Yeah, Lady Gaga is hot stuff in “A Star Is Born.” But what about the performance by Bradley Cooper‘s own fluff-ball labradoodle, Charlie, who does his doggy best as Ally and Jackson’s baby-substitute pooch. And then there is that coven of kitties — three of which are called Tom, Jerry and Romeo — that slink about Queen singer Freddie Mercury’s pad like fur-bearing groupies in “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Don’t you adore Rami Malek‘s rock idol all the more for having built a mansion with a bedroom for each cat. And where would Olivia Colman‘s Queen Anne be in “The Favourite” without her 17 white rabbits — one of which is named Hildebrand — who stand in for all the children she sadly bore and lost over the years. And don’t forget Horatio, the fastest web-footed quacker in the city when it comes to duck racing.
“Roma” is overrun with canines, in particular the family dog, Borras, whose mounds of poop have to be tended to daily by Yalitza Aparicio‘s live-in caretaker, Cleo. Despite the film being severely overlooked by the Oscar voters, no one can deny that Olivia, Viola Davis‘ devoted, brave and just-so-damn-cute West Highland terrier deserves a gilded treat for her efforts in “Widows.”
Not that human actors don’t have their charms. But animal magnetism just comes naturally for the creatures who have elevated many a lauded movie from last year. It is a shame that is there is no Academy Award category for non-humans. Otherwise, Lee Marvin‘s drunken horse in 1965’s “Cat Ballou” would have gotten a statuette, too.
But you can have a say in choosing your choice for best animal actor by voting in our poll below for 2018’s MVPs — most valuable pets — on the big screen. And if we missed a performance by a creature big or small that you enjoyed, please note it in the comment section.
PREDICT the Oscar winners now; change them until February 24
Be sure to check out how our experts rank this year’s Oscar contenders. Then take a look at the most up-to-date combined odds before you make your own 2019 Oscar predictions. Don’t be afraid to jump in now since you can keep changing your predictions until just before winners are announced on February 24.
SIGN UP for Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions
