Oscars 2022: Every Acting Nominee Ranked

Unlike Simmons and Bardem, Being the Ricardos gives Nicole Kidman plenty to work with in her portrayal of Lucille Ball, and to her credit - in typical Kidman fashion - she soars with the material.

There's a sense, yes, that this is just another case of Hollywood rewarding Hollywood, but Kidman's performance, for all its manic energy, perfectly pitched voice and likeability, effortlessly overcomes Aaron Sorkin's otherwise Oscar-baiting tendencies.

Rather than simply imitating Ball, Kidman makes her a well-explored character with flaws and features outside of her public image. The script hinders her slightly, but she's such a talent that she makes it work.

The Best Actress race is a seriously unpredictable this year, and though Kidman's isn't the strongest nomination, it wouldn't be totally terrible if she won it in the end.