2/20 Thoughts: What more is there to say here? When Octavia Spencer can win even the BAFTA, despite her film's comparatively low profile in the UK, it's fair to say she has this one locked up. Would that the concentrated love for Jessica Chastain's 2011 body of work could make a difference here, but her year will come. --Guy Lodge

Good Bets

• Octavia Spencer (“The Help”)
  1.

Other Possibilities

• Bérénice Bejo ("The Artist")
  2.

Dark Horses

• Jessica Chastain (“The Help”)
  3.
• Melissa McCarthy ("Bridesmaids")
  4.

The Rest of the field

• Janet McTeer ("Albert Nobbs")
  5.