It has been a fascinating awards season charged up by the Time’s Up and Me Too movements with a best picture race. Yes, the past few months in Tinseltown have been a whirlwind of emotions with full of worthy contenders. And now it’s time for the most awaited award ceremony—Oscars 2018. The 90th Annual Academy Awards is set to take place on March 4, 2018. This year, the Academy Awards will be at the Dolby Theatre in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, United States this Sunday. The ceremony will air live nationwide on the most popular American Broadcasting Company (ABC) at 8 pm Eastern Time (6:30 am IST).

Since Oscars is just around the corner, the people are already anticipating who will take the most recognized trophy in the world, the Oscar Statue in the best actress category. Without any delay, here are the Oscars 2018 nominations for actress in a leading role:

1. Sally Hawkins for the Shape of Water

A still from the movie Shape of Water (Photo Credit: Movie Still)

Sally Hawkins as Elisa Esposito, a cleaning lady who works the night shift in a bunker-like government lab in the early 1960s at the city of Baltimore in Maryland. Hawkins plays a mute caretaker whose lonely existence is transformed when she discovers a secret project at her workplace. The beautiful bond between Elisa and Fish-Man has acclaimed a massive response with its message of kindness and acceptance.

2. Frances McDormand for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

A still from the movie Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (Photo Credits: Movie Still)

Frances McDormand portrays Mildred, a grieving mother who devises a provocative method to motivate the police investigating the unsolved murder of her daughter in the film Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. The comedy, pain and tragedy are accompanied by shocking spasms of violence and rage, that has a distancing effect and Frances undoubtedly gave her best performance.

3. Margot Robbie for I, Tonya

A movie still from I, Tonya (Photo Credits: Movie Still)

Margot Robbie plays the US figure skater Tonya Harding who became famous for athletic skill and then disreputable for her possible participation in an attack on her rival. Robbie won hearts with her perfect performance as the disgraced figure skater in this ferociously entertaining biopic.

4. Saoirse Ronan for Lady Bird

A still from the movie Lady Bird (Photo Credits: Movie Still)

Saoirse Ronan portrays the role of McPherson in Lady Bird who is a difficult teen at a Catholic High School. Ronan is tremendous in the glorious film with her mind-blowing act about growing up, mother-daughter relationship and the anxiety of separation.

5. Meryl Streep for The Post

A still from the movie The Post (Photo Credits: Movie Still)

Meryl Streep plays the role of Katherine Graham; The Post depicts the true story of attempts by journalists at The Washington Post. She portrays the publisher who must overcome her self-doubt while deciding whether to publish the Pentagon Papers; classified documents regarding the involvement of the United States government in the Vietnam War.

These are the nominations for the best actress in the 90th Annual Academy Awards. It is definitely a neck to neck competition with nine times BAFTA nominated Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Best actress winner of 2018 Central Ohio Film Critics Association Sally Hawkins for the Shape of Water to the evergreen Meryl Streep who has always secured a place in the Oscar nominations. Emma Stone won the 2017 Oscars Award for the best actress for her outstanding role in La La Land. So, who do you think will take the Oscars home this time?

With such talents, we can just hold our breath with fingers crossed as we wait patiently to see who takes the 90th Annual Academy Awards for Best Actress in a leading role.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 28, 2018 05:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).