LEAD ACTRESS
Yalitza Aparicio ( Roma)
Glenn Close ( The Wife)
Olivia Colman ( The Favourite)
Lady Gaga ( A Star Is Born)
Melissa McCarthy ( Can You Ever Forgive Me?)
This is a particularly impressive line-up, with each nominee delivering sterling work and enjoying success on the awards trail. Gaga was the early front-runner before Olivia Colman began to win hearts and minds. At the moment, the smart money is on Glenn Close gaining her rst Oscar at the seventh attempt, even though it would buck a trend. To date, the Academy has awarded a lead acting gong only nine times in its history to a performance which represents that movie’s only nomination. Close remains the favourite, but it would be the story of the night, and indeed the year, if graduate teacher Yalitza Aparicio claimed the prize for her rst ever acting role.
Who should win: Olivia Colman
Who will win: Glenn Close
Snubs? Saoirse Ronan ( Mary Queen of Scots), KiKi Layne ( If Beale Street Could Talk), Viola Davis ( Widows), Toni Collette ( Hereditary)