Tonys prediction slugfest: Marcia Gay Harden or Jane Fonda as best actress in a play?

Envelope contributor Paul Sheehan and I disagree over which Academy Award-winning actress is going to take home the Tony Award for her performance in a play this year. Paul thinks it will be two-time Oscar champ Jane Fonda for her return to Broadway after a 46-year absence in "33 Variations." And I agree with most other pundits that Marcia Gay Harden will win for her over-the-top performance in "God of Carnage." After watching us battle it out, be sure to read our complete breakdown of pundits' predix before tuning into the Tony Awards on Sunday night on CBS and joining us here for our live chat.

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Come on! Jane Fonda is an outside in this race and it's clear it's up to two definitely SUPERIOR PERFORMANCES - these of Marcia Gay Harden and Janet McTeer! I think that it's a head-to-head battle, but at the end I think it will be Harden for three reasons - McTeer already has a Tony, Harden never won a Tony and she's in the best play winner. And let's not forget that Jane Fonda isn't exactly beloved. So I think it's definitely Harden, with McTeer the runner-up.

Posted by: Rosen | June 06, 2009 at 08:31 AM

marcia gay harden & geoffrey rush are the 2 strongest actors on the New York stage
I would like to see them in any Albee or Tennessee Williams play

rush told me he never did either playwright I told rush he could even do musicals

Harden is ideal for "summer & smoke' & many volatile roles other women could not go near

Posted by: dramaman | June 06, 2009 at 07:27 AM

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