Keira Knightley: Ah, now here’s a role that seems more like a supporting part than a lead. Knightley has been in Oscar’s good graces since Pride & Prejudice but her role in Atonement is already being overshadowed, to varying degrees, by co-stars James McAvoy, Saorise Ronan, Romola Garai, and Vanessa Redgrace.

Helena Bonham Carter: She’s in a tricky position; as much as we’re assured that she didn’t get the role just because she’s sleeping with the director, Tim Burton does cast her in every single one of his movies, and in Sweeney Todd she scored the role over actresses with better musical backgrounds. If she’s great, she will be appropriately rewarded, but I think people are overestimating the film’s Oscar chances in general.

Angelina Jolie: A Mighty Heart was a dark, hard-hitting true-life drama that was actually quite good and featured a downright wonderful performance from Jolie. The movie tanked for three reasons: the terrible title, the political subject matter, and the absolute stupidity of releasing the movie in June. Like, whoever-was-responsible-should-get-fired stupidity. If enough Academy members actually see the movie, she could have a nice resurgence.

Marion Cotillard: I’m going to be honest: I know nothing about La Vie en Rose, the new French film about Edith Piaf. But Cotillard, the beautiful actress from A Good Year, is getting rave reviews. What she needs is mainstream support.

There you have it. Eight solid names for a Best Actress nominee. Sure, I mentioned twenty-four names for my Best Actor column, but only about fifteen of them have a real shot. So to get to an even ten, here are two