2007 Academy Awards Column Part IV: Best Actress Hopefuls

Here's a look at the current leading contenders to be nominated for Best Performance by an Actress ina Leading Role at the 2007 Academy Awards. It's a very strong year for leading performances by females, a refreshing change of pace from the last couple years:

Best Actress in a Leading Role:

Helen Mirren in The Queen:
Put it in ink, put money on it, whatever else. This is absolutely the biggest lock for a nomination in the awards this year. Mirren is an exceptionally talented actress who has been around for quite a long time with a background in Shakesperean acting who has rarely ever put on a bad performance. In this film, she plays a very important, real life figure in Queen Elizabeth, during a tragedy that's still relatively fresh in everybody's minds (the death of Queen Elizabeth). Mirren is a highly respected actress who has never won an Oscar and this is exactly the kind of high-profile role that Oscar loves; playing a real person in an important historical event. Mirren is probably the favorite to win the award right out at this point, the only things working against her (maybe) are the earlier release date for the film and the fact that the Academy generally hasn't been giving out best actress to older actresses lately. That's nitpicking, as Mirren is guaranteed a nomination and has a good chance of winning.

Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada:
Might seem a little unlikely, but I think Streep has a VERY good chance at piling on to her "most nominated actor of all time" credentials with this film. The Devil Wears Prada was actually a very huge hit over the summer (I believe breaking the $100 million mark) and it wasn't very expensive to make. Streep is almost always an Oscar contender because, well, she's Meryl Streep but this film in particular has her playing against type (which the Academy loves), going pure, all out evil (which the Academy also loves) and in a hit film to boot. The only question is whether or not she'll be marketed as lead or supporting actress but from what I've read so far she's been pushed as a lead and therefore stands a good chance.