The Supporting Actress race at the Golden Globes is made up of two new nominees and three previous winners. Three of the nominees also have films that are nominated for Best Picture and four seem to be Oscar locks. However, it is still uncertain which of these ladies will win the award. A win at the Golden Globes could put them closer to the Oscar.
Sally Hawkins - "Blue Jasmine": Hawkins is the big surprise in this category. Many pundits had Oprah Winfrey as the fifth actress to be nominated. However, the Globes diverged from the consensus. Hawkins was nominated once before and won for her turn in Mike Leigh's "Happy Go-Lucky." This year, she is nominated for a performance that critics praised but have so far failed to honor at their critics circle awards. Hawkins also failed to get shortlisted at the SAGs and as a result, it seems like a win will be unlikely.
Jennifer Lawrence - "American Hustle": Lawrence obtained her third nomination for "American Hustle," a year after winning the Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy for "Silver Linings Playbook." This year, Lawrence has already won five critics circles and has been praised by critics as the scene stealer. The actress was always been seen as a big contender for the race but her recent win may dissuade voters from giving her yet another accolade.
Lupita Nyong'o - "12 Years a Slave": Nyong'o is a newcomer to the awards race. The recognition marks her first Globe nomination after leading the race by winning 17 critics circles. Her performance in the film is one of the most praised roles this year and the movie also leads the Globe nominations. However, her lack of star power and the fact that she is unknown to audiences may cause her to lose. After all, the Globes love A-listers and even though she is nominated, the organization may think that the nod is her award.
Julia Roberts - "August: Osage County": Roberts has already won three Golden Globes and her latest nomination for "August: Osage County" marks her eighth. Roberts is the second-biggest star in this category and has a very good chance at taking the prize. The actress has only won one precursor award. However, sometimes the race changes once the Critics Choice and Globes hand out awards. Additionally, the actress is being backed by Oscar guru Harvey Weinstein, who always manages to take home one acting award every year. Additionally, Roberts' performance is a game changer in her career; critics said she was unrecognizable in the role. If Roberts wins the Globe she may be heading to her second Oscar.
June Squibb - "Nebraska": Squibb received her first Globe nomination for "Nebraska." The veteran has appeared in a number of films but has never stood out in a film as much as she does in Alexander Payne's latest. Squibb has only won one precursor thus far and "Nebraska" has failed to resonate at the box office. Additionally, the film has lost buzz and while it is nominated for a number of awards, not one critics circle has given it the Best Picture. As a result, Squibb seems like a long-shot to win the award.
Prediction: If "12 Years a Slave" continues its winning streak, Lupita Nyong'o will win the Globe. However, if she loses, Jennifer Lawrence is the next best choice.
