Awards Nominations: 

* Gotham Award Nomination

Predictions (As of 10/9): It feels like Sally Hawkins could go the distance. After being snubbed for (inarguably) one of the greatest performance in recent memory for Happy Go Lucky, Hawkins finally broke through with a supporting nomination for Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine. Now she’s back in Guillermo Del Toro’s acclaimed The Shape of Water as the (mute) female lead winning some of the best reviews of her career. Hot on her heels is Frances McDormand in Three Billboards as a vindictive, foul-mouthed mother on a mission to get justice for her deceased daughter. It’s the kind of performance the film worships. But there’s also recent winner Emma Stone doing a victory lap as Billie Jean King in Battle of the Sexes. Her performance IS the movie. 

With critical favorites like Daniela Vega, the much buzzed about Margot Robbie and Jessica Chastain, and Kate Winslet and Meryl Streep (slight unseen), and favorites like Saoirse Ronan and Judi Dench in the mix, Best Actress is once again looking to be very competitive.

Frontrunners: 

1. Sally Hawkins, The Shape of Water
2. Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri 
3. Emma Stone, Battle of the Sexes

Looking Good:

1. Judi Dench, Victoria and Abdul 
2. Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird*

On the Bubble:

1. Annette Bening, Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool
2. Margot Robbie, I Tonya* 
3. Diane Kruger, In the Fade
4. Jessica Chastain, Molly’s Game
5. Daniela Vega, A Fantastic Woman
6. Salma Hayek, Beatriz at Dinner

Question Marks: 

1. Meryl Streep, The Post
2. Kate Winslet, Wonder Wheel
3. Michelle Williams, All the Money in the World