SUPPORTING ACTRESSES/ACTORS

Viola Davis and Michael Shannon

Nominated for “Fences” and “Nocturnal Animals” Davis collected a paycheck for “Suicide Squad” (2016), along with Margot Robbie, who got down-and-dirty in “The Wolf of Wall Street” (2013) with Leonardo DiCaprio, who earlier took to the “Revolutionary Road” (2008) with Shannon.

Naomie Harris and Lucas Hedges

Nominated for “Moonlight” and “Manchester by the Sea” As Moneypenny in “Spectre” (2015), Harris helped James Bond battle the evil Christoph Waltz, who showed up as a brainiac in director Terry Gilliam’s “The Zero Theorem” (2014) with Hedges (who was praised as “a bright spot” in a Times review of the otherwise panned film).

Nicole Kidman and Mahershala Ali

Nominated for “Lion” and “Moonlight” Surprisingly, only two degrees of separation: Kidman picked up an Oscar for “The Hours” (2002), co-starring opposite Julianne Moore, who shared screen credits with Ali in “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1” (2014).

Octavia Spencer and Jeff Bridges

Nominated for “Hidden Figures” and “Hell or High Water” In “The Help” (2011), Spencer picked up an Oscar and lent a hand to Jessica Chastain, who in turn helped Matt Damon return to Earth in “The Martian” (2015). Damon’s good karma may have come from assisting Bridges in “True Grit” (2010).

Michelle Williams and Dev Patel

Nominated for “Manchester by the Sea” and “Lion” Williams delighted as Monroe in “My Week with Marilyn” (2011) with Judi Dench, who was equally delightful in “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” (2012) with Patel. For extra points, Williams can easily be linked to Lucas Hedges as well. Her old TV pal from “Dawson’s Creek” (1998-2003), Katie Holmes, was directed in “Pieces of April” (2003) by Peter Hedges, dad to Lucas.