With 1/10 odds from our 29 movie Experts, Viola Davis (“Fences”) is predicted to win Best Supporting Actress at Sunday’s Academy Awards. Davis has already prevailed at precursors like Critics’ Choice, Golden Globes, SAG Awards and BAFTAs, so it seems like a foregone conclusion she’ll win at the 2017 Oscars airing live Sunday on ABC and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. This is Davis’ third career Oscar nomination after “Doubt” (supporting, 2008) and “The Help” (lead, 2011).
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All 29 of our Experts are predicting that Davis will triumph as Best Supporting Actress: Thelma Adams (Gold Derby), Matt Atchity (Rotten Tomatoes), Erik Davis (Fandango), Eric Deggans (NPR), Edward Douglas (Weekend Warrior), Joyce Eng (TV Guide), Bonnie Fuller (Hollywood Life), Tim Gray (Variety), Michael Hogan (Vanity Fair), Matthew Jacobs (HuffPo), Dave Karger (IMDb), Tariq Khan (Fox News), Scott Mantz (Access Hollywood), Jack Mathews (Gold Derby), Michael Musto (Out.com), Tom O’Neil (Gold Derby), Kevin Polowy (Yahoo), Christopher Rosen (Entertainment Weekly), Paul Sheehan (Gold Derby), Keith Simanton (IMDb), Nicole Sperling (Entertainment Weekly), Sasha Stone (Awards Daily), Anne Thompson (IndieWire), Peter Travers (Rolling Stone), Brian Truitt (USA Today), Adnan Virk (ESPN), Jeffrey Wells (Hollywood Elsewhere), Glenn Whipp (LA Times) and Susan Wloszczyna (RogerEbert.com).
In second place is Michelle Williams (“Manchester by the Sea”) with 40/1 odds. Williams was actually Gold Derby’s pick to win this race until Davis made the decision to campaign here in supporting, as opposed to lead which is where she won the Tony Award for the Broadway production of “Fences.”
Oscar Best Picture Gallery: History of Every Academy Award-Winning Movie
Naomie Harris (“Moonlight”) is close behind with 50/1 odds based on our Experts’ support. While we’re not predicting her to win, Harris’ co-star Mahershala Ali is the current frontrunner (1/5 odds) to win the corresponding Best Supporting Actor race.
Next up in fourth place at 66/1 odds is Octavia Spencer (“Hidden Figures”). This recent SAG winner as part of the film’s ensemble already has an Oscar on her mantle in this same category for “The Help” (2011), so it feels fitting she’ll now likely lose to that film’s co-star, Davis.
Rounding out the group of supporting actresses at 80/1 odds is Nicole Kidman (“Lion”). Kidman is a four-time Oscar nominee who previously prevailed as Best Actress for “The Hours” (2002). Oscar voters are currently watching her on HBO’s limited series “Big Little Lies.”
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According to our overall combined odds featuring the predictions of all Experts, Editors, Top 24 Users (those who did the best at their winner picks last year), All-Star Top 24 (who got the highest scores when you combine the last two years’ Oscars) and All Users, the rankings are similar, but not the same. The favored pick of more than 3,400 people is Davis with 1/10 odds over Harris in second place with 33/1 odds. Williams follows with 40/1 odds, and then Spencer at 66/1 and Kidman at 80/1.
Last year’s Oscar champ for Best Supporting Actress was Alicia Vikander (“The Danish Girl”). Who will join her in the Oscar winner’s circle this year? Click here to see our Oscar Best Supporting Actress gallery.
Predict the Oscar winners now; change them till February 26
Be sure to make your Oscar predictions. Weigh in now with your picks so that Hollywood insiders can see how their films are faring in our Oscar odds. You can keep changing your predictions right up until just before winners are announced on February 26 at 5:00 pm PT/8:00 pm ET. And join in the fierce debate over the 2017 Oscars taking place right now with Hollywood insiders in our forums.
