The Actor: Cynthia Nixon is best-known for playing high-flying lawyer Miranda Hobbes on HBO's classic show Sex and the City, and along with prolific TV work, tends to stick to art-house indie flicks for her big-screen work. It's not so much that Nixon earning acclaim is unexpected by virtue of her talent, but simply because she picks so many low-profile roles. The Role: Nixon plays Gail, the dying mother of the titular character (Christopher Abbot), who attempts to make amends with her troubled child in her final days. Why They Might Win: Nixon's performance was described as a "knockout" by Variety, and other outlets have touted it as being awards-worthy right out of the gate. Laura Dern's performance in Wild this year was proof enough that the Academy isn't turned off by the grimness of a role such as this, and as long as the pic gets the opportunity to make an impact on a big enough stage, her supporting turn could be the one to beat.