Oscars Predictions: Best Supporting Actress – Can the ‘Nomadland’ Love Pull in Swankie?

Clayton Davis
·4-min read

Variety's Awards Circuit is home to the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars from Film Awards Editor Clayton Davis. Following Academy Awards history, buzz, news, reviews and sources, the Oscar predictions are updated regularly with the current year's contenders in all categories. Variety's Awards Circuit Prediction schedule consists of four phases, running all year long: Draft, Pre-Season, Regular Season and Post Season. Eligibility calendar and dates of awards will determine how long each phase lasts and will be displayed next to revision date.

To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit THE COLLECTIVE

2021 OSCARS PREDICTIONS:
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

UPDATED: Nov. 19, 2020 (PRE-SEASON)

Swankie’s one gut punch in “Nomadland” is one of the brightest spots for a film that has many of them. Can the love for the film pull her in for her first acting performance? It’ll be difficult as veterans like Ellen Burstyn (“Pieces of a Woman”), Jodie Foster (“The Mauratanian”) and even Glenn Close (“Hillbilly Elegy”) head to the table.

† = no release date scheduled / could be delayed / may not be eligible
†† = could be campaigned in lead or supporting categories / original or adapted screenplay categories

AND THE PREDICTED NOMINEES ARE:

  1. Amanda Seyfried
    "Mank" (Netflix)

  2. Ellen Burstyn
    "Pieces of a Woman" (Netflix)

  3. Olivia Colman
    "The Father" (Sony Pictures Classics)

  4. Yuh-Jung Youn
    "Minari" (A24)

  5. Dominique Fishback†
    "Judas and the Black Messiah" (Warner Bros.)

NEXT IN LINE CONTENDERS:

  1. Swankie
    "Nomadland" (Searchlight Pictures)

  2. Maria Bakalova
    "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm" (Amazon Studios)

  3. Helena Zengel
    "News of the World" (Universal Pictures)

  4. Glenn Close
    "Hillbilly Elegy" (Netflix)

  5. Jodie Foster
    "The Mauratanian" (STX Films)

TOP-TIER AWARDS CONTENDERS:

  1. Saoirse Ronan
    "Ammonite" (Neon)

  2. Nicole Kidman
    "The Prom" (Netflix)

  3. Vanessa Kirby
    "The World to Come" (Bleecker Street)

  4. Olivia Cooke
    "Sound of Metal" (Amazon Studios)

  5. Priyanka Chopra Jonas
    "The White Tiger" (Netflix)

  6. Candice Bergen
    "Let Them All Talk" (HBO Max)

  7. Ariana DeBose
    "The Prom" (Netflix)

  8. Jayme Lawson
    "Farewell Amor" (IFC Films)

  9. Talia Ryder
    "Never Rarely Sometimes Always" (Focus Features)

  10. Marsha Stephanie Blake
    "I'm Your Woman" (Amazon Studios)

ALSO IN CONTENTION:

  1. Felicity Jones
    "The Midnight Sky" (Netflix)

  2. Lily Collins
    "Mank" (Netflix)

  3. Natasha Lyonne
    "The United States vs. Billie Holiday" (Paramount Pictures)

  4. Ciara Bravo
    "Cherry" (Apple TV Plus)

  5. Taylour Paige
    "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" (Netflix)

  6. Fiona Shaw
    "Ammonite" (Neon)

  7. Valerie Mahaffey
    "French Exit" (Sony Pictures Classics)

  8. Lauren Patel
    "Everybody's Talking About Jamie" (20th Century Studios)

  9. Kerry Washington
    "The Prom" (Netflix)

  10. Tiffany Boone
    "The Midnight Sky" (Netflix)

MORE AWARDS CONTENDERS:

  1. Linda May
    "Nomadland" (Searchlight Pictures)

  2. Kristen Wiig
    "Wonder Woman 1984" (HBO Max/Warner Bros.)

  3. Kristin Scott Thomas
    "Rebecca" (Netflix)

  4. Toni Collette
    "I'm Thinking of Ending Things" (Netflix)

  5. Da'Vine Joy Randolph
    "The United States vs. Billie Holiday" (Paramount Pictures)

  6. Marisa Tomei
    "The King of Staten Island" (Universal Pictures)

  7. Connie Britton
    "Joe Bell" (Solstice Studios)

  8. Gong Li
    "Mulan" (Walt Disney Pictures)

  9. Elizabeth Debicki
    "Tenet" (Warner Bros.)

  10. Laverne Cox
    "Promising Young Woman" (Focus Features)

UNRANKED AWARDS CONTENDERS:

  • Shohreh Aghdashloo,“The Cuban” (Brainstorm Media)

  • Rachel Brosnahan,“The Courier” (Lionsgate)

  • Penelope Cruz,“The 355” (Universal Pictures)

  • Mackenzie Davis,“Happiest Season” (Hulu)

  • Bingbing Fan,“The 355” (Universal Pictures)

  • Caitlin Fitzgerald,“The Trial of the Chicago 7” (Netflix)

  • Janina Gavankar,“The Way Back” (Warner Bros.)

  • Betty Gilpin,“The Hunt” (Universal Pictures)

  • Amber Havard,“Bull” (Sony Pictures)

  • Diane Kruger,“The 355” (Universal Pictures)

  • Leslie Manville,“Let Him Go” (Focus Features)

  • Molly McCann,“Herself” (Amazon Studios)

  • Danielle McDonald,“French Exit” (Sony Pictures Classics)

  • Janelle Monae,“The Glorias” (Roadside Attractions)

  • Lupita Nyong'o,“The 355” (Universal Pictures)

  • Ruby Rose O'Hara,“Herself” (Amazon Studios)

  • Bel Powley,“The King of Staten Island” (Universal Pictures)

  • Gina Rodriguez,“Kajillionaire” (Focus Features)

  • Molly Shannon,“Promising Young Woman” (Focus Features)

  • Talia Shire,“Working Man” (Brainstorm Media)

  • Octavia Spencer,“The Witches” (HBO Max)

  • June Squibb,“Palmer” (HBO Max)

  • Mary Steenburgen,“Happiest Season” (Hulu)

  • Juno Temple,“Palmer” (Apple TV Plus)†

  • Alisha Wainwright,“Palmer” (Apple TV Plus)†

  • Harriet Waler,“Herself” (Amazon Studios)

  • Dianne Wiest,“Let Them All Talk” (HBO Max)†

  • Olivia Williams,“The Father” (Sony Pictures Classics)

† = no release date scheduled / could be delayed / may not be eligible
†† = could be campaigned in lead or supporting categories / original or adapted screenplay categories

The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars is Hollywood’s most prestigious artistic award in the film industry. Since 1927, nominees and winners are selected by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). 17 branches are represented within the near 10,000 person membership. The branches are actors, associates, casting directors, cinematographers, costume designers, directors, documentary, executives, film editors, makeup and hairstylists, marketing and public relations, members-at-large, members-at-large (artists’ representatives), music, producers, production design, short films and feature animation, sound, visual effects, and writers.

Academy Awards Predictions (All Categories)

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