The best of the best have joined Gold Derby recently to talk about their award-contending films. And with Oscar nominations announced earlier this week, we offer up 10 of the 20 acting contenders for the upcoming ceremony on March 4. Click on any name below to be taken to the full interview by seven of this year’s supporting nominees and three of the lead nominees.
Mary J. Blige (Best Supporting Actress for “Mudbound”) received her first nomination for playing Florence Jackson, the mother of a WWII soldier (Jason Mitchell) returning home to a farm in rural Mississippi. The singer-turned-actress also competes in Best Original Song for her tune “Mighty River,” making her the first person to receive both honors for the same film. Blige competed at the Golden Globes, SAG, and Critics Choice. (click here to be taken to her full interview)
Timothee Chalamet (Best Actor for “Call Me by Your Name”) received his first nomination for playing Elio, a teenager in Italy who falls in love with a visiting American student (Armie Hammer). He competed at the Golden Globes, SAG, and Critics Choice and contends at BAFTA. (click here to be taken to his full interview)
SEE 2018 Oscar nominations: Full list of Academy Awards nominees in all 24 categories
Willem Dafoe (Best Supporting Actor for “The Florida Project”) received his third nomination for playing Bobby, the patriarchal manager of a budget motel in Florida. A two-time Best Supporting Actor Oscar nominee (“Platoon” in 1986 and “Shadow of the Vampire” in 2000), Dafoe competed at the Golden Globes, SAG, and Critics Choice and contends at BAFTA. (click here to be taken to his full interview)
Allison Janney (Best Supporting Actress for “I, Tonya”) received her first nomination for playing LaVona Golden, the monstrous mother of figure skater Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie). The seven-time Emmy champ won the Golden Globes, Critics Choice, and SAG, and competes at BAFTA. (click here to be taken to her full interview)
Richard Jenkins (Best Supporting Actor for “The Shape of Water”) received his second nomination for playing Giles, the gay neighbor and best friend of a mute woman (Sally Hawkins) who falls in love with a fish man. Jenkins previously competed in Best Actor for “The Visitor” (2008). He contended at the Golden Globes, SAG, and Critics Choice. (click here to be taken to his full interview)
Lesley Manville (Best Supporting Actress for “Phantom Thread”) received her first nomination for playing Cyril Woodcock, the sister of an obsessive fashion designer (Daniel Day-Lewis). She also competes at BAFTA. (click here to be taken to her full interview)
Margot Robbie (Best Actress for “I, Tonya”) received her first nomination for playing figure skater Tonya Harding, whose promising career was cut short when her ex-husband (Sebastian Stan) inadvertently conspired to break the leg of her Olympic competitor Nancy Kerrigan. Robbie competed at the Golden Globes, SAG, and Critics Choice, winning that organization’s prize for Best Comedy Actress. She also contends at BAFTA. (click here to be taken to her full interview)
SEE 16 unforgivable Oscar acting snubs: James Franco, Tom Hanks, Holly Hunter, Hong Chau and …
Sam Rockwell (Best Supporting Actor for “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”) received his first nomination for playing Dixon, a racist police officer in the small town of Ebbing, Missouri. Rockwell won the Golden Globe, SAG, and Critics Choice and contends at BAFTA. (click here to be taken to his full interview)
Saoirse Ronan (Best Actress for “Lady Bird”) received her third nomination for playing Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson, a rebellious teenager living in Sacramento, CA. She previously contended at the Oscars in supporting for “Atonement” (2007) and lead for “Brooklyn” (2015). Ronan won the Golden Globe as Best Comedy/Musical Actress and competed at SAG and Critics Choice. She is also nominated at BAFTA. (click here to be taken to her full interview)
Octavia Spencer (Best Supporting Actress for “The Shape of Water”) received her third nomination for playing Zelda, the friend of a mute janitor (Hawkins) who falls in love with a giant fish man. Spencer won the Oscar as Best Supporting Actress for “The Help” (2011) and contended again in the category for “Hidden Figures” (2016). She competed at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice and is nominated at BAFTA. (click here to be taken to her full interview)
PREDICT the Oscar winners now; change them until March 4
Be sure to make your Oscar predictions so that Hollywood insiders can see how their films and performers are faring in our odds. You can keep changing your predictions until just before winners are announced on March 4. And join in the fierce debate over the 2018 Oscars taking place right now with Hollywood insiders in our movie forums. Read more Gold Derby entertainment news.
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