The Oscar contenders:
鈥Jessica Chastain, "Zero Dark Thirty"
鈥Jennifer Lawrence, "Silver Linings Playbook"
鈥Emmanuelle Riva, "Amour"
鈥Quvenzhane虂 Wallis, "Beasts Of The Southern Wild"
鈥Naomi Watts, "The Impossible"
The verdict: Chastain was regarded as an early frontrunner in this race and snagged the Best Actress in a Drama prize from the Golden Globes, but then she wasn't running against Lawrence, who took the Golden Globes prize for Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical 鈥 and it was Lawrence who then took home the SAG Award. Riva, the oldest-ever nominee for Best Actress, is also a well-regarded contender, but expect Lawrence, who played a young widow in "Playbook," to take home the statuette. The actress was nominated for Best Actress in 2011 for "Winter's Bone."