Michael Haneke's keenly observed love story is also up for best picture, best direction, best actress in a leading role (for 85 year-old Emmanuelle Riva) and best original screenplay.

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In other words, Gwyneth Paltrow ("Shakespeare in Love") might have gotten teary-eyed when she won the Golden Globe for best actress this year, but she will become the leading actress of her generation if she takes home the Oscar.

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Last year Zeta Jones won a Tony Award for best performance by a leading actress in a musical for her role in A Little Night Music, her Broadway debut.

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Three actors of "The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess" -- Audra McDonald, Norm Lewis and David Alan Grier -- earned nominations, though only McDonald (who also is on ABC's "Private Practice") grabbed an award for best performance by a leading actress in a play.

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And as I said, Jessica Chastain has to be the leading contender for a Best Actress nomination.

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His female counterpart, Best Actress Jennifer Lawrence, was the most-talked about nominated actress across the U.S. leading up to the awards, and was the front-runner among men on Facebook.

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Despite the fact this was the first feature film by filmmaker Benh Zeitlin and starred unknown actors in all its roles, the film has gone to receive over 35 awards for both the director, the screenwriter Lucy Alibar, and most importantly, landing its leading lady the distinction of being the youngest nominee ever for an Oscar Academy Award for best actress.

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