This year's award for Best Actress brings together a variety of outstanding performances, from first-time nominee Rooney Mara to Oscar favorite Meryl Streep. Viola Davis, Glenn Close and Michelle Williams fill out the ballot.
Mara takes on a chillingly daring role as Lisbeth Salander in the American adaptation of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." Every excruciating feeling she portrays can easily be felt by the audience as Mara evolves in the film. As a highly skilled private investigator and troubled punk who has been institutionalized far too many times, Mara's portrayal of Salander is so captivating and credible that the audience truly believes her to be, as Salander says, "insane."
But with the Golden Globe and British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Actress awards under her belt, Meryl Streep appears to be the winning horse in this race. Playing the first female British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in " The Iron Lady," Streep wows audiences once again as she conquers the scene in England's male-dominated government. The two-time Oscar winner's inspiring performance is sure to win the vote of the Academy in this powerful role.
While underdog Mara's awe-inspiring performance deserves the win, Streep's influential execution has already proven great enough for two awards.
Tiffany Do can be reached at tiffany.do@student.shu.edu.
