Photo: The Weinstein Company
Winner: Penelope Cruz
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Penelope Cruz has carved a niche for herself as one of the most enchanting actresses on the silver screen. The two-time Golden Globe® nominee is the first Spanish actress to be nominated an Oscar®. In 2006, Penelope received a Best Actress nod for her work in Pedro Almodóvar's Volver.
For this most recent honor, Penelope is recognized for her role in Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona as María Elena, the mentally unstable wife of the man played by her real-life love Javier Barden.
Amy Adams
Doubt
Since her big-screen debut in 1999's Drop Dead Gorgeous, Amy Adams has been winning over audiences and critics alike with roles in such films as Catch Me If You Can and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. Her portrayal of a pregnant wife in Junebug earned her her first Oscar® nomination.
Amy's performance as an animated-turned-live-action heroine in Enchanted—which included three musical numbers that allowed Amy to showcase her singing voice—earned her praise for her charm and comedic timing.
In Doubt, Amy earns her second Oscar® nomination for her role as Sister James in the film adaptation of the John Patrick Shanley play.
Viola Davis
Doubt
Viola Davis earned her first Tony® and a world of praise from theatergoers for her role as Tonya in King Hedley II, part of August Wilson's series The Pittsburgh Cycle.
It's her work as Mrs. Miller in the film adaption of the Broadway play Doubt that brings her to the attention of audiences and the Academy alike. This is her first Oscar® nomination.
Taraji P. Henson
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best known for her performance as Shug in the movie Hustle & Flow, Taraji P. Henson also provided the vocals for the movie's Oscar®-winning song, "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp," and performed the song during the 2006 Academy Awards show.
In The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Taraji plays Queenie, the woman who raises Benjamin Button as her own son after he's abandoned on the porch of the nursing home where she works. This is her first nomination.
Marisa Tomei
The Wrestler
Since her 1992 Oscar®-winning role as Mona Lisa Vito, the wise-cracking, foul-mouthed girlfriend in My Cousin Vinny, Marisa Tomei has been known as one of the industry's most versatile actresses. After a slew of romantic comedies and dramas—including Only You, Untamed Heart and The Paper—Marissa amazed audiences with her role in In the Bedroom, which earned her a second Oscar® nomination.
Marisa's performance as Cassidy in The Wrestler has earned her rave reviews, including her third Oscar® nomination.
