LEAD ACTRESSES/ACTORS
Isabelle Huppert
Nominated for “Elle” She starred with Jesse Eisenberg in Norwegian director Joachim Trier’s sobering “Louder Than Bombs” (2016). Who knew?
Viggo Mortensen
Nominated for “Captain Fantastic” Mortensen doubledowned in “Eastern Promises” (2007) and “A Dangerous Method” (2011) with Vincent Cassel.
Vincent Cassel
The suave Frenchman tormented Natalie Portman in “Black Swan” (2010). In another Casey Affleck link, Cassel was out to get Matt Damon in last year’s “Jason Bourne”; Damon is a producer on “Manchester by the Sea.”
Natalie Portman
Nominated for “Jackie” Portman, of course, nabbed her first Oscar for “Black Swan.”
Jesse Eisenberg
Eisenberg, in turn, battled Ben Affleck in “Batman vs. Superman” (2016). He also battled the walking dead with Emma Stone in “Zombieland” (2009).
Ben Aff leck
Ben, of course, is older brother to (and 1997 “Good Will Hunting” co-star of ) Casey Affleck.
Casey Aff leck
Nominated for “Manchester by the Sea” In other connections, Affleck starred with George Clooney and Brad Pitt in the “Ocean’s Eleven” (2001) franchise. Vincent Cassel also popped up as a European mastermind in the last two “Ocean’s.”
Emma Stone
Nominated for “La La Land” Too easy. Stone and Andrew Garfield, now broken up, were a longtime Hollywood dream couple.
Ryan Gosling
Nominated for “La La Land” Before hoofing it with Stone, Gosling was directed by and appeared with George Clooney in “The Ides of March” (2011)
George Clooney
Years before “Ides,” Clooney mixed it up with fellow modernday Rat Packer Brad Pitt in “Ocean’s Eleven” (2001)
Brad Pitt Ruth Negga
Nominated for “Loving.”
Andrew Garf ield
Nominated for “Hacksaw Ridge” Besides sharing pillow talk, Garfield also shared screen time with Stone in “The Amazing Spider-Man” (2012).
Denzel Washington
Nominated for “Fences” Easy score: Washington has a direct link to Streep, with whom he matched wits in “The Manchurian Candidate” (2004).
Meryl Streep
Nominated for “Florence Foster Jenkins” At this stage, is there
anyone the 20-timesnominated Queen Meryl isn’t connected to professionally? Case in point: Streep and Clooney both lent their voices to “Fantastic Mr. Fox” (2009).