Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep

With the festival circuit in full swing it's hard not to start looking at some of the movies and thinking about who may be able to bag and Oscar nomination in the new year.

I know it's getting earlier and earlier every year - will we be shouting 'The Dark Knight Rises for Best Picture' in the middle of the 2012 blockbuster summer I wonder? Now that really would be early to talk about Oscar nods.

Anyway yesterday we took a look at some of the actors, in both leading and supporting roles, that had the potential to sneak a little nomination and today it's the turn of the girls.

Already there have been some good performances and boy am I excited about some of those on the horizon!

As I said yesterday the Academy is a sucker for biopics and actors telling the story of well loved figures.

I would bet my house, if I had one, on Meryl Streep bagging yet another Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.

Yes the queen of the big screen is set to make her return and, at the moment, it is hard to see past her for best actress.

Michelle Williams picked up a nod this year for her performance in Blue Valentine and she may make it two years in a row as she transforms into Marilyn Monroe for My Week With Marilyn.

Glenn Close is also gaining praise and support from festival go-ers for her portrayal of a woman pretending to be a man in Albert Nobbs.

Emma Stone has charmed the American box office with her latest offering The Help - a movie that went on to take over $100 million domestically.

Then there are the likes of Kate Winslet and Jodie Foster who star together in Roman Polanski's Carnage -a movie that was raved about when it was premiered in Venice.

It would also be great to see Tilda Swinton back in the Academy fold for her central performance in We Need To Talk about Kevin, which hits the big screen later this year.

While fellow Brit Keira Knightley is also causing a stir with A Dangerous Method, which is directed by David Cronenberg.

There are just as many great supporting performances with a whole host of women tossing their name into the hat pretty early.

And there are a couple of Brits in the mix including Vanessa Redgrave who stars in Ralph Fiennes' directorial debut Coriolanus.

The movie has caused quite a stir since it was previewed at the Berlin Film Festival earlier this year - despite the fact that it will not be released until January.

Carey Mulligan could also be in the mix once again for her role in Shame - a movie that sees Michael Fassbender reunite with Steve McQueen.

There are also some great performances in The Help from Octavia Spencer as well as Viola Davis - and nominations could come there way.

Sandra Bullock may have scooped BEst actress a couple of year ago but it Best Supporting Actress where she could be considered this time around for her performance in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.

The movie is the latest project from Stephen Daldry which also stars Tom Hanks

Early prediction: Best Actress

- Meryl Streep
- Michelle Williams
- Glenn Close
- Keira Knightley
- ?

Early prediction: Best Supporting Actress

- Vanessa Redgrave
- Carey Mulligan
- Sandra Bullock
- ?
- ?

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw


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