In the days leading up to the 84th Academy Awards, FilmBuffOnline will be offering profiles on all the nominees in the major categories. Some may be well know, others might be new to you, but if you need a refresher on these talented nominees, here it is.
Bérénice Bejo
Nominated for: playing young ingenue whose career as an actress skyrockets with the introduction of sound in The Artist.
Other honors for this role:
Nominated, Best Supporting Actress, Washington DC Film Critics Association.
Nominated, Best Supporting Actress, 2012 Critics’ Choice Awards.
Nominated, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Nominated, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role , 2012 Screen Actors Guild Award.
Nominated, Best Actress, 2012 BAFTA Awards.
Where you might know her from:
She has primarily acted only in Europe, but American audiences may remember her as Christiana in A Knight’s Tale.
History with Oscar:
This is Bérénice Bejo’s first Oscar nomination.
Jessica Chastain
Nominated for: Playing Celia Foote, a naive Southern housewife in The Help.
Other honors for this role:
Won, Best Supporting Actress, New York Film Critics Circle Award (Awarded for her roles in The Tree of Life and Take Shelter as well).
Won, Best Supporting Actor, 37th Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards (Awarded for her roles in Coriolanus, The Debt, Texas Killing Fields, The Tree of Life and Take Shelter as well).
Nominated, Best Supporting Actress, 2012 Critics’ Choice Awards.
Nominated, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Nominated, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role , 2012 Screen Actors Guild Award.
Nominated, Best Supporting Actress, 2012 BAFTA Awards.
Where you might know her from:
If you haven’t seen the numerous other films she put out last year, perhaps you remember her from her recurring role as Assistant District Attorney Sigrun Borg on the TV series Law and Order: Trial By Jury.
History with Oscar:
This is Jessica Chastain’s first Oscar nomination.
Melissa McCarthy
Nominated for: Playing Megan, a gruff and raunchy sister-in-law-to-be in Bridesmaids.
Other honors for this role:
Nominated, Best Supporting Actress, Washington DC Film Critics Association.
Won, Best Supporting Actress, Boston Society of Film Critics.
Nominated, Best Supporting Actress, 2012 Critics’ Choice Awards.
Nominated, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role , 2012 Screen Actors Guild Award.
Nominated, Best Supporting Actress, 2012 BAFTA Awards.
Where you might know her from:
She is on TV every week, playing Molly in Mike & Molly, a role for which she won an Emmy.
History with Oscar:
This is Melissa McCarthy’s first Oscar nomination.
Janet McTeer
Nominated for: playing Hubert, an energetic, cross-dressing artist in Albert Nobbs .
Other honors for this role:
Nominated, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role , 2012 Screen Actors Guild Award.
Nominated, Best Supporting Female, 2012 Film Independent Spirit Awards.
Where you might know her from:
Fans of BBC America might recognize her from her many roles in various British TV series. Fans of the live stage might know her from extensive stage work, most recently on Broadway taking over the role of Veronica in God of Carnage. And those of you with good ears might recognize her voice as the narrator of Velvet Goldmine.
History with Oscar:
Janet McTeer has one previous Oscar nomination.
2000: Best Actress in a Leading Role, Tumbleweeds (Lost to Hilary Swank, Boys Don’t Cry).
Octavia Spencer
Nominated for: playing Minny Jackson, an outspoken and combative maid in The Help.
Other honors for this role:
Won, Best Supporting Actress, Washington DC Film Critics Association
Won, Best Supporting Actress, 2012 Critics’ Choice Awards.
Won, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Won, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role , 2012 Screen Actors Guild Award.
Won, Best Supporting Actress, 2012 BAFTA Awards.
Where you might know her from:
She has played numerous roles on television. including Constance Grady on Ugly Betty, Serenity Johnson on Halfway Home, and Arvina Watkins on Raising the Bar.
History with Oscar:
This is Octavia Spencer’s first Oscar nomination.
