The year 2021 was anything but conventional, yet Hollywood still delivered impressive movies showcasing the brilliant work of women actors. From dramas to comedies and musicals, it was a wonderful year of performances by actresses, and many are obvious contenders for the industry's greatest honor: the Oscar.
The potential nominees include names such as Kristen Stewart, Rachel Zegler, Olivia Colmanm Jessica Chastain and many others. Anything can happen between now and Feb. 8, 2022, when the nominations will be announced. However, after the Golden Globes and Critics' Choice Awards nominations, pundits and fans already have an idea of who the leading contenders are.
Tessa Thompson - Passing
It would be criminal to overlook Tessa Thompson's nuanced portrayal of quiet desperation in Rebecca Hall's directorial debut, Passing. Thompson plays Irene Redfield, a Black woman whose chance encounter with a childhood friend who "passes" for white provokes a storm of changes in her seemingly stable life.
Like similar period pieces that handle sensitive topics, Passing handles it complex theme with subtlety and skill. Most of the awards attention has so far focused on Ruth Negga's scene-stealing supporting turn, but Thompson is equally worthy of praise. Her best actress win from the New York Film Critics Online cemented her as a contender, but her place in the final five is anything but certain.
Rachel Zegler - West Side Story
Rachel Zegler is the star of Steven Spielberg's new take on the classic musical West Side Story. Zegler plays Maria, a young Puerto Rican girl who falls in love with a boy from a rival gang in 1957 New York.
Zegler already received Golden Globe and Critics' Choice nominations, and the National Board of Review named her best actress. Unlike the other leading actress contenders, she's also starring in a best picture front-runner. However, the Academy might prefer to focus on the supporting performances, as it did with the 1961 original, leaving Zegler out of the final five.
Emilia Jones - CODA
CODA is proving to be the little film that could. The movie, which follows a teenage girl who is the only hearing member of a deaf family as she joins her school chorus, premiered at Sundance to rave reviews. Apple TV+ acquired the rights and released it in August 2021.
Over the years, the Sundance Film Festival has premiered numerous critically acclaimed films, and CODA is one of them. Critics groups embraced it and supporting player Troy Kotsur. The movie also received Golden Globe and Critics' Choice nominations for best picture, and leading actress Emilia Jones could ride the film's success to a nomination. If she makes SAG, where the movie has a strong chance of earning an ensemble nomination, she might make it all the way.
Penélope Cruz - Parallel Mothers
The fruitful collaboration between Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar and his muse, Penélope Cruz, includes some of the best films in their careers, from All About My Mother to Volver. They reunite for a seventh collaboration in Parallel Mothers, the story of two pregnant women who bond after meeting in a hospital.
Many critics considered Cruz's performance in Parallel Mothers as one of the best in her prestigious career. The actress, who already won an Oscar for her supporting turn in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, missed the Globes and the Critics Choice. However, key wins at the Venice Film Festival and LAFCA and her undeniable star power make her a contender that no one can or should ignore.
Alana Haim - Licorice Pizza
Without a doubt, Alana Haim was one of 2021's biggest and most pleasant surprises. The musician-turned-actress stars in Paul Thomas Anderson's Licorice Pizza, a coming-of-age comedy about the blossoming relationship between Alana and Gary in 1970s California.
For the first time, Anderson has a real shot at best screenplay or even best director wins for what many are calling his most accessible film yet. Haim received universal acclaim, including nominations from the Globes and Critics Choice and wins from the Atlanta Film Critics Circle and the Boston Society of Film Critics, so hearing her name among the acting nominations shouldn't come as a surprise.
Jessica Chastain - The Eyes Of Tammy Faye
When The Eyes of Tamy Faye was first announced, many thought it would finally be Jessica Chastain's Oscar-winning role. Alas, the movie, which follows controversial televangelists Tammy Faye Bakker and her husband, Jim, premiered in September to lukewarm reviews that praised Chastain but were highly critical of the screenplay.
Still, even the film's detractors acknowledge that Chastain delivers a tour de force performance. The actress has been away from the Kodak Theater since 2013, and many think it's her time to come back. The Detroit and Las Vegas Film Critics Societies crowned her best actress, and she also secured Globe and Critics' Choice nods. A win is out of the question, but in this case, the nomination will be a triumph.
Nicole Kidman - Being The Ricardos
Rule No. 1 of awards season: Never underestimate Nicole Kidman. The versatile actress, already an Oscar winner for 2002's The Hours, returns to the conversation thanks to Aaron Sorkin's Being the Ricardos, a biographical drama about Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz's relationship.
Critics praised Kidman's performance, claiming she perfectly captured Ball's essence despite not looking like her. Kidman's last nomination came in 2017 for her supporting turn in Lion. Critics' groups are yet to award her, but she secured the essential Globe and Critics' Choice nods to stay in the running, and Academy voters might not resist the opportunity to recognize her work.
Olivia Colman - The Lost Daughter
In just three years, Olivia Colman went from working actress to bona fide movie star. After her Oscar-winning turn in Yorgos Lanthimos' The Favourite, Colman became acting royalty thanks to The Crown, Fleabag, and The Father. She returns to the awards conversation with The Lost Daughter, Maggie Gyllenhaal's directorial debut about a woman who becomes obsessed with another woman and her young daughter.
Colman has already won the Gotham Award for best lead performance. On top of that, the Globes and Critics' Choice included her among their nominees. By now, it's clear no one should ever count her out, and even in a year as competitive as this one, Colman might be too irresistible for Academy voters.
Lady Gaga - House Of Gucci
After successfully launching her acting career with her Oscar-nominated turn in A Star is Born, Lady Gaga took her time before selecting her next vehicle. She went with Ridley Scott's House of Gucci, about Patrizia Reggiani and Maurizio Gucci's infamous marriage, which culminated in his murder.
Gaga has been very open about her experiences filming House of Gucci throughout the film's press tour. Her aggressive campaigning seems to be paying off, earning notices from the HFPA and CCA and multiple other critics' groups. Gaga won't win the award, but she'll most likely receive a nomination, adding further prestige to her rapidly growing film career.
Kristen Stewart - Spencer
After years of building a strong resume with movies like Clouds of Sils Maria and Personal Shopper, Kristen Stewart is finally ready to become an Oscar winner. The actress wowed the industry with her performance in Pablo Larraín's Spencer, a fictitious take on Princess Diana's decision to end her marriage to Prince Charles.
Stewart has won best actress awards from multiple critics' groups and is a favorite to win both the Globe and the Critics' Choice Award. SAG and BAFTA will most likely also carve a clear path for her to claim the Oscar. So far, none of the other contenders seem like challenging opponents, meaning Stewart will most likely be an Academy Award winner come March.