Best Actress

Best Picture Best Actor Best Actress Best Supporting Actor Best Supporting Actress Best Director

The Academy has a long-standing tradition of handing its Best Actress Oscar to young, pretty things who opt for the challenge of a dramatic part instead of resting on their romantic comedy laurels. After all, nothing fuels a Hollywood fantasy more than a beautiful, teary young starlet receiving the highest honour in the biz. And while the calibre of their performances should easily put Felicity Huffman and Reese Witherspoon neck-and-neck, Witherspoon’s “can’t take your eyes off her” portrayal of June Carter Cash puts her out in front. Mind you, in return for the gold, the Academy likes to see some emotion from its Best Actress and Witherspoon was slightly too composed when she collected her Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for her own good. It won’t cost her the statuette, but a tear or two would do Witherspoon good come Oscar night.

Though Huffman’s portrayal of a transsexual facing her past in Transamerica is equally deserving, the movie is likely to fringy to garner Huffman the votes she needs. Plus, Huffman has had a good year already what with her Golden Globe for this film and Emmy for Desperate Housewives – so no one will feel bad not voting for her.

As for the rest of the nominees, well, they should be flattered for the nomination and leave it at that. While Judi Dench’s long, highly-respected career certainly makes her Best Actress worthy, her film, Mrs. Henderson Presents, lacks the weight, acclaim and box office numbers to get her the votes she needs. Charlize Theron, meanwhile, is still too fresh off her last Best Actress win two years ago and her film, North Country, went too far south at the box office. As for Keira Knightley, at 20, she’s still got a few young and pretty years ahead of her – so while she won’t likely be taking home the trophy this year, if she picks her parts right, she could very well find herself thanking the Academy in the not-too-distant future.