Best Actress is consistently one of the most interesting categories in any Academy Awards ceremony.

So far, the 2020s have been quite exciting for the Best Actress category.

Much like Chastain,Zellweger settles for imitating rather than evoking.

Blended image showing Renée Zellweger in Judy holding an Oscar with

Custom Image by Federico Napoli

She does her best to embody Judy’s physical and emotional frailty, and she often succeeds.

McDormand fits that approach witha performance so subtle it’s almost involuntary.

The actress plays Bella Baxter, a young woman brought back to life with the brain of a baby.

Tammy Faye Bakker in bed in The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Image via Searchlight Pictures

However, one look atPoor Thingsis enough for anyone to understand why the Academy chose to recognize her again.

NEXT:The 10 Most Disliked Best Actress Oscar Winners, Ranked

Judy Garland singing on stage in Judy.

Image via 20th Century Studios

judy poster

Close up shot of Frances McDormand as Fern, standing in a vast field in ‘Nomadland.'

Image via Searchlight Pictures

Nomadland Game Poster

Evelyn, fighting while paper sheets fly around her in Everything Everywhere All at Once.

Image via A24

Michelle Yeoh

Emma Stone