SAG Winner Predictions: Best Female Actor in a Leading Role

The competition: Judi Dench’s Queen Victoria (Victoria and Abdul), Sally Hawkins’ kindly janitor (The Shape of Water), Frances McDormand’s outspoken mother (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), Margot Robbie’s skating superstar (I, Tonya), and Saoirse Ronan’s rebellious teenager (Lady Bird).

For your information: Dench has contended nine times before, winning once, for “Chocolat” in 2000. McDormand has been nominated four times before, winning for both “Fargo” and miniseries “Olive Kitteridge.” Ronan was nominated two years ago for “Brooklyn.” This is the first nomination for both Hawkins and Robbie. Both McDormand and Ronan are also nominated as part of their ensembles.

Who should win? McDormand is undeniably great, as are Hawkins, Ronan, and Robbie, so as long as it’s not Dench, who was fine, I’ll be happy.

Who will win? Given the strong representation for her film – three individual acting nominations and an ensemble bid - and her history with SAG, I think McDormand is a solid frontrunner.