13 Unexpected Actors Who Might Win Oscars In 2020

1. Maggie Smith (Best Supporting Actress - Downton Abbey)

The Role: Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham aka Downton Abbey's resident curmudgeon, as made instantly iconic in the original ITV series.

Maggie Smith is certainly no stranger to the Academy's attention, having six nominations and two wins to her name (in Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress categories), though she hasn't netted a nomination since her 2002 nod for Gosford Park.

But the upcoming Downton Abbey film may change that, for while Smith's role in the film likely won't be very big, it's sure to crackle with wit and give Smith one final innings as the much-loved character.

This itself might be enough for the Academy to give Smith what will likely be the final nomination of her career, and you know what? If Judi Dench can win the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for less than eight minutes of screen time in Shakespeare in Love, why not Maggie?

Given that Smith won a Golden Globe and three Emmys for her work on the series, what a wonderful capper an Academy Award for the same role would be.

What do you make of these early Oscar acting predictions? Got any of your own to share? Shout them out in the comments!