Continuing my personal 2024 Oscar nominations, today I will be writing about the race for Best Supporting Actress.
I had fewer candidates for this category than for Supporting Actor, and my list ended up having significant overlap with the Academy’s — three out of five. Nice to see them get it mostly right for a change.
And the nominees are…
Monica Barbaro – A Complete Unknown
Barbaro might be the most surprising and delightful element of a movie that surprised and delighted me throughout. She learned to play guitar and sing for this role, and does both so well that it’s easy to accept her as Joan friggin’ Baez. She conveys an inner peace and self-confidence, and manages to be immune to Dylan’s bullshit while still drawn to it.
Danielle Deadwyler – The Piano Lesson
I didn’t love this movie (my John David Washington aversion remains strong) but I can’t deny the great work by Deadwyler, who shoulders the film’s most dramatic moments. This is a meaty role that allows her to play terror, seduction, anger, remorse, and deliverance. She’s a compelling screen presence who has been ignored by the Academy twice now (last time it was Till). I hope they recognize her soon. Note: Deadwyler gets extra points for her participation in the wild car crash in Carry-On.
Ariana Grande – Wicked
I was no stranger to Grande’s comedic chops after years of watching her on Saturday Night Live and Nickelodeon’s Victorious. But I still came away newly impressed after watching her embody Wicked‘s Galinda. She has beautiful command of the physical comedy, turning every hair flip and leg turn into a major moment. And of course she has the vocal chops to crush every song.
Jack Haven – I Saw the TV Glow
The non-binary and recently renamed Haven is credited under a different name in this film, playing a character who presents and seemingly identifies as female, so I’m putting them in this category. Haven plays Maddy, the troubled teen who finds comfort in a fantasy TV show and brings Justice Smith’s Owen into her obsession. Haven is riveting, especially delivering a late-film monologue that digs into the movie’s themes with horrifying specificity.
Zoe Saldaña – Emilia Perez
I hated Emilia Perez and find it absurd that it was nominated for 13 Oscars. But even I must recognize the fierce talent on display by Zoe Saldaña. She sings, dances, laughs, cries, and does everything she can to elevate the ridiculous material. She appears to be a lock to win this award, and I’m fine with that. I just hope it’s the only Oscar the movie gets.
And the winner is… Monica Barbaro. Barbaro’s soulful presence, and beautiful musical performances, have lingered the longest.
Elphie
Now that we’re friends, I’ve decided to make you my new project
[ELPHABA, spoken]
Oh, you really don’t have to do that
[GALINDA, spoken]
I know!
That’s what makes me so nice
[GALINDA]
Whenever I see someone less fortunate than I
And let’s face it, right? Who isn’t less fortunate than I?
My tender heart tends to start to bleed
And when someone needs a makeover, I simply have to take over
I know, I know exactly what they need
And even in your case
Though it’s the toughest case I’ve yet to face
Don’t worry, I’m determined to succeed
Follow my lead
And yes, indeed
You will be, ah
Popular
You’re gonna be popular
I’ll teach you the proper ploys when you talk to boys
Little ways to flirt and flounce, ooh!
I’ll show you what shoes to wear, how to fix your hair
Everything that really counts to be popular
I’ll help you be popular
You’ll hang with the right cohorts, you’ll be good at sports
Know the slang you’ve got to know
So let’s start ’cause you’ve got an awfully long way to go
Don’t be offended by my frank analysis
Think of it as personality dialysis
Now that I’ve chosen to become a pal
A sister and adviser, there’s nobody wiser
Not when it comes to
Popular
I know about popular
And with an assist from me to be who you’ll be
Instead of dreary who-you-were
[GALINDA, spoken]
Well, are!
[GALINDA]
There’s nothing that can stop you from becoming populer… —lar!
La-la, la-la
We’re gonna make you popular
When I see depressing creatures
With unprepossessing features
I remind them on their own behalf to think of
Celebrated heads of state
Or especially great communicators
Did they have brains or knowledge?
[GALINDA, spoken]
Don’t make me laugh
[GALINDA]
They were
[ELPHABA, spoken]
Popular
[GALINDA, spoken]
Right!
[GALINDA]
It’s all about popular
It’s not about aptitude, it’s the way you’re viewed
So it’s very shrewd to be
Very, very popular like me, me
And though you protest
Your disinterest
I know clandestinely
You’re gonna grin and bear it, your newfound popularity (Woo!)
La-la, la-la
La-la, la-la
La-la, ooh
You’ll be popular
Just not quite as popular as me
Meet Me In Montauk 
I would be fine with a Barbaro win, but it’s possible that Rossellini sneaks in for the prize on Oscar night.
Great picks – I do think the academy selected well here! I was happy to see Barbaro make the cut (albeit she was a clear standout in a film I was far less enthused by).
For my own list, I would add:
Cailee Spaeny – Civil War
Leonie Benesch – September 5
Joan Chen – Didi
I think Zoe has a lock on this one and I’m ok with that. I agree that Barbaro was wonderful and I also like Maddie’s suggestion now that I’ve seen Sept 5, Leonie Benesch was wonderful too!
I agree with Dana that Isabella Rossellini may be a surprise winner
I’ll be very happy when Saldana collects the Oscar as her performance was wonderful and grounding in a film that was deliciously bonkers.
Rounding out my personal top 5 would be….
Ariana Grande – I’d be tickled if she took home the trophy for her hilarious yet touching turn as Glinda.
Joey King – For her utterly delightful and very funny performance in the otherwise highly predictable and mediocre A Family Affair (why not award a stellar performance in a less than stellar film, when it’s all that more challenging to make your performance stand out in something as pedestrian as this rom com?)
Aubrey Plaza – For that final gut wrenching scene and as a way to recognize one of my favorite films of the year.
Monica Barbaro – For being the best part of A Complete Unknown and for being such a badass in Maverick, which should have received a bunch of nominations it didn’t get.
I also loved Leonie Benesch in September 5 and would likely add Danielle Deadwyler to my list had I seen the film yet as I always am floored by her performances.