2019 Oscar Previews: Part 2

For Part 1 of this year's Oscar Previews, click here. 

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 Best Actor Nominees

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• Christian Bale - as Dick Cheney in Vice

Age: 45

Previously Best Known For:

Nolan Batman Trilogy

American Hustle

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Winner - Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in 2011 - Dicky Eklund in The Fighter

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in 2014 - Irving Rosenfeld American Hustle

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in 2016 - Michael Burry in The Big Short

Interesting Fact: If he plays an American character in a film, he will use an American accent in his interviews because he does not want to confuse the audience.

• Bradley Cooper as Jack in A Star Is Born

Age: 44

Previously Best Known For:

American Sniper

The Hangover

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in 2013 - Pat in Silver Linings Playbook

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in 2014 - Richie DiMaso in American Hustle

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in 2015 - Chris Kyle in American Sniper

Nomination - Best Picture in 2015 - American Sniper

Interesting Fact: Was a medalist on the Men’s Heavyweight Crew Team at Georgetown University.

• Willem Dafoe as Vincent Van Gogh in At Eternity’s Gate

Age: 63

Previously Best Known For:

Spider Man

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Nomination - Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 1987 - Sgt. Elias in Platoon

Nomination - Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 2001 - Max Schreck in Shadow of the Vampire

Nomination - Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 2018 - Bobby in The Florida Project

Interesting Fact: He caught Yellow Fever on the set of Platoon.

 

• Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody

Age: 37

Previously Best Known For:

TV’s Mr. Robot

Short Term 12

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

None

Interesting Fact: Has an identical twin brother named Sami.

 

• Viggo Mortensen as Tony Lip in Green Book

Age: 60

Previously Best Known For:

Lord of the Rings

Eastern Promises

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Nominated - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in 2008 - as Nikoli in Eastern Promises

Nominated - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in 2017 - as Ben in Captain Fantastic

Interesting Fact: For his role in Eastern Promises he stated that part of his performance was inspired by Russian hockey player Alexei Kovalev.

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Best Actress Nominees

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  Yalitza Aparicio as Cleo in Roma

Age: 25

Previously Best Known For:

Nothing - this was her first role as an actress

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

None

Interesting Fact: First indigenous Mexican actress to be nominated for a Best Actress Oscar.

 

• Glen Close as Joan Castleman in The Wife

Age: 71

Previously Best Known For:

Fatal Attraction

101 Dalmatians

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Nomination - Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 1983 - Jenny Fields in The World According to Garth

Nomination - Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 1984 - Sarah in The Big Chill

Nomination - Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 1985 - Iris Gaines in The Natural

Nomination - Best Actress in a Leading Role in 1988 - Alex Forrest in Fatal Attraction

Nomination - Best Actress in a Leading Role in 1989 - Marquise de Merteuil Dangerous Liaisons

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in 2012 - Albert Nobbs in Albert Nobbs

Interesting Fact: She is an EGOT nominee, and has won 3 Tonys from 4 nominations, as well as 3 Emmys from 14 nominations and a 3-time Grammy nominee.

• Olivia Colman as Queen Anne in The Favourite

Age: 45

Previously Best Known For:

TV’s The Crown

The Lobster

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

None

Interesting Fact: Born on the same day as Christian Bale.

• Lady Gaga as Ally in A Star Is Born

Age: 32

Previously Best Known For:

Her singing career

TV’s American Horror Story

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Nomination - Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song in 2016 - “Until it Happens to You” from The Hunting Ground

Interesting Fact: At 17 she was one of 20 people in the world to have gained early admission to the New York University’s Tisch School of Arts.

• Melissa McCarthy as Lee Israel in Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Age: 48

Previously Best Known For:

The Heat

Bridesmaids

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in 2012 - Megan in Bridesmaids

Interesting Fact: Her husband Ben Falcone frequently makes cameo appearances in her TV shows and movies.

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Best Supporting Actor Nominees

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  Mahershala Ali as Dr. Don Shirley in Green Book

Age: 44

Previously Best Known For:

Moonlight

TV’s House of Cards

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Winner - Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in 2017 - Juan in Moonlight

Interesting Fact: His Oscar win for Moonlight marked the first time a Muslim actor has won an Academy Award.

• Adam Driver as Flip Zimmerman in BlacKkKlansman

Age: 35

Previously Best Known For:

Star Wars Episode VII and VIII

Paterson

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

None

Interesting Fact: Served in the Marine Corp and now runs a non-profit organization called Arts in the Armed Forces which stages theatrical performances for armed forces personnel.

• Sam Elliot as Bobby in A Star is Born

Age: 74

Previously Best Known For:

The Big Lebowski

Road House

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

None

Interesting Fact: Has the same birthday as Smokey Bear and he has been the voice of Smokey Bear since 2008.

• Richard E. Grant as Jack Hock in Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Age: 61

Previously Best Known For:

Withnail & I

Logan

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

None

Interesting Fact: He is allergic to alcohol.

• Sam Rockwell as George W. Bush in Vice

Age: 50

Previously Best Known For:

Moon

Seven Psychopaths

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Winner - Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in 2018 - as Dixon in Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing Missouri

Interesting Fact: He is one of 13 actors to win the Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Critics Choice Award, Golden Globe Award, and SAG Award for the same performance.

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Best Supporting Actress Nominees

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• Amy Adams as Lynne Cheney in Vice

Age: 44

Previously Best Known For:

Arrival

Enchanted

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in 2006 - Ashley in June Bug

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in 2009 - Sister James in Doubt

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in 2010 - Charlene Fleming in The Fighter

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in 2013 - Peggy Dodd in The Master

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in 2014 - Sidney Prosser in American Hustle

Interesting Fact: Amy was so often mistaken for friend Isla Fischer that Isla and her prankster husband Sasha Baron Cohen once pasted Amy’s face over Isla’s on their Holiday Greeting Card and no one noticed.

• Marina de Tavira as Sra. Sofia in Roma

Age: 44

Previously Best Known For:

Efectos Secundarios

Complices

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

None

Interesting Fact: The character she plays in Roma is modeled after director Alfonso Cuaron's mother.

• Regina King as Sharon Rivers in If Beale Street Could Talk

Age: 48

Previously Best Known For:

Ray

Enemy of the State

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

None

Interesting Fact: Her first name is a translation of the word “Queen”. Regina is Latin.

• Emma Stone as Abigail in The Favourite

Age: 30

Previously Best Known For:

La La Land

The Help

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Nominated - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in 2015 - as Sam in Birdman

Nominated - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in 2017 - as Mia in La La Land

Interesting Fact: She didn’t know she has asthma until she had an asthma attack while filming Easy A.

• Rachel Weisz as Lady Sarah in The Favourite

Age: 48

Previously Best Known For:

The Mummy

The Constant Gardener

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Winner - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in 2006 - Tessa Quail in The Constant Gardener

Interesting Fact: Her father invented respirators that supply their own oxygen as well as machines that sense landmines.

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Best Director Nominees:

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  Spike Lee for BlacKkKlansman

Age: 61

Previously Best Known For:

Do the Right Thing

Malcolm X

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Nomination - Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen in 1990 - For Do the Right Thing

Nomination - Best Documentary, Features in 1998 - For 4 Little Girld

Winner - Honorary Award in 2016

Interesting Fact: Has never learned to drive.

• Pawel Pawlikowski for Cold War

Age: 61

Previously Best Known For:

Ida

My Summer of Love

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

None

Interesting Fact: Ida was the first Polish movie to win an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

• Yorgos Lanthimos for The Favourite

Age: 45

Previously Best Known For:

The Lobster

Dogtooth

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Nomination - Best Original Screenplay in 2015 - For The Lobster

Interesting Fact: Was a member of the creative team which designed the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.

• Alfonso Cuaron for Roma

Age: 57

Previously Best Known For:

Gravity

Children of Men

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Nomination - Best Writing, Original Screenplay in 2003 - For Y Tu Mama Tambien

Nomination - Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay in 2006 - For Children of Men

Nomination - Best Achievement in Film Editing in 2006 - For Children of Men\

Nomination - Best Motion Picture of the Year in 2014 - For Gravity

Winner - Best Achievement in Film Editing in 2014 - For Gravity

Winner - Best Achievement in Directing in 2014 - For Gravity

Interesting Fact: First Mexican-born director to win Best Director.

• Adam McKay for Vice

Age: 50

Previously Best Known For:

The Big Short

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Nomination - Best Achievement in Directing in 2016 - The Big Short

Winner - Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay in 2016 - The Big Short

Interesting Fact: Was one of the founding members of the Upright Citizens Brigade comedy troupe.