Originating within the golden ages of Hollywood, the Academy Awards, otherwise known as the Oscars, is an annual celebration of the past year’s movies, documentaries, and short films. Beginning as an elegant dinner party consisting of only 250 guests, the Oscars ceremony has evolved into a stunning event including over 2,000 of the nation’s most talented actors, actresses, and directors in the film industry.

Receiving an Oscar is one of the highest achievements in the acting world, but it can take years of hard work and dedication to attain. 

The Academy places various restrictions on the actors and actresses before they can be nominated for an award. An actor can be nominated only once for each category for a given movie. However, an actor can win both a supporting role and a lead role if they are starring in more than one movie that was nominated for an award. 

If a performance receives votes in the lead and supporting categories, or if an actor receives multiple votes for different roles in the same category, the nomination goes to the category in which the actor receives the greatest number of votes.

The following actors are currently nominated for lead actor:

• Javier Bardem -Being the Ricardos 
• Benedict Cumberbatch -The Power of the Dog 
• Andrew Garfield -tick, tick…BOOM!
• Will Smith -King Richard 
• Denzel Washington -The Tragedy of Macbeth

The following actresses are currently nominated for lead actress:

• Jessica Chastain -The Eyes of Tammy Faye 
• Olivia Coleman -The Lost Daughter 
• Penelope Cruz -Parallel Mothers 
• Nicole Kidman – Being the Ricardos 
• Kristian Stewart – Spencer

Who will win on the big night?

In my opinion, I believe that Kristen Stewart will bring home the Oscar for “Spencer”. Her performance was amazing throughout the entire film, as she represented the strength of the women within the royal family while embodying the legacy of  Princess Diana in every way. 

Pertaining to the best actor, I believe that either Will Smith or Andrew Garfield will take home the academy award for their stunning performances in “King Richard” and “Tick, tick…BOOM!,” both movies that I have enjoyed ever since they premiered. 

A closer look into Kristen Stewart’s “Spencer”

Kristen Stewart is currently nominated for her lead performance in the 2021 film, “Spencer” where she plays the role of the late Princess of Wales, Diana Spencer. Throughout the film, viewers are taken back to the beginning of Diana and Prince Charles’ marriage, specifically the debilitating and strenuous parts of their relationship. 

While Charles pays Diana less and less attention, Diana struggles to deal with rumors circulating about their alleged divorce and loyalty within the marriage. She takes several moments to reflect on times when she wasn’t involved with the royal family and realizes how much of herself she has lost over the years.

When Kristen Stewart was informed about her Oscar nomination, she went out golfing to celebrate and spent the day with her partner, Dylan Meyer, and her friends at Neon, “Spencer’s” distribution company. 

“I’ve been doing this forever, and I just love movies so much. I can’t believe it, I’m still sort of floating around,” said Stewart during a Variety interview. “I bet as a little guy, I was probably like, ‘Yeah, if you’re going to do something, you should do it right.’ But now, I can’t believe it.”

Kristen Stewart stars as Princess Diana along with co-stars Jack Farthing as Prince Charles, Stella Gonet as Queen Elizebeth II, and Amy Manson as Anne Boleyn. 

“King Richard” The story of Serena and Venus Williams’ tennis upbringing 

Will Smith is nominated for his first Oscar in over 15 years for his role as Serena and Venus Williams’ dad, Richard Williams, in the film, “King Richard” which premiered Nov. 19, 2021. 

World renown tennis players Serena and Venus Williams were trained and coached from a very young age by their father, Richard Williams, whose dream was for his daughters to become tennis legends. Williams did everything he could to prepare them for becoming professional athletes, contributing to their huge success as U.S. Open and Grand Slam champions multiple years in a row. 

The film details the journey of Serena and Venus Williams growing up in Compton, California, and shows the lengths that a parent will go in order for their children to become successful later in life.

Smith, the former “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” star has yet to snag an Academy Award but has won four Grammys for his past music career. His very first primetime Emmy nomination came back in July 2021 for his role in the Netflix series, “Cobra Kai”.

The past few months were packed for Smith, as his adaptation of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”, “Bel-Air” was released back in late Feb. Before his Oscar nomination was released, Smith’s role in “King Richard” had already been a favorite among award shows such as the Critics Choice, SAG awards, and BAFTA awards. 

Smith stars alongside actresses Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton playing Venus and Serena Williams, with Aunjanue Ellis playing Willams’ wife. The movie also features guest appearances from both Serena and Venus Williams. 

The Oscars will premiere on Sunday, March 27 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time and 5:00 p.m. Pacific time. The award show will be available to watch on ABC – make sure to tune in early to view Oscar fashion looks and listen to exclusive interviews before the show begins.