4. Saoirse Ronan - Brooklyn
In contrast, Saoirse Ronan is a lock for a Best Actress nomination for her portrayal of Eilis, the young girl at the heart of John Crowley's surprise hit, Brooklyn, and in fact shes the favourite to win the award, edging out Cate Blanchett because of the fact that Blanchett won fairly recently (for Blue Jasmine). Ronan, who was first nominated (Best Actress in a Supporting Role) at the tender age of thirteen for her performance in Atonement, would be a worthy winner, and bar one further entry on this list (see #2), she delivers the female performance of the year here. This is the first time weve seen Ronan in a lead role of real note, and shes nothing sort of revelatory, vulnerable at times, spider-web strong at others. More an immigrant story than a love story, Ronans chemistry with the aforementioned Emory Cohen nevertheless crackles, the pair perfectly believable as a couple who slowly but surely fall into the throes of first love.