Amelia
Bearing in mind that the Oscar race is nowhere near starting it appears that Meryl Streep is already the favourite to scoop the Best Actress Academy Award next year.
The actress returned to the big screen last week with her latest movie Julie & Julia, a film that reunites her with her Doubt co-star Amy Adams.
In the film she takes on the role of Julia Child and the movie follows the early years of her cooking career.
So here at FemaleFirst we took a little look at the performances that could be in the spotlight in the new year.
The Academy always love a biopic picture and a handful of other quality performances so far this year have come from this Gere of film.
First up Audrey Tatou could be find herself amongst the Best Actress nominations for her portrayal of Coco Channel in Coco Before Chanel a film that followed the life of the fashion designer and her rise to fame.
And outside chance of a nod is Emily Blunt who took on the role of Queen Victoria in The Young Victoria earlier this year. The movie looked at the early years of her reign and her relationship with Albert.
It was Blunt's first major lead role but she was highly praised for her performance as the monarch.
But the biopic picture that everyone has their eye on is Amelia which stars Hilary Swank. After Academy Awards under her belt for Million Dollar Baby and Boys Don't Cry she is perhaps another actress that would be considered amongst the favourites to at least grab a nomination.
Directed by Mira Nair the based on the life of Amelia Earhart who disappeared while flying over the Pacific Ocean in 1937 in an attempt to make a flight around the world.
And with Richard Gere, Ewan McGregor and Christopher Eccleston also in the movie there could be some supporting Oscars coming the way of Amelia.
Away from the biopic picture Penelope Cruz might just build on her Best Supporting Actress Oscar that she picked up this year for Vicky, Cristina Barcelona for her latest movie Broken Embraces.
The movie once again sees her team up with filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar, she received a Best Actress nod for their last collaboration Volver.
Another movie that could spring up a Best Actress nod is The Lovely Bones, the latest movie from Lord of the Rings filmmaker Peter Jackson, for Saoirse Ronan, who was nominated in the supporting actress category for Atonement.
The Lovely Bones could also provide Mark Wahlberg with a Best Actor nod, as well as a couple of supporting nominations, as the adaptation of Alice Sebold's novel makes it to the big screen.
Johnny Depp is also a very strong contender for a Best Actor nod for his performance in this summer's Public Enemies.
Last nominated for Sweeney Todd it's high time that Depp took home a gong for his work and Michael Mann's movie might be just the ticket.
Despite a series of set backs and date changes The Soloist could still rally some serious Oscar support for both Robert Downey Jr and Jamie Foxx, who could both find themselves in the Best Actor category.
Directed by Joe Wright, the man behind Atonement, The Soloist follows a Los Angeles journalist befriends a homeless Julliard-trained musician, while looking for a new article for the paper.
And although details surrounding the Clint Eastwood's latest movie, which is about Nelson Mandela, are sketchy Morgan Freeman must surely be in the running for a Best Actor nod.
There are also performances from Viggo Mortensen, Leonardo DiCaprio and Daniel Day Lewis coming up that will be worth keeping an eye on.
With some many good performances already this year and so many still to come it looks like the 2010 Oscar race is going to be a close run thing.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
Tagged in Hilary Swank Meryl Streep