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Oscars form guide: Who will win Best Actress?

Charlize Theron was a force as Megyn Kelly, Scarlett Johansson pushed herself harder than any of her rivals in Marriage Story and Renée Zellweger is the comeback story we love with her knockout performance as Judy Garland. So who will win?

Charlize Theron and Renée Zellweger are no strangers to winning, both taking out Oscars in 2004. So who will win Best Actress at this year’s awards?
Charlize Theron and Renée Zellweger are no strangers to winning, both taking out Oscars in 2004. So who will win Best Actress at this year’s awards?

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Cynthia Erivo, Harriet

Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story

Saoirse Ronan, Little Women

Charlize Theron, Bombshell

Renée Zellweger, Judy

Cynthia Erivo is nominated for Best Actress in only her third screen job in Hollywood. Picture: AFP
Cynthia Erivo is nominated for Best Actress in only her third screen job in Hollywood. Picture: AFP

TELL THE SEATWARMER TO GO HOME EARLY:

Erivo is fast building a killer resume. A Best Actress nomination for only her third screen job is a monster win in itself. Like Adam Driver, she’s destined to win a big one.

The same goes for the wonderful Ronan, racking up a third nom in this category in the past five years. Ensemble cast structure of Little Women ices her chances.

Saoirse Ronan. Picture: AFP
Saoirse Ronan. Picture: AFP
Scarlett Johansson Picture: Matrix
Scarlett Johansson Picture: Matrix

DESERVES TO WIN, BUT WON’T:

When push comes to shove, Johansson’s raw, revelatory display is the best work nominated here. She pushed herself harder than any of her rivals in a movie more demanding and rewarding than most released last year.

It’s a total shame that work as strong as this will be overlooked.

Theron is also relatively unlucky, as there is more to her chameleon-like effort in Bombshell than meets the eye.

Renée Zellweger accepting her SAG award for her role as Judy Garland. Picture: AFP
Renée Zellweger accepting her SAG award for her role as Judy Garland. Picture: AFP

AND THE WINNER IS…

Renée Zellweger. Hollywood loves nothing better than a happy ending to a long-running comeback story, and Zellweger’s determined return from more than a decade in the boondocks is exactly that.

This is not to discount the impressive depths of fragility and fury Zellweger was able to isolate in her depiction of the late, great Judy Garland.

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/movies/leigh-paatsch/oscars-form-guide-who-will-win-best-actress/news-story/2872639e79d14f56e1776882ac762832