2013 Oscar Predictions: Best Actress

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• Ralph | Thu Feb 07 19:31:29 EST 2013Reply

  No one seem to like Quvenzhane Wallis, PLEASE Watch the film and you will see how perfectly talented she is and how powerful she is at connecting with viewers who have seen the movie. I would love to see her win so that everyone can stop arguing about Riva, Watts, Chastain or Lawrence.

• mse | Thu Feb 07 07:39:09 EST 2013Reply

  Stop saying that Lawrence or anyone in this category for that matter doesn't deserve to win. These women are here because they all did an amazing job in film this year. Just because some nominees have advantages or disadvantages when it comes to voting doesn't mean that they are more or less deserving of the award. That being said, in a way I think that everyone is at a certain disadvantage here. A lot of the Academy members won't watch Amour, much less The Impossible, the controversies around ZDT could hurt Chastain, Wallis is obviously too young, and so is Lawrence, h

• Tom | Thu Feb 07 19:30:38 EST 2013

  Many Academy members must have seen Amour, or else it most certainly wouldn't have been nominated for as many awards as it did in the biggest categories. So I don't think Riva is at a great disadvantage there. As for Lawrence, yes, she is young - but she has the advantage of having been nominated once before, so she's not a fresh "newcomer" for the Academy per se. As for the others, I may be inclined to agree, especially about ZDT controversy possibly hurting Chastain. Her performance wasn't very dynamic either. Wallis is very young indeed and she hasn't won any major awards so far, with Lawrence and Chastain mostly dividing them between themselves. Still an open category, though. I'd say everyone but Watts stand a chance to win, but it's really a three-horse race between Riva, Lawrence and Chastain.

• JPH | Thu Feb 07 05:41:53 EST 2013Reply

  RIVA winning Best Actress would be one of the worst in Academy historoy. Naomi Watts deserves the Oscar and that is the end of the story.

• glenn | Thu Feb 07 13:24:26 EST 2013

  Naomi yes !!!!

• :-) | Thu Feb 07 05:16:50 EST 2013Reply

  THEY SAID....
  
  IF LAWRENCE WIN THAT'S BECAUSE SHE'S POPULAR.
  IF RIVA WIN THAT'S BECAUSE SHE'S THE OLDEST.
  
  FOR ME... THEY SAID ABOUT LAWRENCE IS RIGHT BUT THEY ARE WRONG ABOUT RIVA.. :-) RIVA FOR THE WIN :-)

• ^_^ | Thu Feb 07 05:03:26 EST 2013Reply

  i will not be surprised if:
  WATTS and CHASTAIN win....
  
  i will be surprised if:
  WALLIS win
  
  i will be very sad if :
  LAWRENCE win
  
  i will be very happy if:
  RIVA win (she deserves the oscars not because of her age but because of her lovely performance and in every performance, you need to fall in love of what performance you are watching and that's the time you can feel the lovely performance that gives by a performer like what RIVA do in AMOUR. )

• Robert | Wed Feb 06 22:35:40 EST 2013Reply

  I think Lawrence has the best odds of winning, and I think she deserves her spot as the favorite. She brought so much emotional depth to a role that at first looks unappealing and underdeveloped. I think the problem with Riva and Watts, and possibly Wallis, people get caught up so much in the pathos of the role that they fall in love with the character and forget so much about the acting itself. People keep referring to how Riva is in another league, and I would have to disagree. She was very good, but the pathos of her role was deeper than any other of the nominees, and so it is easy to think she is the best because of her role, not because of her (on the otherhand, her male couterpart was outstanding, I think he got robbed of a nomination) Don't get me wrong, all of them were fabulous performances, and I have seen each of these movies, but I think that Lawrence conquered a far more difficult role. A side-note on Chastain, I thought she was very good, but I think she modeled her entire character off of Claire Danes in Homeland, they were strikingly similar even in their manuerisms, so it really took away from her performance that could have been surreal.

• Tom | Thu Feb 07 04:07:16 EST 2013

  Glad I'm not the only one who noticed the similarities to Claire Danes's role!

• CS | Wed Feb 06 20:31:28 EST 2013Reply

  I am seriously tired of people saying J-Law shouldn't win. I have seen all of the movies nominated for oscar this year, and Riva did give a better performance. But why the hell is people including Chastain, she was terrible and only had one facial expression except for a few scene. Lawrence was by far better, her character was complex and the way she acted out her character was amazing. It should be either Riva or Lawrence, not Chast-aint.

• PJ | Wed Feb 06 19:54:51 EST 2013Reply

  All this Riva love is hilarious to me. She has so many obstacles. I mean what has she won in order for her to be a frontrunner? Seeing her movie does not count. The best performances don't always equal Oscar. For example, Ewan MacGregor from The Impossible got passed up for Alan Arkin. Jennifer Lawrence won SAG over Chastain. Lawrence has cleaned up comedy and action awards. Meanwhile, Riva couldn't even win Critics Choice. Now, all of sudden she is going to win Oscar. LOL Come on Man!

• ^_^ | Thu Feb 07 04:47:10 EST 2013

  BUT REMEMBER....viola won the SAG but MERYL GOT THE OSCARS... YOU CAN'T SURE WHO WILL WIN THE OSCARS :-)

• Michael M. | Wed Feb 06 20:47:16 EST 2013

  You couldn't be any more fucking wrong aha.

• Seriously | Wed Feb 06 19:07:24 EST 2013Reply

  Can everyone Please stop saying that Riva should just win because she's old?! Her performance is in another league to the others (and especially Lawrence in my humble opinion), it was just a far more challenging and impressive role and she completely delivered. It was nothing short of breathtaking.

• John | Wed Feb 06 18:15:09 EST 2013Reply

  Who should win? Riva without a second thought. Not only did she give a shockingly realistic and physically demanding performance for an 86-year old lady, but she was also heartbreaking without ever being showy, but handling the role with class, grace and superb subtlety.
  
  Now, I think the frontrunner is Lawrence. But if anyone could surprise it's going to be Emmanuelle Riva. In fact, I think that the BAFTA is between these two ladies. In case Riva wins it, this bodes well for her Oscar chances.

• Kyle Windchester | Wed Feb 06 18:03:52 EST 2013Reply

  VOTES, VOTES, VOTES......... It's Politics people........ Jennifer Lawrence will win because she is the most favorite HOT YOUNG actress of the bunch. I hate when the Oscar choose FAVORITE (Lawrence) over the BEST (Chastain).

• Cindy | Wed Feb 06 17:58:05 EST 2013Reply

  There is a reason why all 5 talented actress was nominated. The Oscar is the biggest Awards in the film industry world wide which is to say that the five nominee are the top 5 best actress in the world for that particular year. In order of BEST PERFORMANCES
  5. Naomi Watts,
  4. Jessica Chastain,
  3. Jennifer Lawrence
  2. Quvenzhane Wallis
  1. Emmanuelle Riva.

• Manny | Wed Feb 06 14:16:49 EST 2013Reply

  Seen all five of the performances in the category. It will come down to Riva and Lawrence. Riva was heartbreaking in her role, but Julie Christie did it better in Away From Her. Lawrence was radiant and tender in SLP. She was breathtaking. Lawrence for the win, and it won't even be close.

• Vanessa | Wed Feb 06 12:24:16 EST 2013Reply

  Let's be real, in terms who deserves to win, it's either Lawrence or Riva.They both give very emotive and touching performances, and that's what the academy likes. This might be the last chance they have to reward an actress like Riva, unlike Lawrence or Chastain who will without a doubt be nominated again, probably multiple times. At the same time, how could they not reward Lawrence, who was a stand out in a movie filled with great performances. She really elevates the movie through her realness and force. Let's not forget, this is the most underwritten character in the film, and through her ability to convey such emotional truth and power she makes this character an unforgettable one, and really proves that the fact she has been nominated twice at this age, is not luck, it's pure class.

• nell | Wed Feb 06 19:01:32 EST 2013

  Sorry dont agree at all. Riva's performance is in another league to Lawrence's. I really can't fathom the hype over SL and her role - don't get me wrong she was very good, but I would hardly call it a challenging role to begin with. Its all been blown out of proportion quite a shocking amount. Guess thats what makes PR so incredibly ingenious.

• Tom | Wed Feb 06 13:33:42 EST 2013

  Hear, hear. I agree completely.

• Mike | Wed Feb 06 05:47:20 EST 2013Reply

  There is a reason people like Josh Brolin, Robert de Niro, Jodie Foster, etc. say that Jennifer Lawrence is amazing. She is never seems like she is acting. It is natural and effortless and comes across that way. Open your eyes people. Chastain is emotionless. Her biggest emotion comes with starring blankly or writing angrily on a window with marker.

• Beth | Thu Feb 07 17:54:06 EST 2013

  Could you be any more dumb? Jessica Chastain was playing a woman who was trained to be emotionless...
  Jessica was phenomenal and deserves to win

• Mike | Wed Feb 06 05:43:04 EST 2013Reply

  This hate for Lawrence is pretty shocking to me. People that say her performance was bad and lacked range obviously didn't see the movie. To say her campaign is based on being a "patronizing seductress" is sexist and ridiculous. I am assuming the hate is stemming from the fact that she was in a film adapted from a teen novel that people through in with Twilight. Watch the movie again and re-watch Winter's Bone if you do not think she has talent or range.

• Sam | Wed Feb 06 03:02:53 EST 2013Reply

  I have to say... Jennifer Lawrence role was easy and if you really think about it, any actress could have play her role. She lacks that memorable scene. Every one will forget about her by next year. How can you award an actress that WILL BE FORGOTTEN BY TOMORROW.

• Kelly Windswort | Wed Feb 06 03:24:44 EST 2013

  I completely agree with. Lawrence should not win because no one will remember her in SLP a year from now. Another actress will win, I really don't care which of the other four actresses wins, just don't want Lawrence to win.

• Selma | Tue Feb 05 14:36:27 EST 2013Reply

  I'm a huge fan of all the nominees, I really am. I don't think that Chastain nor Lawrence are "overrated"; that's ridiculous. I saw all the possible Oscar nominated performances this year and I have to say that Riva was by far the best performance of the year. I feel like there's no way that Chastain will win, she has only won the Globe and Bigelow isn't nominated and that does play a huge role when it comes to winning.
  
  My picks are Riva and Lawrence. Both are nominated, both directors are nominated and the movies too. Lawrence has a slightly bigger chance at winning because of the SAG but I'm predicting Riva's gonna win the BAFTA. Hopefully she'll win the Oscar too. That would be lovely to see Jean Dujardin giving the Oscar to such a French legend as her!
  
  But I'm kind of thinking Lawrence's winning it. I'm kind of rooting for her but Riva is my favourite.
  
  Believe me, Chastain will have MANY chances of winning the Oscar, she is the new Meryl Streep. I would say Lawrence is more like the new Kate Winslet, not as good as Meryl.

• Lizzie | Tue Feb 05 07:48:09 EST 2013Reply

  Jennifer Lawrence is currently the frontrunner. I can't believe I'm actually surprised at this. Her performance was good, sure, but I could act those scenes back to you without a hitch. Playing crazy is easy, and more believable to pull off. The actor 'lets go' and suddenly they're incredible. Enough of this madness. She seems every bit the 22 year-old, she doesn't play older well. How is this even happening?

• edy | Wed Feb 06 16:17:49 EST 2013

  I COULD acting is the key here
  
  here's one more case of a frustrated actor who thinks someone is getting the big break he/she deserves

• Tom | Tue Feb 05 10:49:04 EST 2013

  She didn't play crazy in Winter's Bone and was rightly nominated for that role as well. Playing "crazy" was also not what she did in SLP. That's an unjust simplification. She played a complex character that was guarded and vulnerable, colored by loss and devastation, while also suffering from mental illness. That's a lot harder to play than a one-note tsunami victim or a straightforward CIA agent sculpted on a) a real person and b) Carrie on Homeland.

• Zoe | Tue Feb 05 06:16:23 EST 2013Reply

  I really love Naomi Watts and her performance in The Impossible. She gave a heartbreaking and strong perfomance, she made me feel like she was really experincing the terrible tsunami and such pain. Although most of her parts was lying on a bed, she still gave a belivable perfomance as a seriously injured person who got weaker and weaker day by day. But I have to say I don't see any chance for her to win the oscar. She didn't win any awards yet and she is weak in campagining, no one help her to gain attention or votes. I think Jennifer Lawrence has it in bag.

• Zealwave | Mon Feb 04 09:15:21 EST 2013Reply

  i don't agree with the ''old woman always wins" thing. Yes, this year Emmanuelle Riva has an advantage because of her age, but you have to admit that her performance was brilliant...oh, and for the record Helen Mirren deserved the oscar for The Queen

• anthifub | Fri Feb 08 07:39:54 EST 2013

  i agree with zealwave. Emmanuelle Riva is a brilliant actress!!! But i prefer jennifer Lawrence! I'm looking forward to the Oscars!!!

• Efi | Mon Feb 04 12:18:23 EST 2013

  She will win. Jennifer Lawrence and Jessica Chastain have a long way to go. I honestly don't see how either of them will win.

• BOO | Sun Feb 03 18:40:27 EST 2013Reply

  I don't think it's Riva. I think it will be Jennifer Lawrence or Jessica Chastain and that it's about 55% Lawrence, 40% Chastain 5% Riva.

• Sam | Sun Feb 03 13:07:37 EST 2013Reply

  Jennifer Lawrence was good in Winters bone but Not SLP. She will be the biggest upset of all time if she wins. Watts was good but still not Oscar worthy. Riva has a chance since she is very old and will never have the chance to come back for another try so it's best to let her win. Wallis will be the biggest SURPRISE if she wins and she does have the potential to do so. Chastain has it in the bag, she will win if not Riva might steal it from her.

• Tom | Mon Feb 04 06:49:06 EST 2013

  I don't think you understand the term 'upset'. It is not an upset win if someone who won every award leading up to the Oscars (Globe, Critics' Choice, SAG) end up winning the Oscar. If anything, it's the exact opposite. Chastain lost the SAG, and ZD30 has a lot of controversy surrounding it, so how she can have it in the bag, as you claim, doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

• bluklni | Sun Feb 03 06:57:24 EST 2013Reply

  Young Q. Wallis should win;it's time for the "Industry" to ,truly, start recognizing "true talent" ;shit ,you old foggies git out of the way & foster in "the new"

• HEY | Sun Feb 03 03:16:29 EST 2013Reply

  5TH PLACER - JENNIFER LAWRENCE - i don't know why many people like to win Lawrence the Best Actress? for me,,, she has done a better performance in THE HUNGER GAMES than in SLP.. and i don't see an outstanding performance from her in SLP.
  
  4TH PLACER - QUVENZHANE WALLIS - i was so amaze when i knew that this 9 years old child was nominated :-) but she is deserving only for BEST CHILD ACTRESS and not for BEST ACTRESS. i hope soon there will be a BEST CHILD ACTRESS/ACTOR or PERFORMER category in the OSCARS.
  
  3RD PLACER - NAOMI WATTS - her performace in THE IMPOSSIBLE was not that GREAT but BETTER than LAWRENCE and WALLIS., and her performance was just SIMPLE but WONDERFUL because sometimes, you have to be simple to have a GREAT ATTENTION from the people.
  
  2ND - JESSICA CHASTAIN - i don't know why many people hate CHASTAIN, is it because of what he wear in the scene where he is in the middle of the desert? this category is for BEST ACTRESS and not for BEST IN COSTUME DESIGN.. you only have to look the way she act and not what she is wearing . And i was amaze in her performance in ZERO DARK THIRTY but not that GREAT.
  
  BEST ACTRESS - EMMANUELLE RIVA - RIVA has a lovely performance in AMOUR.. her acting is very EFFORTLESS..she don't have to move his whole body to have a GREAT ACTING... like WATTS , yet simple BUT SHE HAVE THAN THE BEST PERFORMANCE AMONG THE NOMINEES and she was lucky that COTILLARD was not nominated :-)

• Bruce | Sun Feb 03 03:11:23 EST 2013Reply

  Jessica Chastain should win, Zero Dark Thirty must win something

• ^_^ | Sun Feb 03 02:51:58 EST 2013Reply

  for me...
  will win: RIVA or CHASTAIN
  could win : WATTS
  should win: RIVA or CHASTAIN
  should be on the list : COTILLARD ( rust and bone ) replacing LAWRENCE ( SLP )

• JD | Sat Feb 02 11:15:10 EST 2013Reply

  Lawrence is the clear front runner, with Chastain right behind her. Riva has a chance of winning, but she is definitely not the front runner.

• Kelly Windswort | Sat Feb 02 16:29:58 EST 2013

  JD and Tom, do you guys even have the slightness idea about your tasteless and retarded comments. Well if you haven't figured that out, I'll happily advise you both. Chastain performance was focus on impression rather than acting. You cannot award a woman whose acting is dependent solely on expression. Then, there is Lawrence who makes great campaign so as to attract voters on her side. Lawrence is hoping to steal the Oscar by seductress patronizing. I suggest you guys research those diction before counter-arguing my point. Finally, Riva whose age carried her all the way to the Oscar's like mention below by ONE LOVE who made great suggestion on the age factor in relation to the Academy Awards. Lets put it this way, the older you are the better chances you have of winning. The only two actress who earn their rights to be at the Oscars is Wallis in Beast of the Southern Wild and Naomi Watts in The Impossible. Wallis prove to every one that young performance is more that just cute but also compelling with an edge of sustaining her dignity throughout the film. Next, Watts who submerge in making audience believe in the true life character that she portray brilliantly should be applause for a dramatic yet comprehensive performance. With that said, Wallis and Watts should be praise and honored for their performance.

• Tom | Sat Feb 02 13:15:11 EST 2013

  I agree with this assessment. It seems to be a three-horse race at this point. JLaw in front after her SAG win, followed closely by Chastain - with Riva as the dark horse staying in the race to the very end. Exciting category.

• ZERNZERNZERN | Sat Feb 02 06:08:08 EST 2013Reply

  I don`t see a big favourite this year, from the acting point. Naomi Watts was good , but not that good to win an oscar (but she`s been overlooked in the past) , but she deserves to be nominated. Q. W. is phenomenal for a child but not winning deserving. I don`t see a big snub this year (haven`t seen Rust and Bone), so i`m fine with the nominations.
  JLaw, JCh and ERi are almost on the same level for me. They are hard to compare and ERi for me is a small favourite, and it will defently be her only chance to win, so for me she derseves the most. JCh and JLa will defently come back a few times . JLa might be the talent of her Generation, because in the last 20 years i haven`t seen any Actress or Actor (maybe Kate Winslet) nearly at her age with so many very good (and two great) performences and with such a ranges of emotions. But still a talent, and the quenstion ist how good she can get. She defently need not to win this year.

• One Love | Fri Feb 01 00:25:12 EST 2013Reply

  If Jennifer Lawrence win then that surely means that the Academy Awards should no longer be taken seriously. They should change the title from Best Actress in a leading role to most favored actress in a leading role because POLITICS tend to over rule and the most popular or old sorrow woman always wins. Campaigning for a role that is clearly focus on sex appeal such as Jennifer Lawrence role. And boy can she run a campaign in her favor. Knowing that 85% of voters are horny cheating males who will obviously vote for her because she is young and sexy. Remember Natalie Portman, Reese Witherspoon, Gwyneth Paltrow and Nicole Kidman, ring any bells. These ladies all had huge campaigns in their favor. Then their are those old actresses who the Academy feels sorry for and award them such as old Meryl Streep, Helen Mirren and Jessica Tandy which all won base on pure age. EVERY YEAR an actress wins that should not win. I am certain that either the sexy hot young Jennifer Lawrence or the old woman Riva win probably win.

• Anglie | Fri Feb 01 19:54:01 EST 2013

  I agree with you but Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon were not as bad as Portman. Portman ran a nasty and desperate campaign for her Oscar. Its similar to what Anne Hatheways campaign is currently.
  Why did some 9 year old get nominated too? This category is the worst I think.

• DJM2013 | Fri Feb 01 10:14:53 EST 2013

  I agree with this. Having now seen all five movies, Naomi Watts and Emmanuelle Riva are heads and shoulders above the rest. Its a shame the politics and popularity carries more weight than the most talented acting performance of the year. If the academy awards were based on merit then Naomi Watts to win. She deserves it.

• Camilo Caballero | Thu Jan 31 22:57:53 EST 2013Reply

  Chastain was wonderful in ZDT, I won't take anything away from her. However, Lawrence gave a much more emphatic and interesting performance all around. Her range of emotions and the personality she adopts is quite impressive, when Chastain's role is more one-sided. I mean, her character was only driven by the desire to find Bin Laden, and while she does a great job with that obsession, having different motivations for a character does make it the much more interesting. Lawrence does a great job with her performance, Chastain does as well, but for me the winner should be Jennifer.

• claudia | Wed Jan 30 16:48:56 EST 2013Reply

  I find it shocking that jennifer lawrence is even nominated, frankly her acting is abismal and the roles she's played show absolutely no range whats so ever. really its a race between Jessica Chastain, Emmanualle Riva and naomi watts. Quvenzhané, although enchanting, is basically a publicity scheme and jennifer lawrence, i really don't know what to say. It's embarrassing. Jessica Chastain receives no credit or praise for her roles, which are all completely different and beautifully sculpted. Just because jennifer lawrence is young does not mean that she immediately gets put high up on the hierarchy, there is much much more talented than her, frankly anything is more talented than her. I think all the nominations given to Silver Linings playbook are ridiculous, it cannot hold itself up next to the other nominees.

• Tom | Thu Jan 31 12:45:26 EST 2013

  Please. Chastain's performance in ZD30 is sculpted almost entirely on Claire Danes's character on Homeland. It's almost embarrassing. Jennifer Lawrence gives a marvelous performance in SLP, showcasing a talent that is unprecedented in her generation of actors. It isn't just by chance that she has been nominated before, and she won the SAG. you would think the actors themselves would be a good judge of what is considered an award-worthy performance. Your bias against Lawrence does you no favors.

• Tom | Wed Jan 30 10:02:42 EST 2013Reply

  I think it's a bit silly to have Riva on "Will win", considering she's most definitely an outsider. With no Critics' Choice, no Globe, no SAG (as opposed to Chastain/Lawrence who tick all those boxes), it will take a lot for Riva to win this - unless she lucks out with votes being split evenly between the two aforementioned nominees, enabling Riva to edge ahead.
  
  Either way, it seems a bit pretentious to have her as the favorite when not much is pointing in that direction. Did enough people in the Academy see Amour? Possibly, considering how many nominations it got. But did enough people watch it AND prefer her performance to that of Chastain and Lawrence? I'm not so sure of that. Either way, regardless of how one looks at it, both Chastain and Lawrence are bigger favorites than Riva. Sure, she may win - and perhaps she should - but to predict that she will, well - you should perhaps elaborate on why you think so. As it stands now, it seems as you think she will win because you think she deserves it. And that's not how it works.

• Tannrt | Tue Jan 29 18:17:15 EST 2013Reply

  Naomi Watts' performance was so powerful and real. I think she deserves the Oscar. She plays a real person and I thought she did it to perfection. Watching her, you are able to realate to her and what she is feeling and how is she going to over come this huge obstacle. She plays this person with such perfection and brilliance. In my opinion she deserves it. Then theres Jennifer Lawrence who has yet again proved why she should be nominated again and being this young. She is the face of Lead Actresses now but she has worked for it. Sheis such a down to earth person and her performace in Silver Linings Playbook is so raw and real. She is truly beautiful and breathtaking. Although she has plently of time to rake in the Oscars, she might just take it home on Feb. 24th. If either Naomi or Jennifer wins, I will be pleased.

• Tanner | Fri Feb 01 21:12:56 EST 2013

  I know where your coming from when you say that she's not very in your face look at me I'm the lead because she doesn't have to be. When she is in the scene she MAKES it. Her perfromance is so real and moving that you don't think you are watching a Hollywood movie, you think your watching the real thing. Naomi Watts sometimes may not be present in the movie but her absence doesn't matter because whenever she is in the movie she simply stands out. I never saw Rust & Bone so I cannot say anything about Marion but I can say that someone else should have been there to replace Q. Wallace the 9 year old. Her performance was, well, I fell asleep so I can't really say anything about the film.

• BINKY | Wed Jan 30 13:41:40 EST 2013

  I really don't understand why Naomi Watts was nominated she disappeared half way through the film then spent the other half the film on a hospital bed in a coma!! I think the BIG SHAME with this category is the absence of Marion Cotillards' Rust & Bone. I don't get why The Academy is so afraid to nominated more than 2 foreigners in the same category!

• abby | Mon Jan 28 20:48:50 EST 2013Reply

  well Jennifer Lawrence is obviously going to win because she just won sag (and people that win sag always win the oscars). wow the second youngest person in history to win lead actress award.

• Tom | Wed Jan 30 10:06:21 EST 2013

  It's not a done deal, though. Viola Davis won the SAG last year, but Meryl got the Oscar. One could of course argue that Meryl holds a special place in the hearts of the Academy, and shrug it off, but it still suggests that the SAG Awards aren't without flaw when it comes to predict the outcome of the Oscars. But Lawrence's chances didn't exactly diminish with her SAG win, quite the contrary. But is it enough to have her finish first? Time will tell. Riva's a dark horse, Chastain has (had, some would say) momentum. It's very open, I would argue.

• WZ | Tue Jan 29 13:32:44 EST 2013

  I would say Lawrence has a good chance but wouldn't be so sure as you. After all in the last ten years there were 4 occasions the SAG winner didn't win the Oscar. 60% is hardly a high probability...

• HollywoodInsider | Mon Jan 28 19:44:27 EST 2013Reply

  Emanuelle Riva by far is the best performance of the year - a devastatingly brave performance!

• Quvenzhané Wallis | Mon Jan 28 18:24:44 EST 2013Reply

  I would like to be taken seriously. That is all. #TeamMeYay

• Jessica Chastain | Mon Jan 28 18:24:18 EST 2013Reply

  Unlike you Naomi I didn't have to go under the knife to get roles. That facial expression stayed on my face after seeing you in that movie "the impossible"..it was definitely impossible not to cringe about your acting. Jennifer, oh please! Go back to the woods. Emmanuelle Riva..I have so much respect for you..that is why I suggest you back down. I wouldn't want to push your wheelchair by accident. Oops.

• Jennifer Lawrence | Mon Jan 28 18:18:25 EST 2013Reply

  I am a good person. I am better than Kristen Stewart. My dress did not rip during the SAG awards..it was supposed to be that way. I don't like to be catty and that is why I WILL WIN THE OSCAR for Best Actress. May the odds be ever in your favor. Peace. :) xoxo

• Emmanuelle Riva | Mon Jan 28 18:17:58 EST 2013Reply

  Shut your filthy Australian mouth! That Oscar is all mine!

• naomi watts | Mon Jan 28 18:15:24 EST 2013Reply

  I strongly believe that I deserve to win the Oscar for Best Actress. I am totally better than all these other women. No one knows who you are Emmanuelle Riva. Jennifer, you still have a lot of growing up to do. Jessica, you had one expression during the entire movie and it surely doesn't deserve an Oscar win. And forget about the other woman whose name can not be pronounced properly. The Oscar is MINE!! Mwahahahahah!!

• and_the_oscar_goes_to_ | Mon Jan 28 18:09:15 EST 2013Reply

  Jennifer Lawrence!!

• magiical_morgan | Mon Jan 28 18:08:12 EST 2013Reply

  Jennifer Lawrence gives an outstanding performance in every role she's given. Amazing actress and she will go far. Everyone else is good too. Emmanuelle Riva who?

• its_brittany_b1tch | Mon Jan 28 18:06:40 EST 2013Reply

  love love love love JLaw :) I hope she wins!!

• Jennifer_Lawrence_Idol | Mon Jan 28 18:05:50 EST 2013Reply

  I <3 Jennifer Lawrence. She's a great actor and is genuine :)

• JLaw_Fan101 | Mon Jan 28 18:02:55 EST 2013Reply

  Jennifer Lawrence all the way :)

• Harris | Mon Jan 28 17:39:51 EST 2013Reply

  You really still think Emmanuelle can win? I think it's between Chastain and Lawrence

• M | Mon Jan 28 15:48:32 EST 2013Reply

  I don't know, but i go for Naomi because she's SO brilliant from "The Impossible" !! She deserves and award for that role.

• Sophie | Mon Jan 28 11:53:48 EST 2013Reply

  Noticehow everyone says naomi, yeh thats because she is the best and she soooo deserves the oscar!!!

• naomi fan 13 | Mon Jan 28 11:50:43 EST 2013Reply

  NAOMI WATTS ALLL THE WAY!! SHE IS THE BEST AND I HOPE SHE IS THE DARK HORSE AND WILL WIN THE OSCAR!! SHE DESERVES IT SOOOO MUCH!!!!

• celebrity | Mon Jan 28 11:48:37 EST 2013Reply

  Naomi sooo deserves to win, i love her, the others havent had experiance except maybe the 86 year old but naomi is brilliant in everrry single thing she does and her performance was by far the best, i reallly want her to win, i hope the academy realise how challenging her role was and how perfectly she does it because she is perfection in everything she does

• Alezzandro | Sat Jan 26 14:24:43 EST 2013Reply

  I am sorry there is NO WAY Emmanuelle Riva is going to win the award for Best Actress , she is a total stranger to the american film critics, the fact that she is old shouldn't be an excuse to give her an award ... anyways.. the real fight is between Jessica and Jennifer , one of them is going to win and i am almost certain is going to be Jessica Chastain for Zero Dark Thirty

• kamran | Sat Jan 26 04:54:49 EST 2013Reply

  This category sucksssssssssss. neither chastain nor lawrence give you a memorable performance. Chastain make this sour face in whole film and not have that memorabl;e scene where we remember her individually and Lawrence should nominate in supporting because she support bradley in film , for lead its kind a character that many actress did already. Riva was an hounaray prize that old oscar lousy people give to old people every single year. Wallis is a sympathy vote i mean she did nothing remotely what we all called ACTING. she just doesnt have emotin she has sweetness that carry a story. Is sweet face an acting? and then its naomi watts the only choice for me to atleast give some mature acting. I think Cotillard for Rust and Bone , Weisz for The Deep Blue Sea and Dequenne for Our Children should be nominated but winner should be Naomi Watts

• Angie | Fri Jan 25 10:29:45 EST 2013Reply

  I hope Jennifer Lawrence win!!!!!!!! She is definitely a flawless actress, I follow her for years & I think She deserve it, Her performance in SLP was absolutely amazing. Go Jlaw!! <3

• effe | Thu Jan 24 18:43:43 EST 2013Reply

  emanuelle riveres deserves it.

• Danny | Mon Jan 21 21:58:44 EST 2013Reply

  Emmanuelle Riva all the way

• Speedy Delivery | Sun Jan 20 18:29:54 EST 2013Reply

  Quvenzhane Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild) was head and shoulders over all of these ladies. Rent the movie and you will agree. She was beyond remarkable and she's what, 9 years old? Absolutely magnificent performance. This movie was not a formula movie (e.g., rom-com, disaster, military, etc.). The movie is likely too unique for Hollywood to win Best Picture, but Wallis deserves Best Actress.

• Jacy | Sun Jan 20 17:55:31 EST 2013Reply

  I hope JLaw wins!!!!

• TONY | Sun Jan 20 18:09:03 EST 2013

  Lawrence gave the least deserving performance out of all the leading actresses. If she wins, it will be a total snub!

• BB | Sun Jan 20 05:17:40 EST 2013Reply

  I think it's going to be Jennifer Lawrence, she just knows what she is doing and that's the main thing... Go JLaw!

• AMIT | Sun Jan 20 01:25:31 EST 2013Reply

  Its time for Jessica Chastain

• Riel | Sat Jan 19 23:14:21 EST 2013Reply

  I've seen Beasts, the impossible and Zero dark thirty and, for me, the best performance was from the hushpuppy Quvenzhané Wallis. I think nobody talks about her in here because few people have watched the film. You should ;)

• JD Thomas | Sat Jan 19 18:38:25 EST 2013Reply

  Naomi Watts has been nominated many ttimes. Her body of work is outstanding. Her performance in The Impossible is one of her best. Time to give her an Oscar! She has certainly earned it!

• Shoes | Sun Jan 20 15:44:38 EST 2013

  LOL what is your definition of being nominated many times. Because this movie was her SECOND oscar nom. Maybe you should talk about things you actually know.

• Final2 | Sat Jan 19 01:44:26 EST 2013Reply

  Its between Jessica Chastain or Jennifer Lawrence you people are high if you think any one else like Emmanuelle Riva will win. My votes on Jennifer Lawrence. Shes a star and Silver Linings was only good cause of her. Jessica was good in 0 Dark 30 too but Naomi is outta the mix and the other two are just seat fillers. Jennifer is only 22 has 2Noms for Best Actress already and a Golden Globe shes gonna win, Cause the awards for the Best Actress.

• kim | Fri Jan 18 17:56:45 EST 2013Reply

  For me Amour is the best movie and Emmanuelle is the best actress of this year.
  So pity that the leading man role played by Mr Jean-Louis Trintignant has not been nominated for best actor because he was so good and should at least be nominated.

• Lynne | Thu Jan 17 22:29:06 EST 2013Reply

  Naomi Watts put all her heart and soul into the IMPOSSIBLE. It's a winning performance. Let's hope the academy membership watches the film.

• Fer | Wed Jan 16 13:03:57 EST 2013Reply

  thats its not a prediction, YOU should say "Never ever ever ever ever win: Naomi Watts", ends of your article.

• Yahh | Wed Jan 16 00:03:49 EST 2013Reply

  Ugh, I'm so tired of everyone saying now that Chastain was "boring" or "overrated." Did you people even watch the movie? She played a hard-to-read and layered character so seamlessly. The emotion and dedication she put into the role should earn her the Oscar. Naomi was great but half of the movie she spent mostly unconscious in a hospital bed. Chastain was strong throughout the whole movie. And if not her, then Lawrence please. They both deserve the frontrunner status they are receiving right now.

• Bruce | Wed Jan 16 21:44:00 EST 2013

  Strongly agree

• Sel | Wed Jan 16 09:33:58 EST 2013

  In my case I have seen it, and yeah. I don't think Chastain did an oscar worthy performance at all. 1. Riva, 2. Watts, 3 Lawrence, 4. Chastain, 5. Wallis IMO.

• Mano | Tue Jan 15 19:44:48 EST 2013Reply

  The best actress Oscar award 2013 will be given to either Naomi Watts in "The impossible " or Emanuella Riva in "Amour" this is our prediction.

• John | Tue Jan 15 16:04:47 EST 2013Reply

  Chastain does not deserve to win, neither does Lawrence. Both ladies are weak in their performances. Both are "JUST OK" or "Some What Good", the Academy needs an actress who is "GREAT" and has a "MEMORABLE PERFORMANCE." That can be seen in Watt and Wallis. HOPE either wins.

• Hero | Tue Jan 15 01:11:36 EST 2013Reply

  Naomi Watts has to win! Pleaseee, I just watched The Impossible two days ago and she was unbelievable. Her perfomance was breathtaking; she made cry so bad and really made me feel the pain and fear of such tragedy. I also agree with what many people stated above: she really worked her ass off! It must've been pretty damn difficult to be in that setting and still give an impeccable performance. I haven't seen the other actresses, but it seems that Jessica Chastain and Jennifer Lawrence are the front runners. Still, if someone could tell me, I'd like to know if Naomi has any chance of winning this? I'd really love it if she won.- I TOTALLY AGREE NAOMI WATTS deserves to WIN

• Hero | Tue Jan 15 01:08:45 EST 2013Reply

  Naomi Watts is the best in The Impossible very believable in the whole movie, i had to say Chastain bored me to death watching Zero Dark Thirty it was lousy performance.

• almeida | Mon Jan 14 23:36:48 EST 2013Reply

  Watts should be the spoiler! She was phenomenal!!