Penélope Cruz gains last minute momentum in Oscars' Best Actress race
Is Penélope Cruz about to pull off the biggest upset of the 2022 Oscars?
Ahead of Sunday's Academy Awards, Cruz appears to be gaining momentum in the Best Actress race for her performance in Parallel Mothers. Best Actress is one of this year's most competitive categories, though the frontrunner is Jessica Chastain for The Eyes of Tammy Faye. Chastain already won at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, which shares voters with the Oscars, and the Critics Choice Awards.
But in the days before the Oscars, some experts have been theorizing a shock upset by Cruz is possible, especially because Parallel Mothers received the best reviews of any of the movies in the Best Actress category. Since Oscar voting closed, multiple outlets have published anonymous ballots from actual voters, and Cruz has been performing surprisingly well in them.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"I went from Nicole Kidman at the beginning of the year to Olivia Colman, but until I saw Penélope Cruz in Parallel Mothers that's when I made my decision," one anonymous voter told Entertainment Weekly. "She is getting it from me."
After speaking with Oscar voters at Friday's Governors Awards, The New York Times' Kyle Buchanan also reported the buzz for Cruz "is very real."
A Best Actress upset would be unusual because Oscar winners are usually at least nominated at the SAG Awards, and Cruz wasn't. Despite this, at least six experts on the awards season website Gold Derby are predicting Cruz will beat Chastain.
A surprise win by Kristen Stewart also seems possible, and the other Best Actress nominees are Nicole Kidman and Olivia Colman. Chastain remains the safe bet, to be sure. But if one category could produce a jaw-dropper, this is it — and Cruz might be the one to do it.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Why is Tesla stumbling?
In the Spotlight More competition, confusion about the future and a giant pay package for Elon Musk
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
How Taylor Swift changed copyright negotiations in music
under the radar The success of Taylor's Version rerecordings has put new pressure on record labels
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Job scams are increasingly common. Here's what to look out for.
The Explainer You should never pay for an application or give out your personal info before being hired
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 Grammys
Speed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published