If the 2024 Best Actor race is a fight for two slots, the Best Actress is a battle for four. At this point, the only guaranteed nominee and potential winner is Emma Stone for her celebrated turn in “Poor Things.” The remaining nominees will emerge from a pool of at least 10 genuine contenders. And, no, that’s not an exaggeration. This is an acting category showdown that will remind many of the 2015 Best Actor race where at least 3 career-best performances didn’t make the cut.
READ MORE: “Oppenheimer” and “Poor Things” are your 2024 Best Picture frontrunners…for now
Stone’s competition begins with a previous winner in this category Natalie Portman (“May December”). She’s joined by Cannes queen Sandra Hüller (“Anatomy of a Fall”), pop culture doll Margot Robbie (“Barbie”), two-time nominee Carey Mulligan (“Maestro”), the buzzworthy Fantasia Barrino (“The Color Purple”), and recent category flipper Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”).
Also hoping to crack the field are Greta Lee (“Past Lives”), four-time nominee Annette Bening (“Nyad”), Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (“Origin”), and Venice Best Actress winner Cailee Spaeny (“Priscilla”).
Longshots that deserves serious consideration include Trace Lysette (“Monica”), Helen Mirren (“Golda”), and Jodie Comer (“The End We Start From”).
Like all the acting categories this year, until the SAG Strike is resolved, all the nominees will be in flux. How much time, if any, these contenders will be able to campaign for their films (and performances) remains to be seen. We’d suggest you take that into account before making any sweeping predictions. [Posted Oct. 2]
LIKELY
Emma Stone, “Poor Things”
ALMOST THERE
Natalie Portman, “May December”
Sandra Hüller, “Anatomy of a Fall”
Margot Robbie, “Barbie”
Fantasia Barrino, “The Color Purple”*
Carey Mulligan, “Maestro”
Lily Gladstone, “Killers of the Flower Moon”
POSSIBLE
Greta Lee, “Past Lives”
Annette Bening, “Nyad”
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, “Origin”
Cailee Spaeny, “Priscilla”
LONGSHOTS
Helen Mirren, “Golda”
Trace Lysette, “Monica”
Phoebe Dynevor, “Fair Play”
Jodie Comer, “The End We Start From”
Eve Hewson, “Flora and Son”
Teyana Taylor, “A Thousand and One”
*Has not been screened at publication