The race for the Academy Award for Best Actress is surprisingly shaping up to be one of the most enticing headlines of the awards season. Can Demi Moore overcome her "popcorn actress" title and become an Oscar winner, or will the young and talented Mikey Madison steal the show with her heartbreaking performance in 'Anora'?
As the acting categories tend to, the race for Best Actress has quickly narrowed down to two potential winners. You guessed it! Demi Moore for her career-reviving turn in Coralie Fargeat's 'The Substance', and Mikey Madison for her scene-bursting portrayal of a young sex worker in Sean Baker's 'Anora.
Regardless of who may or may not win, listed below is the full line-up of talented actresses nominated within this category at the Academy Awards this year:
Fernanda Torres (I'm Still Here)
Mikey Madison (Anora)
Cynthia Erivo (Wicked)
Demi Moore (The Substance)
Karla Sofia Gascon (Emilia Perez)
Despite the fact that all of the performances from the women in this category are excellent in their own rights, it seems very unlikely that we'll be hearing a name read out that doesn't begin with either "Demi" or "Mikey" on March 2nd.
The case for Moore taking home the Oscar this year is very compelling. The actress who was once at the very top of every call sheet in Hollywood makes a career-defining return to Hollywood in an attempt to overturn her recently-labelled "popcorn actress" status.
Not only this, but the beast that is Coralie Fargeat's 'The Substance' has snowballed larger and larger as the awards season has propelled forward, to the point where it is nominated within 5 different categories at this years Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director.
So it goes without saying that the idea of Moore winning is difficult to overlook.
Having said that, the reality of 'The Substance' winning Best Picture this year is microscopic, whereas Sean Baker's 'Anora' has a huge hand to play in this conversation, especially given it's recent success at the PGA and DGA.
'Anora's massive presence within the Best Picture conversation could just be enough to push Mikey Madison over the line and become an Academy Award winner at the age of 25.
Throughout the 96-year long history of the Oscars, the chances of an actor or actress winning an award has aligned with the chances of their respective film winning Best Picture more often than not. And although this isn't the case at every annual ceremony, most recently proven by Emma Stone in 'Poor Things', it would be foolish to rule out any chance of Madison causing an upset here.
One extremely powerful card that Moore has up her sleeve as we enter the final phase of voting for this year's Oscars is the fact that she has been smothered in critical acclaim and success. Her win at the Critics Choice Awards last weekend is the most recent example of this.
Even in a scenario where 'Anora' was granted the Best Film award at the CCA, Moore still managed to shut out her fellow competitor and claim the Best Actress award. But with BAFTA and SAG still yet to take place before March 2nd, a whole lot can happen that would alter the trajectory of this category.
Who do you think will take home the Best Actress award at the 97th Academy Awards?
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