Newcomer, veteran actresses face off

Both leading and supporting actress races match newcomers with veterans, which should set the stage for a classic generational showdown at the Oscars on March 7.

Competing for one of the five coveted slots in the lead actress category for the first time is an unusually high quotient of new faces, including 2009 National Board of Review winner Carey Mulligan, 24, as the impressionable schoolgirl infatuated with an older man in “An Education,” and 26-year-old Gabourey Sidibe, making her film debut as the sexually and emotionally abused teen in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire.” Both have already racked up Screen Actors Guild, Golden Globe and Critics Choice Movie Award nominations.

“I rang my mum when I won the National Board of Review,” says Mulligan in explaining how new all this is. “She said, ‘Are you in trouble?’ and I said ‘No, Mum, that’s a good thing!’ ”

It could also be a good thing come nomination morning for other fresh faces to the process, including “Bright Star’s” 27-year-old Abbie Cornish and Emily Blunt, 26, who won a Golden Globe for television work but now is nominated for her first leading role with “The Young Victoria.” “The Lovely Bones” star Saoirse Ronan is the youngest contender at just 15, but, ironically, she’s the Oscar vet in the group, having been nominated two years ago for “Atonement.”

On the other side of the age divide is 60-year-old two-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep, who is now at the top of her game at an age when most film actresses are marginalized. She’s angling to break her own record with a 16th nomination for her portrayal of Julia Child in “Julie & Julia” or as Jane in the frothy comedy “It’s Complicated” (she’s competing against herself at the Globes). While acknowledging that it’s nice to be nominated more than any other actor, Streep points out that she has also lost more times than anyone in Oscar history. Her last victory, for “Sophie’s Choice,” came 27 years ago.

There’s also 64-year-old Helen Mirren, 2006’s lead actress for “The Queen,” who is back with “The Last Station,” and 45-year-old Sandra Bullock, enjoying the best reviews and box office of her career playing the real-life Leigh Anne Tuohy in “The Blind Side,” which, with SAG, Globe and Choice nods, has turned the never-before-nominated star into the surprise entrant in this year’s Oscar race.

Blurring the line between lead and supporting are “Crazy Hearts’ ” Maggie Gyllenhaal and “Nine’s” Marion Cotillard, who won in 2007 for “La Vie en Rose.” Their respective studios are promoting them for lead actress even though their roles are arguably more suited for supporting. They could get votes for both and lose out entirely.

As for supporting actress contenders who are not trying to blur the line?

SAG and Globe nominee Penélope Cruz won the supporting race last year for “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” and is going for a rare back-to-back win this year with her sultry musical work in “Nine.”

Age differences play a part in the story of “Up in the Air,” which sees 24-year-old newcomer Anna Kendrick versus the well-respected Vera Farmiga, both looking for their first nominations and likely to get them. Surprise SAG nominee Diane Kruger from “Inglourious Basterds” is in the running along with Golden Globe contender and Oscar vet Julianne Moore for “A Single Man,” whose four previous nominations make her ripe for the prize. Two-time nominee Samantha Morton could also place for her touching performance in “The Messenger.”

They will all have to beat the front-runner, though, “Precious’ ” monster of a mother, Mo’Nique, who has been winning every award in sight and looks like she may just continue steamrolling through the season right up to the steps of the Kodak Theatre.

Find Pete Hammond’s Notes on a Season column online at TheEnvelope.com.