From Marvel Cinematic Universe to Oscars: Annette Bening, Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman …
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is full of Oscar winners and nominees. From young stars like Florence Pugh to Hollywood veterans like Alfre Woodard, the MCU is, at this point, a who’s who of quality actors. Such is the breadth of the MCU’s stock of top-tier thespians, every Academy Awards these days produces at least a couple of Oscar nominees who are also MCU alums. And this year’s no different. In fact, so many former or current MCU stars could be up for Oscars this year that we’ve had to split it into two groups — actors and actresses. First up, the actresses.
Lashana Lynch — “Bob Marley: One Love”
Lashana Lynch is one of the performers on this list who is building their stardom. She won the 2022 BAFTA Rising Star Award and also starred in “No Time to Die.” In the MCU, she plays Maria Rambeau, the best friend of Brie Larson‘s Carol Danvers (AKA Captain Marvel) and mother of Teyonah Parris‘ Monica Rambeau. Lynch originated the role in “Captain Marvel” before reprising the role as a variant of Rambeau in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” She will appear again as Rambeau in the upcoming “The Marvels,” one of two hot projects she has coming out this year. The other one is her potential Oscar vehicle — “Bob Marley: One Love.” Lynch will play Rita Marley, the wife of Bob Marley, in this biopic of the iconic singer. Interestingly, it looks like Lynch will be campaigned in Best Supporting Actress. However, she is currently outside of our predicted nominees for that category: Da’Vine Joy Randolph (“The Holdovers”), Emily Blunt (“Oppenheimer”), Danielle Brooks (“The Color Purple”), Taraji P. Henson (“The Color Purple”), and Jodie Foster (“Nyad”). Lynch has never been nominated for an Oscar before but this category is well and true up in the air, particularly after Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”) switched to Best Actress. The gap is open here for pretty much anyone to get in, including Lynch.
Florence Pugh — “Oppenheimer”
Pugh is another British actress making tracks in Hollywood. She plays Yelena Belova (the sister of Scarlett Johansson‘s Natasha Romanoff AKA Black Widow) in the MCU and made her first appearance as the character in “Black Widow” before showing up in three episodes of “Hawkeye,” too. Pugh will reportedly return to the role in the upcoming film “Thunderbolts.” This year, however, Pugh stars in Christopher Nolan‘s biopic “Oppenheimer” as Jean Tatlock, who was a romantic partner of J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy). Pugh doesn’t have a big role but she certainly makes the most of what she’s given. However, Blunt is the star of the show in terms of supporting actresses. As such, Blunt is in our predicted nominees for Best Supporting Actress and Pugh is not. However, as I said, this category is anyone’s guess so who’s to say that both Pugh and Blunt couldn’t get in, especially if voters take to “Oppenheimer.” Besides, we already know that the academy like Pugh — she was nominated in this category in 2020 for “Little Women.”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus — “You Hurt My Feelings”
A Gold Derby favorite here. Julia Louis-Dreyfus will co-star with Pugh in “Thunderbolts” as Louis-Dreyfus will again appear as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine after previously delivering scene-stealing turns as the character in “Black Widow,” “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (seriously, for such a small role, she is one of the most people to watch in the MCU). Louis-Dreyfus delivers a different sort of brilliant performance in the smaller drama “You Hurt My Feelings,” which follows Louis-Dreyfus as an author who finds out her husband doesn’t like her latest book. She’s never been nominated for an Oscar before and she is also outside of our predicted nominees for Best Actress: Emma Stone (“Poor Things”), Sandra Hüller (“Anatomy of a Fall”), Carey Mulligan (“Maestro”), Fantasia Barrino (“The Color Purple”), and Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”). Louis-Dreyfus is an 11-time Emmy winner, though, so we know awards groups like her. It feels like Louis-Dreyfus will get an Oscar bid at some point, she just needs the right project and voters will go for it. This could be it.
Rachel McAdams — “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret”
Rachel McAdams played Christine Palmer, the love interest of Benedict Cumberbatch‘s Doctor Strange, in both “Doctor Strange” and the sequel “Multiverse of Madness.” She stars this year in “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,” a heart-warming movie about a young girl who navigates new places and people after her family moves from the city to the suburbs. McAdams is being placed in Best Supporting Actress, which works out well for her. It’s the sort of film and role that could lead to a nomination in this weaker category. McAdams is liked here, too — she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in 2016 for “Spotlight.” McAdams, like Pugh and Lynch, could take advantage of this shaky category this year.
Annette Bening — “Nyad”
Perhaps the most authoritative actress on this list in terms of status and longevity, Annette Bening is owed an Oscar at some point after coming close on several occasions. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in 1991 for “The Grifters” before landing three Best Actress bids — in 2000 for “American Beauty,” 2005 for “Being Julia,” and 2011 for “The Kids Are All Right.” She lost on all four occasions. She’ll be looking for bid number five this year for her lead role in the biopic “Nyad,” which depicts Diana Nyad‘s incredible swim from Cuba to Florida at age 60. She’s outside of our predicted five nominees here but only just. She’s on the precipice and could definitely get in. In the MCU, she starred in “Captain Marvel” as Mar-Vell/Dr. Wendy Lawson and also as the Supreme Intelligence, which took on the guise of Lawson.
Scarlett Johansson — “Asteroid City”
Johansson is the biggest MCU veteran on this list. She starred in nine films altogether as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow: “Iron Man 2,” “The Avengers,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Captain Marvel,” “Avengers: Endgame,” and “Black Widow.” She earned two Oscar nominations in 2020 — one for Best Supporting Actress for “Jojo Rabbit” and one for Best Actress for “Marriage Story.” Johansson is one slice of a delicious cast this year in Wes Anderson‘s “Asteroid City,” which follows a writer who travels to Asteroid City for a stargazing event only to have his worldview shifted. Johansson leaves the biggest impact as Midge Campbell, the actress and mother to Grace Edwards‘ Dinah, and Mercedes Ford, the actress playing Campbell. It’s a fabulous dual turn from Johansson and she, too, with her star power, could slip into the Best Supporting Actress lineup this year despite not currently being in our predicted nominees.
Tilda Swinton — “The Killer”
Tilda Swinton actually won Best Supporting Actress in 2008 — for “Michael Clayton.” She’s another key supporting player this year with her role as an assassin in David Fincher‘s “The Killer,” which stars Michael Fassbender as a hitman caught up in an international manhunt. It’s the same story here. Swinton, who always leaves such a strong impression with her idiosyncratic style, could be a beneficiary of this up-in-the-air Best Supporting Actress category, even though she, too, is outside of our predicted nominees. Swinton appeared as Doctor Strange’s mentor the Ancient One in “Doctor Strange” and “Avengers: Endgame.” Even in the MCU, she uses her ethereal, other-worldly qualities to great effect.
Natalie Portman — “May December”
Last but certainly not least is Natalie Portman, who played Jane Foster, the love interest of Chris Hemsworth‘s Thor, in “Thor,” “Thor: The Dark World,” and “Avengers: Endgame.” Jane Foster then became the Mighty Thor in “Thor: Love and Thunder.” Portman has a great Oscars history as well as MCU history. She won Best Actress in 2011 for “Black Swan,” beating out Bening in the process. She was nominated in that category again in 2017 for “Jackie” while she also picked up a Best Supporting Actress nomination in 2005 for “Closer.” She could return to the Best Actress race this year, though, with Todd Haynes‘ “May December.” This film follows Portman as an actress who visits an infamous couple in order to do research on a film based on their controversial (and illegal) past. Portman is outside of our predicted nominees but, like Bening, she feels like a true contender. Could both actresses get in and face off against one another as they did in 2011? Let’s see.
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