Meryl Streep will be campaigning for the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her turn in "August: Osage County."
As the Oscar race heats up, the Best Actress category has become one of the most crowded competitions in years. Accordingly, Harvey Weinstein of the Weinstein Company has decided to position Streep's performance as Violet Weston for Supporting Actress.
"August: Osage County" is an ensemble piece so the roles could easily be seen as supporting performances. Additionally, Weinstein currently has two potential Best Leading Actress nominees. He is releasing "Grace of Monaco," which stars Nicole Kidman, and "Philomena" starring Judi Dench. With Streep in the Best Actress campaign, either actress could lose their bid for the category. Weinstein will also be releasing "The Immigrant" through Radius TWC and the film stars Marion Cotillard who received positive reviews out of Cannes.
Weinstein previously attempted the strategy in 2008 with "The Reader." That year he campaigned Kate Winslet in the Supporting category and most awards including the Golden Globes and Broadcast Critics followed his campaign. However, when it came time for the Academy to nominate, the organization chose Winslet for the Lead Actress category.
Streep is the most nominated actress in the history of the Oscars. She has received 17 nominations, winning three Oscars for her roles in "The Iron Lady," "Sophie's Choice," and "Kramer vs. Kramer." She is currently working on "The Homesman," "The Giver," and "Into the Woods."
The Oscar nominations will be announced in January. "August: Osage County" will be released on Dec. 25. The film also stars Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Juliette Lewis, Benedict Cumberbatch, Abigail Breslin, Chris Cooper, and Sam Shepard.