* April Fools Day Predictions * Previous April Fools scores in this category:
2003: (1 for 5) Connelly, Kidman, Mirren, Morton, Ryan
2002: (2 for 5) Hayek, Moore, Pfeiffer, Streep, Winslet
2001: (2 for 5) Blanchett, Foster, Kidman, Spacek, Streep

 

April Fool's Predictions for Best Actress and why I chose them...
Juliette Binoche BEE SEASON 2 noms / 1 win	Claire Danes SHOPGIRL never nominated	Gwyneth Paltrow PROOF 1 nom / 1 win	Robin Wright Penn A HOME AT THE END OF THE WORLD never nominated	Kate Winslet J.M. BARRIE'S NEVERLAND / ETERNAL SUNSHINE 3 noms / 0 wins
This filmmaking duo was behind The Deep End (with nearly nom'ed Tilda Swinton) so we know they can provide a great female role for a talented actress. It'd be nice to wipe the Chocolat stain off of Juliette in my mind.	The role is tricky but we're talking Claire Danes? And isn't it about time she shines again and makes us all remember why she got famous to begin with... (namely that she's a fine actress)	The time is ripe for Paltrow to return to Oscar. She's still hugely famous. Plus, this role is a superb one -it already helped the great Mary Louise Parker to a Tony Award and Paltrow herself to great reviews onstage.	This role, "Claire" was meaty and lively in the book of the same name. And Robin proved in White Oleander that she needs to stop playing dull doormat roles and choose oversize characters and attack them with real flair.	Kate is the only current actress that could be a real threat to Streep level nom tally (she is only 29 after all). These roles are both potentially rich. The earlier role is already garnering praise. Here's hoping the films good.

Alternates: I was tempted to throw these in and everyone is just at likely from a distance (the reasons why I think they could be real candidates listed below)
Uma Thurman KILL BILL, Vol. 2 1 nomination	Anne Reid THE MOTHER never nominated	Reese Witherspoon VANITY FAIR never nominated	Kim Basinger DOOR IN THE FLOOR 1 nom / 1 win	Nicole Kidman BIRTH / DOGVILLE / STEPFORD WIVES 2 noms / 1 win	Emmy Rossum THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA never nominated
Last year's most egregious snub was this icy actress in her greatest role. Well, Oscar has one chance to make it up to her. If Volume 2 is more accessible for Oscar let us pray they realize the error of their ways.	This performance has been raved across the Ocean at both Cannes last summer and at BAFTA this winter. The only question is will the film (and consequently Reid) get a fair shake in American release and a campaign?	Reese is the new Julia according to both the media and the public. It took Julia awhile to achieve Oscar gold after her box office coronation (and she even had two early nominations) Can Reese get there quicker? Can she do "period"?	Kim is an uneven actress but when she really works in a role, she's extremely watchable (see LA Confidential or Fool For Love or even 9 1/2 Weeks (I kid you not) We shall see about this marital drama.	Nicole is in serious danger of overexposure. In fact, some would argue that she already has achieved it. 2004 sees 3 more films for her (possibly 4). That may be too many, or the films too small or in one case too comic. We shall see.	That they chose relative unknowns indicates that they wanted real musical talent. That is a good sign for the iffy film. But can Rossum (last seen as Sean Penn's dead daughter in Mystic River) become a star here?

The Other Leading Ladies of the Year. Before We See a Frame of Film, Everyone is a Possibility
Laura Linney KINSEY 1 nomination	Jennifer Lopez AN UNFINISHED LIFE / SHALL WE DANCE? never nominated	Julianne Moore THE FORGOTTEN / MARIE & BRUCE 4 nominations	Helen Mirren THE CLEARING 2 nominations	Keira Knightley KING ARTHUR never nominated
Natasha Richardson ASYLUM never nominated	Judy Davis SWIMMING UPSTREAM 2 nominations	Joan Allen THE UPSIDE OF ANGER / OFF THE MAP 2 nominations	Liv Ullman SARABAND 2 nominations	Agnes Bruckner THE WOODS never nominated
Ashley Judd DE-LOVELY never nominated	Julie Delpy BEFORE SUNSET never nominated		Jennifer Garner 13 GOING ON 30 never nominated	Renée Zellweger BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON 3 noms / 1 win
Susan Sarandon ROMANCE AND CIGARETTES 5 noms / 1 win	Helen Hunt A GOOD WOMAN 1 nom / 1 win	Annette Bening BEING JULIA 2 nominations	Blanchard Ryan OPEN WATER never nominated	Jena Malone ROSE AND THE SNAKE never nominated
Kristen Stewart SPEAK never nominated	Laura Dern WE DON'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE 1 nomination	Meryl Streep THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE 13 noms / 2 wins	Julia Roberts CLOSER 3 nominations / 1 win	Cecilia Suarez SPANGLISH never nominated

Last Year's Race