3. Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)
The Role: In Mike Leigh's 2008 comedy, Sally Hawkins plays Poppy, a carefree, high-sprited teacher. The title Happy-Go-Lucky is as appropriate as a title can be for a movie, as that's exactly what Poppy is. Poppy is the reminder that there is genuine positivity in the world, and this inspires some and irritates others.
Why It's Oscar Worthy: Super-positive can be hard to pull off, as it requires the actor to reach a level of sincerity that many cannot, but Hawkins gives a suburb performance here that won her a Golden Globe for Best Actress-Musical or Comedy. We accept the joy and open-mindedness Poppy brings to the table, but only because of the way Hawkins plays the role.