‘Truths’ about Marianne Jean-Baptiste’s Oscar chances

Marianne Jean-Baptiste has gained serious momentum toward a lead actress Oscar nomination with her performance as a depressed, caustic Londoner in “Hard Truths,” her second heart-wrenching collaboration with filmmaker Mike Leigh.

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For “Hard Truths,” Jean-Baptiste already has received a Golden Globe nomination, a British Independent Film Award and New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco critics group awards, among other honors.

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A 2025 Oscar nod would be Jean-Baptiste’s second, after a supporting nomination …

28

years ago for her performance in Leigh’s “Secrets & Lies” as a self-possessed young woman who tracks down her anxious birth mother (Brenda Blethyn). But more people likely know …

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Jean-Baptiste for playing an FBI special agent on “Without a Trace” during its 2002-09 run. That critically acclaimed CBS procedural drew …

15 million

viewers for some episodes, whereas “Secrets & Lies” brought in about …

3 million-4 million

viewers during a North American theatrical run that topped out at $13.4 million. But Leigh’s ”kitchen sink”-style British dramas have received …

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… previous Oscar nominations. If she wins,

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Jean-Baptiste would be the first above-the-line Academy Award for a Leigh film. Thus far …

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Oscars have been awarded to Leigh movies, for makeup and costume design for the 1999 musical theater-based period piece “Topsy-Turvy.”

1997, 2005

Previous Leigh-directed lead actress nominees Blethyn and (especially) Imelda Staunton (“Vera Drake”) were favored before Frances McDormand (“Fargo”) and Hilary Swank (“Million Dollar Baby”), respectively, won instead. Swank …

12/2024

… had gained an edge as a mid- to late-awards season favorite — the same vibe Jean-Baptiste is giving with her December critics group successes this year.