Benedict vs Eddie! Why the Oscars will be a battle of the Brits

Nominations for the Baftas, are to be announced today, ahead of the awards ceremony on February 8, and america’s prestigious Golden Globes will be handed out on sunday. But the biggest, most coveted prizes of all — the oscars — are announced on February 22, with nominations unveiled next thursday. and the likelihood is this could be a vintage British year.

not for 15 years have the academy awards taken place without at least one British nominee for Best actor or Best actress, or both, and that remarkable run is certain to continue when the nominations are announced.

Less certain is whether, in the main two acting categories, Hollywood’s Dolby theatre will again resound to British acceptance speeches.

However, 33- year- old Eddie Redmayne is considered a nailed-on certainty for inclusion in the Best actor nominations, and a highly possible if not probable winner, for his astounding performance in the theory of Everything as the profoundly disabled physicist stephen Hawking. i would also expect some or even all of these to make the lists: Benedict Cumberbatch, David oyelowo, timothy spall, Rosamund Pike and Felicity Jones. Less likely, but richly deserved, is Ralph Fiennes for his gloriously effete concierge in the Grand Budapest Hotel.

in the supporting categories, Emma stone could get a nod for Birdman, as might Keira Knightley for the imitation Game and the Vanessa Redgrave for her small but exquisite cameo in Foxcatcher. michael Caine could also creep into contention for interstellar.

in the Best Picture category, the theory of Everything and the imitation Game look like decent nomination bets. so, too, are interstellar (with a British director, Christopher nolan), and selma (dominated by British actors).

so here we present all the likely runners and riders to follow over the next six weeks.