold in a few weeks.

Annette Bening is a veteran actress and as the wife of Warren Beatty, she is considered Hollywood royalty. Sometimes a performer's entire career and fine body of work seems to influence the Academy's decision to give an Oscar, and Bening has never won an Academy Award. I believe there's a small chance Annette Bening will win the Best Actress Oscar in an upset (and if this happens I will surely drop my popcorn in shock!)

How will it all turn out? Watch the eighty third Academy Awards on Sunday February 27, 2011 at 8 p.m. on ABC to find out who will win Best Actress.

Source:

http://www.oscars.go.com/nominations