Not that it should count against her but much has been made over co-star's (Russell Crowe) scuffle over his acceptance speech being cut short in a British Awards show. It shouldn't even hurt Crowe's chances as Best Actor but things like that always play a part for some reason.  Acting wise, Connelly deserves the award. If other politics play a part in the voting process then the voters should be ashamed. She has already won three awards for her role this year (Boston Society of Film Critics, Chicago Film Critics Awards and Independent Spirit Awards). Two other actresses have won two awards and one of them isn't even nominated for an Oscar (Cameron Diaz for Vanilla Sky - I wonder how she won the other awards?)

Next in line is probably Kate Winslet, nominated for the same role as fellow co-star and best actress nominee, Judi Dench, for their work in Iris. This is the third time that Winslet is nominated (one Best Actress and two Best Supporting Actress). She might just win since this is her third nomination. Voters look at what nominees have been nominated for in the past and that sometimes counts in their favor. Winslet has already won once this year (National Board of Review of Motion Pictures), but the movie has had little exposure in the USA and that will ultimately count against Winslet the most. If Connelly doesn't get the award then Winslet most likely will.

Helen Mirren is a veteran British actress that has received acclaim for several roles over her career and has won many awards for both film and TV. She most recently (1999) won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for The Passion of Ayn Rand, so it should be no surprise that she is nominated for her role in the ensemble cast dream that is Gosford Park. She has been nominated once before for an Oscar. This year she has already won two awards for her role in Gosford (New York Film Critic's Circle and Screen Actor's Guild Awards). 

Marisa Tomei shocked the movie industry with her win for Best Supporting Actress in 1993 for 1992's My Cousin Vinny. She went up against veteran actresses (all British I believe) and pulled off the upset, but was it really an upset? She was great after all. This year she faces off against three British actresses and one American. Once again an American will take the award from the British but instead it will be Connelly, not Tomei. Marisa Tomei has been nominated five times so far this year but hasn't won once.  It's probably due to the little amount of screen time after the opening twenty minutes of In the Bedroom.

The fifth nominee is another veteran British actress, Maggie Smith (also for Gosford). An actress since the 50's, she will most likely be known to the majority of people as Professor McGonagall in the smash hit, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Yet some may also remember her for her role in the Sister Act movies. Of the four nominees she stands the smallest chance of winning if you look at the amount of awards the others have won so far this year. But she has been nominated five times and I know that many people have enjoyed her snobby performance in Gosford. She might pull out a victory.

Deserved To Be Nominated But Was Left Out:
- Carrie-Anne Moss (Memento)
- Gwyneth Paltrow (The Royal Tenenbaums)

Who I Want To Win:
- Jennifer Connelly

And The Award Goes To:
- Jennifer Connelly