Golden Globe Musings: Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced in just a few weeks, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that it is still a bit early to gauge the reception or awards potential of a number of the so-called “contenders” at this point.

Last year’s nominees:
Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs)
Viola Davis (Help)
Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)
Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady)
Tilda Swinton (We Need To Talk About Kevin)

A few actresses look good in this category, and they’re a diverse bunch. Helen Mirren (Hitchcock) and Marion Cotillard (Rust and Bone) are both past Golden Globe winners with a good shot, and past nominee Keira Knightley (Anna Karenina) is a strong bet too. Two unknowns, indie darling Quvenzhane Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild) and foreign actress Emanuelle Riva (Amour) are likely to join them as well. A nominee from last year, Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty), may return, and Naomi Watts (The Impossible) could earn her first-ever Globe nomination.

Current predictions:
Marion Cotillard (Rust and Bone)
Keira Knightley (Anna Karenina)
Helen Mirren (Hitchcock)
Emanuelle Riva (Amour)
Quvenzhane Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild)