Winslet and 'Slumdog' odds-on for Oscars
Kate Winslet and 'Slumdog Millionaire' are being tipped for Oscar glory ahead of today’s Academy Awards nominations announcement.
2009 has been Winslet’s year so far, becoming a double Golden Globe winner and being nominated twice earlier this month for a leading actress Bafta.
Mumbai-set 'Slumdog Millionaire', which has also taken Hollywood by storm by scooping up gongs, has received 11 nominations for the Orange British Academy Film Awards.
The Bafta nominations pit the film’s teenage newcomer Dev Patel against veteran actors like Mickey Rourke as leading actor, following Rourke’s comeback success in 'The Wrestler'.
Despite critical acclaim for many of her roles, Winslet has not previously had a great track record when it comes to taking home awards.
She gave a gushing speech as she picked up two gongs at the Golden Globes, saying she had “a habit of not winning things”.
Winslet’s potential rivals for her lauded performances in 'The Reader' and 'Revolutionary Road' could be Anne Hathaway for her dark role in 'Rachel Getting Married', Meryl Streep for 'Doubt' and Angelina Jolie in the Clint Eastwood-directed 'Changeling'.
Bookmaker William Hill predicts that today will see both 'Slumdog Millionaire' and Winslet confirmed as the red-hot favourites to win Oscars, with Winslet 1/7 to win one and 'Slumdog' placed at just 4/11 to win Best Picture.
“With so much British interest, we are expecting a record turnover on this year’s Oscars and if Kate Winslet and 'Slumdog' win, the bookies will take a multi-million pound hammering,” said Hill’s spokesman Rupert Adams.
'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button', which has also picked up a clutch of Bafta nominations, was placed at 5/1 by the bookies to win a best picture Oscar.
The late Heath Ledger, who played the demented Joker in Batman box office smash 'The Dark Knight' has long been considered to be in the frame for a Best supporting actor nod.
'Frost/Nixon', starring Michael Sheen, and 'Milk' are also thought to be hot contenders for Oscar nominations.
Last year, Daniel Day-Lewis and Tilda Swinton swept to Oscars victory.
Day-Lewis won his second best actor award, this time for his performance as a malevolent oilman in 'There Will Be Blood'.
Swinton was named best supporting actress for her role as a ruthless corporate lawyer in 'Michael Clayton'.
The awards will take place on February 22.
