The Oscars for Best Supporting Actor/Actress are the first awards handed out when the ceremony begins in order to start things off with a bang. As a result, interest around them remains significant, and the 2022 Oscar ceremony is no different, with films like West Side Story, The Power of the Dog, Belfast, among others bringing in viewers from around the world.

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Predictions made by GoldDerby are generally the safest ones to place trust in because they take into account the experts’ opinions as well as how the actors have fared in ceremonies like the BAFTAs and Golden Globes. With actors such as Ariana DeBose, J.K. Simmons, Judi Dench, and more receiving nominations for 2022’s event, GoldDerby’s predictions should be taken into account.

Supporting Actor

J.K. Simmons: Being The Ricardos

J.K. Simmons in Being the Ricardos

J.K. Simmons brought some of the most memorable quotes in Being the Ricardos with his portrayal of William Frawley. The biographical drama is about Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz’s marriage, as played by Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem, during the time they headlined I Love Lucy along with their turbulent marriage.

Simmons previously won in the same category for Whiplash but isn’t considered a frontrunner this time around. He’s nominated alongside Bardem and Kidman in a rare feat of multiple acting nominations for the same. Simmons’ nod was more of a surprise since he didn’t get nominated in previous ceremonies such as the BAFTAs, Golden Globes, or the SAG awards.

Jesse Plemons: The Power Of The Dog

George looking worried in a tuxedo in The Power of the Dog

Interest around the cast of The Power of the Dog has increased ever since each main actor was nominated for an Oscar. Jesse Plemons appears as George Burbank, a rancher in 1925 who takes in a widow and her son that draws the ire of his elder brother.

This is Plemons’ first venture into major award ceremonies for a movie role, with the actor also receiving nominations at the BAFTAs and Critics’ Choice Awards. He’s not expected to surprise audiences by bagging the award, however, as Plemons hasn’t had a winning streak before the Oscars ceremony to boost his chances.

Ciaran Hinds: Belfast

Pa, Pop, & Buddy walk down a street in Belfast.

Ciarán Hinds has been a mainstay in the nominations for Best Supporting Actor across the awards circuit this year, garnering nods at the Golden Globes, Oscars, and BAFTAs. In Belfast, he plays the loving and considerate grandfather to Buddy (Jude Hill), who’s part of a working-class family in 1969 Ireland during a turbulent time in the country.

Hinds has had a celebrated acting career across decades, but Belfast serves as his first Oscar nomination. He hasn’t had any major wins for Hinds to be considered a contender to claim the award, although he is seen as a dark horse who can get the surprise win.

Kodi Smit-McPhee: The Power Of The Dog

Peter looks in the mirror in The Power of the Dog

Kodi Smit-McPhee received massive praise for his role as Peter Gordon in The Power of the Dog. Here, he plays the son of Rose Gordon (Kirsten Dunst) and gets into conflict with Phil Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch) due to the latter’s terrible way of treating Peter, who decides to retaliate.

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There was a point when Kodi Smit-McPhee was the favorite to win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar, thanks largely due to his Golden Globe Award win. However, his subsequent lack of success at the BAFTAs and SAG awards has seen him drop to second in terms of being the favorite. Still, Smit-McPhee shouldn’t be counted out by any means and could still be named as the winner.

Troy Kotsur: CODA

Frank Rossi looking serious in CODA

CODA has received the Oscar nomination for Best Picture and is recognized as among the best female-directed 2021 movies, and in the year overall. The story is about Ruby (Emilia Jones) and her struggle to be the only member in her family who isn’t deaf, along with the responsibility she feels toward them.

Troy Katsur plays Frank, Ruby’s father, whose lovable attitude easily won over critics and viewers alike. Katsur has leapfrogged into being the favorite to win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar after wins at the BAFTAs, SAG awards, and Critics’ Choice Awards. He’s also considered the breakout performer from CODA for the way he steals every scene he’s in.

Supporting Actress

Jesse Buckley: The Lost Daughter

Young Leda looking down in The Lost Daughter

Maggie Gyllenhaal’s first directorial effort has been well-received, with The Lost Daughter focusing on Leda’s (Olivia Colman) remembrance of the mistakes of her past when she sees a younger woman do the same. Jessie Buckley appears as Leda in flashbacks that detail her abandonment of her family.

The actress isn’t seen as a major contender for the Oscar because her co-star Olivia Colman is a frontrunner for playing the same character. This is Buckley’s first Oscar nomination, with the BAFTAs being the other significant ceremony where she was nominated. Her role as the conflicted and flawed Leda remains notable even if she isn’t a favorite to win.

Judi Dench: Belfast

Granny wears a hat and looks at the camera in Belfast.

Judi Dench is no stranger to the Oscars, with the actress now having been nominated eight times in her career. In Belfast, Dench plays the loving grandmother to Buddy, who sees the struggles of his working-class family through an innocent mindset and adores his grandmother’s affections. 

Dench previously won in the same category for Shakespeare in Love, although she hasn’t claimed an Oscar since. Fans shouldn’t hold their breath for a repeat this year either, as Dench isn’t seen as a frontrunner for the statuette because she didn’t get a nod at the BAFTAs, Golden Globes, or SAG award ceremonies. That's not to say she wasn't in form throughout Belfast, though.

Aunjanue Ellis: King Richard

Brandi Williams looking serious in in King Richard

Aunjanue Ellis plays Brandy Price in King Richard, which is about Richard Williams’ efforts to get his daughters Venus and Serena into professional tennis playing careers. Ellis’ role as the supportive mother and coach that Price has been in real life has received praise for its authenticity in portrayal.

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Ellis isn’t seen as a major contender for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar since she didn’t win in the same category at the BAFTAs or Golden Globes. However, her success at being consistently nominated has earned her the tag of the dark horse who can spring up a surprise win at the Academy Awards.

Kirsten Dunst: The Power Of The Dog

Rose Gordon sitting at the piano in The Power of the Dog

The Power of the Dog may not rank as high in Kirsten Dunst’s filmography according to viewers, but critics felt it was the best performance in her career. She plays Rose Gordon, who’s antagonized by Phil Burbank after his brother brings Rose and her son to their ranch.

This is Kirsten Dunst’s first Oscar nomination, and while she hasn’t won any major awards during the current circuit, Dunst is considered the second-most likely to claim the statuette. The actress received nominations in every other major ceremony to back up her Oscar nod, thanks to her heartfelt portrayal of a mother in distress.

Ariana DeBose: West Side Story

Anita and the Sharks performin on the street in West Side Story

It will take a miracle for Ariana DeBose to not win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress this year because she’s swept all the award ceremonies so far. In West Side Story, DeBose plays Anita who’s caught in a gang struggle between youths in 1957 Manhattan. 

DeBose was primarily known as a theatre actress before being cast in this musical drama, but she’s taken the world by storm to become the odds-on favorite to win the Oscar. Her performance incorporated incredible range from comedic potential, emotional depth, and capturing viewers’ attention through her singing talents. The BAFTAs, Golden Globes, SAG awards have all given her the win, and it’s a safe bet the Oscars will as well.

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