Can Jennifer Lawrence Become the Second Youngest Best Actress Nominee?

I was writing up my little filmbytes column for popbytes and decided to spotlight Jennifer Lawrence as a rising star.

<-- This particular still freaks me out. Doesn't Jennifer look just like the Zeéeee there?

I'm very curious as to whether or not tiny Roadside Attractions can push Winter's Bone towards Oscar as relentlessly as "Ree Dolly*" pursues her missing film dad. Jennifer is the film's best Oscar bet but perhaps it could go further than just Best Actress? For a gritty rural drama that doesn't exactly coddle its audience, I was surprised to learn recently that the movie has already grossed $3 million in a month's time. That's impressive. That means people, and not just critics, like it. When both civilians and critics like things, AMPAS voters often figure they might ought to watch it.

But how's this for a statistic? If Jennifer Lawrence, who is currently 19, does secure a robust campaign and then a Best Actress nomination in January, she'll be the second youngest nominee ever in that category. The youngest was 4 year old Victoire Thivisol for Ponette and... GODDAMNIT. She wasn't nominated! Okay what I meant to type was that the youngest was Evan Rachel Wood for thirt ... SHUT UP. Allow me my Oscar fantasies. No, the youngest nominee is Keisha Castle Hughes for Whale Rider.

It breaks down like so...


Youngest Best Actress Nominees

1. Keisha Castle Hughes, Whale Rider (13 going on 14)
2. Isabelle Adjani, The Story of Adele H (20 and 2/3rds)
3. Keira Knightley, Pride & Prejudice (almost 21)
4. Ellen Page, Juno (practically 21)
5. Marlee Matlin, Children of a Lesser God (21 and some change)
   

Isn't it interesting that most of the youngest nominees are from the past decade? The only winner among these women girls was Ms. Matlin who performed Grand Theft Oscar on my beloved Kathleen Turner (see this ancient post) and Sigourney Weaver, both still Oscarless, for which I can never forgive her.

The nail-biting tragedy of March 30th, 1987 illustrated.

The rest of the youngest ladies lost their Oscar races. It's hard to win when people know you haven't truly "paid your dues" yet.

*In addition to being one of the youngest nominees ever, "Ree Dolly" would join the ranks of most memorable character monikers nominated, too.