In the days leading up to the 89th Academy Awards, FilmBuffOnline will be offering profiles on all the nominees in the major categories. Some may be well known, others might be new to you, but if you need a refresher on these talented nominees, here is what you need to know your nominees.
Viola Davis
Nominated for: Playing African-American housewife in the 1950’s in Fences.
Other honors for this role:
Davis has received 46 nominations for this role, with 32 wins, including three big ones–the Golden Globe, the BAFTA and the Screen Actors Guild.
Where you might know her from:
You might know her from her Emmy-winning role in How to Get Away With Murder. She has also appeared as Amanda Waller in Suicide Squad and had recurring roles as Donna Emmett on the TV series Law and Order: Special Victims Unit and Lynda P. Frazier on The United States of Tara television program.
History with Oscar:
Viola Davis has two prior Oscar nominations.
2012: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, The Help (lost to Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady)
2009: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Doubt (lost to Penélope Cruz, Vicky Christina Barcelona).
Naomie Harris
Nominated for: Playing a drug-addicted mother in Moonlight.
Other honors for this role:
Harris has been nominated in this category 41 times from other organizations, taking home 14 awards.
Where you might know her from:
Harris has appeared as Moneypenny in the Daniel Craig James Bond films, and also in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
History with Oscar:
This is Naomie Harris’ first Oscar nomination.
Nicole Kidman
Nominated for: Playing the adoptive mother of the main character in Lion.
Other awards for this role:
Kidman received 15 other nominations for this role, and took home three awards.
Where you might know her from:
Kidman has had a long and varied career over the last 34 years, starring in films like Days of Thunder, Eyes Wide Shut, Dead Calm, To Die For and The Others.
History with Oscar:
This is Nicole Kidman’s fourth Oscar nomination.
2011: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, Rabbit Hole (Lost to Natalie Portman, Black Swan)
2003: Best Actress in a Leading Role, The Hours (Won)
2002: Best Actress in a Leading Role, Moulin Rouge! (Lost to Halle Berry, Monster’s Ball)
Octavia Spencer
Nominated for: Playing an African-American NASA math computer fighting obsolescence in Hidden Figures.
Other honors for this role:
Spencer has received 12 nominations for this role but has garnered no awards.
Where you might know her from:
She has played numerous roles on television. including Ugly Betty, Halfway Home, Mom, Raising the Bar and The Red Band Society. She has also appeared in films such as Bad Santa, Spider-Man, Snowpiercer and Fruitvale Station.
History with Oscar:
This is Octavia Spencer’s second Oscar nomination.
2012: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, The Help (Won)
Michelle Williams
Nominated for: Playing the ex-wife of Casey Affleck’s character in Manchester by the Sea.
Other honors for this role:
Williams has been nominated for 43 other awards, taking home 18 of them.
Where you might know her from:
Even though she has been noticed and received much critical acclaim for her work in films such as Brokeback Mountain, Blue Valentine and Shutter Island, she will probably always be remembered for her role of Jen Lindley in Dawson’s Creek.
History with Oscar:
Michelle Williams has three prior Oscar nominations.
2012: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, My Week with Marilyn (lost to Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady)
2011: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, Blue Valentine (lost to Natalie Portman, Black Swan).
2006: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Brokeback Mountain (lost to Rachel Weisz, The Constant Gardener).
