What's Next?: Best Actress

It is so easy to talk about what the nominations for Best Actress, because most of them have plans for the oncoming year. The one who doesn't, Annette Bening, is currently in pre-production on Hemingway & Fuentes, a film I am absolutely uninformed about. Nicole Kidman of Rabbit Hole has an even more unfortunate lineup for the following year. She has a mysterious role in the Adam Sandler comedy Just Go With It, and later this year's shes going to be in Trespass. I don't know much about the film other than the fact that it's directed by Joel Schumacher. Why do they still allow him to make films?

Jennifer Lawrence has a lineup of pretty outstanding bounce-back performances. She's slated to play Mystique in the upcoming period superhero film X-Men: First Class, a romantic interest for Anton Yelchin's character in The Beaver, and a supporting role in the recent winner at Sundance, Like Crazy. I doubt she'll be securing another nod for next year's awards, but she'll definitely be around. Natalie Portman has probably the most packed schedule for this year, having already released No Strings Attached and The Other Woman. The rest of her year includes the fantasy-comedy Your Highness and the superhero film Thor. No awards potential in the near future, but enough entertaining offerings to keep you going until after her pregnancy period. The only one amongst these women who has a potent chance of returning here next year is Michelle Williams. She's not only got the release of the western Meek's Cutoff to look forward to, but also her rendition of Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn. She's definitely one to watch for the following year.

Image: Michelle Williams in My Week with Marilyn