SAG Winner Predictions: Best Actress in a Leading Role

The competition: Jennifer Aniston’s pain-riddled survivor (Cake), Felicity Jones’ loyal wife (The Theory of Everything), Julianne Moore’s Alzheimer’s-afflicted intellectual (Still Alice), Rosamund Pike’s missing wife (Gone Girl), and Reese Witherspoon’s hardened hiker (Wild).

For your information: Moore has been nominated five times before for film work, and won once for her TV movie portrayal of Sarah Palin in “Game Change.” Witherspoon won in 2005 for “Walk the Line” and this is her first nomination since. Aniston was nominated twice for “Friends.” This is the first nomination for both Jones and Pike. Jones is the only one also nominated as part of her ensemble. These five women were all nominated for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama at the Golden Globes, where Moore won.

Who should win: All excellent choices – probably Witherspoon or Jones if I had to pick right now.

Who will win: I think Moore has this in the bag.