2017 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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 Casey Affleck - as Lee Chandler in Manchester By the Sea

 

Age: 41

Previously Best Known For: 

Gone Baby Gone

Ocean’s Eleven

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Nominated - Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in 2008 - as Robert Ford in The Assassination Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Interesting Fact: Attended Columbia University, majoring in Physics. 

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Andrew Garfield - as Desmond Doss in Hacksaw Ridge

Age: 33

Previously Best Known For: 

The Amazing Spider Man

The Social Network

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

None

Interesting Fact: Born in Los Angeles and moved to England at the age of 3.

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 Ryan Gosling as Sebastian in La La Land

Age: 36

Previously Best Known For: 

The Notebook

Crazy, Stupid Love

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in 2007 - as Dan Dunne in Half Nelson

Interesting Fact: Is an accomplished jazz guitarist and started a band with his friend called Dead Man’s Bones. 

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Viggo Mortensen as Ben in Captain Fantastic

Age: 58

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 Eastern Promises

Interesting Fact: Wore a Montreal Canadiens jersey under his costume during the filming of the Lord of the Rings films. 

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Denzel Washington as Troy Maxson in Fences

Age: 62

Previously Best Known For: 

Training Day

Man on Fire

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Nominated - Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 1988 - as Steve Biko in Cry Freedom

Won - Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 1990 - Pvt. Trip in Glory

Nominated - Best Actor in a Leading Role in 1993 - Malcolm X

Nominated - Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2000 - as Rubin Carter in Hurricane

Won - Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2002 - Det. Alonzo Harris in Training Day

Nominated - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in 2013 - as Whip Whitaker Flight

Interesting Fact:  Tom Hanks said working with Washington in Philadelphia was like “going to film school”. Hanks said he learned more about acting by watching Denzel than from anyone else.  

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Best Actress Nominees 

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Isabelle Huppert as Michele LeBlanc in Elle

Age: 63

Previously Best Known For: 

Armour

The Piano Teacher

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

None

Interesting Fact: She is the actress who has had the most films in the official competition of the Cannes film festival - 18 films as of 2016. She is also one of the four who have one the best interpretation awards twice - for Violette in 1978 and The Piano Teacher in 2001.  

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Ruth Negga as Mildred in Loving

Age: 35

Previously Best Known For: 

Warcraft

World War Z

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

None

Interesting Fact: Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and was raised in Limerick, Ireland from the age of 4. 

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 Natalie Portman as Jackie Kennedy in Jackie

Age: 35

Previously Best Known For: 

Black Swan

Leon: The Professional

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Nominated - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in 2005 - as Alice in Closer

Won - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in 2011 - as Nina Sayers Black Swan

Interesting Fact: Is trained in ballet, jazz, and tap dancing. 

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Emma Stone as Mia in La La Land

Age: 28

Previously Best Known For: 

The Amazing Spider-Man

The Help

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

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

Interesting Fact: When she was 7 she fell off the parallel bars in gymnastics and broke both her arms. 

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Meryl Streep as Florence Foster Jenkins in Florence Foster Jenkins

Age: 67

Previously Best Known For:

The Devil Wears Prada

Mamma Mia!

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role 1979 – as Linda in The Deer Hunter

Win - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role 1980 – as Joanna Kramer in Kramer vs Kramer

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 1982 – as Sarah/Anna in The French Lieutenant’s Woman

Win - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 1983 – as Sophie in Sophie’s Choice

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 1984 – as Karen Silkwood in Silkwood

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 1986 – as Karen in Out of Africa

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 1988 – as Helen Archer in Ironweed

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 1989 – as Lindy Chamberlain in Evil Angels

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 1991 – as Suzanne Vale in Postcards from the Edge

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 1996 – as Francesca Johnson in The Bridges of Madison County

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 1999 – as Kate Gulden in One True Thing

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 2000 – as Roberta Guaspari in Music of the Heart

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role 2003 – as Susan Orlean in Adaptation.

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 2007 – as Miranda Priestly in Devil Wears Prada

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 2009 – as Sister Aloysius Beauvier in Doubt

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 2010 – as Julia Child in Julie & Julia

Win - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 2012 – as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role 2014 - as Violet Weston in August: Osage County

Nomination - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role 2015 - as the Witch in Into the Woods

Interesting Fact: Originally applied to Law School, but slept in on the morning of her interview and took it as a sign that she was destined for other things. 

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 Best Supporting Actor Nominees 

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Mahershala Ali as Juan in Moonlight

Age: 42

Previously Best Known For: 

TV’s Luke Cage

TV’s House of Cards

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

None

Interesting Fact: His full first name is Mahershalalhashbaz which is a name from the book of Isaiah, in the hebrew bible. 

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Jeff Bridges as Marcus Hamilton in Hell or High Water

Age: 67

Previously Best Known For: 

The Big Lebowski

True Grit

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Nominated - Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 1972 - as Duane Jackson in The Last Picture Show

Nominated - Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 1975 - as Lightfoot in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot

Nominated - Best Actor in a Leading Role in 1985 - Starman

Nominated - Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 2001 - as President Jackson Evans in The Contender

Won - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in 2010 - as Bad Blake in Crazy Heart

Nominated - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in 2011 - as Rooster Cogburn in True Grit

Interesting Fact: He played roles with the first name “Jack” seven times and with the surname “Jackson” four times and was considered for the part of Jack in Speed. 

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Lucas Hedges as Patrick in Manchester By the Sea

Age: 20

Previously Best Known For: 

Moonrise Kingdom

The Zero Theorem

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

None

Interesting Fact: Hedges and Dev Patel, are the first and, as of 2017, only males born in the 1990’s to have received an Academy Award nomination for acting. 

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Dev Patel as Saroo Brierley in Lion

Age: 26

Previously Best Known For: 

Slumdog Millionaire

Chappie

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

None

Interesting Fact: Wanted to audition for Life of Pi, but was turned down by the producers because they thought he was “over-exposed”. 

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Michael Shannon as Bobby Andes in Nocturnal Animals

Age: 42

Previously Best Known For: 

Take Shelter

Man of Steel

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Nominated - Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in 2009 - as John Givings in Revolutionary Road

Interesting Fact: First non-British actor to play Superman’s enemy, General Zod. 

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Best Supporting Actress Nominees

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Viola Davis as Rose Maxson in Fences

Age: 51

Previously Best Known For: 

Doubt

The Help

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Nominated - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in 2009 - Mrs. Miller in Doubt

Nominated - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in 2012 - Aibileen Clark in The Help 

Interesting Fact: Is one of 2 African American actress, the other being Whoopi Goldberg, to be nominated for an Academy Award in both Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress categories. 

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Naomie Harris as Paula in Moonlight

Age: 40

Previously Best Known For: 

Skyfall

28 Days Later

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

None

Interesting Fact: Credits Danny Boyle for really getting her film career on track when he cast her in 28 Days Later. 

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Nicole Kidman as Sue Brierley in Lion

Age: 49

Previously Best Known For: 

Moulin Rouge

The Others

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Nominated - Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2002 - as Satine in Moulin Rouge

Won - Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2003 - as Virginia Woolf in The Hours

Nominated - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role - as Becca in Rabbit Hole 

Interesting Fact: Although naturally left handed, she taught herself to write right-handed for her role in The Hours. 

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Octavia Spencer as Dorothy Vaughan in Hidden Figures

Age: 46

Previously Best Known For: 

The Help

Fruitvale Station

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Won - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in 2012 - as Minny Jackson in The Help

Interesting Fact: One of 11 actresses to win the Critics Choice Award, Golden Globe, Screen Actors’ Guild, BAFTA, and Oscar in the same year - winning for The Help. 

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Michelle Williams as Randi Chandler in Manchester By the Sea

Age: 36

Previously Best Known For: 

Blue Valentine

Shutter Island

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Nominated - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in 2006 - as Alna in Brokeback Mountain

Nominated - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in 2011 - as Cindy in Blue Valentine

Nominated - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in 2012 - My Week with Marylin 

Interesting Fact: Legally emancipated from her parents at the age of 15.  

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 Best Director Nominees: 

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Denis Villeneuve for Arrival 

Age: 49

Previously Best Known For: 

Sicario

Prisoners

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

None

Interesting Fact: His favorite film is 2001: A Space Odyssey. 

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Mel Gibson for Hacksaw Ridge 

 

Age: 61

Previously Best Known For: 

Braveheart

The Passion of the Christ

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Won - Best Picture in 1996 - Braveheart

Won - Best Director in 1996 - Braveheart

Interesting Fact: Almost turned down the role of William Wallace in Braveheart because he thought he was too old for the role. A compromise was made - he could direct the movie if he agreed to portray Wallace.  

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Damien Chazelle for La La Land 

Age: 32

Previously Best Known For: 

Whiplash

10 Cloverfield Lane

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Nominated - Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay in 2015 - Whiplash

Interesting Fact: Graduated from Harvard University in a degree in Visual and Environmental Studies. 

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Kenneth Lonergan for Manchester By the Sea

Age: 54

Previously Best Known For: 

Gangs of New York

Analyze This

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

Nominated - Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen in 2001 - You Can Count on Me

Nominated - Best Writing, Original Screenplay in 2003 - Gangs of New York

Interesting Fact: Sites Close Encounters of the Third Kind as his favorite film, and Stanley Kubrick as a major filmmaking influence. 

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Barry Jenkins for Moonlight

Age: 37

Previously Best Known For: 

Medicine for Melancholy

Previous Oscar Nominations/Wins:

None

Interesting Fact: Attended Florida State University film school with James Laxton (cinematographer), Adele Romanski (producer) and film editors Nat Sanders and Joi McMillon, all of whom collaborated on Barry's acclaimed Moonlight (2016). 

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Check out last year's nominees here.