Oscars predix: Who's ahead in the best-actress derby

November 5, 2009 | 9:07 am

After piping in with their Oscars predix for best pix on Tuesday, our forums' moderators now stick out their thin, tender, trembling necks to forecast the best-actress race. Chris "Boomer" Beachum, Matthew "Boidiva02" Cormier, Darrin "DoubleD" Dortch, Robert "Rob L" Licuria, Andrew "andrew" Pickett and Paul Sheehan.

Only two actresses get the bets of all of these pundits: Carey Mulligan ("An Education") and Helen Mirren ("The Last Station"). Yeah, I'm sure they're right about that duo. Those not putting their derby dollars down on Gabourey Sidibe ("Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire") and Saoirse Ronan ("The Lovely Bones") will regret it later. Personally, my fifth pick is Marion Cotillard ("Nine"). Check out our forums to see who other Derbyites are betting on in general; read reax to these specific predix here. Early fave to win is Sidibe, I think. Here are the views of 16 film journos we polled on the best-pic race.

BEST ACTRESS	Beachum	Cormier	Dortch	Licuria	Pickett	Sheehan
Abbie Cornish, "Bright Star"	X			X	X
Marion Cotillard, "Nine"					X	X
Penelope Cruz, "Broken Embraces"	X
Helen Mirren, "The Last Station"	X	X	X	X	X	X
Carey Mulligan, "An Education"	X	X	X	X	X	X
Saoirse Ronan, "The Lovely Bones"			X			X
Meryl Streep, "Julie & Julia"	X	X	X	X
Gabourey Sidibe, "Precious"		X	X	X	X	X
Hilary Swank, "Amelia"		X

Photos: From left, Carey Mulligan in "An Education." Credit: Sony Pictures Classics. Gabourey Sidibe in "Precious." Credit: Lionsgate

Oscars predix for best pix: Now the real experts pipe in – our forum moderators

Will Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin be winning Oscars hosts?

Why does Patrick Goldstein continue to bash Oscar bloggers?

Why Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin to host Oscars? Well, it's complicated.

Gold Derby nuggets: 'Star Trek' best cast movie | 'Doctor Who' tries legal series | 'An Education' from director Lone Scherfig

Gold Derby nuggets: Mariah Carey looks 'Precious' | Lifetime kudos for Caleb Deschanel and Sidney Lumet

'Missing Lynx' key to expanding animated feature Oscar race

'Precious' star Gabby Sidibe: 'It's so scary to think about' the Oscars

Can Saorise Ronan become the youngest best actress Oscar winner?

Quiz: Can you spot the Oscars' nominee for best actor?

Oscars quiz: Can you spot the only best actress nominee?

Get Gold Derby on Twitter. Join the Gold Derby Group at Facebook. Become friends with Tom O'Neil on Facebook. Get Gold Derby RSS feed via Facebook. RSS Feedburner. RSS Atom.

Gold Derby

Tom O'Neil has the inside track on Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and all the award shows.

Oscars predix: Who's ahead in the best-actress derby