Angelina Jolie’s Oscar Journey: Following Renee Zellweger’s ‘Judy’ Path?

According to current predictions from Gold Derby users, Angelina Jolie, starring in “Maria,” is a strong contender for the Best Actress category at this year’s Oscars with 17/2 odds, placing her in fourth position. The film recently premiered at the Venice Film Festival, earning an eight-minute standing ovation, signaling a potentially powerful presence in the upcoming awards season. Should Jolie go all the way, her journey could mirror that of another recent Best Actress winner.

In 2019, Renée Zellweger portrayed actress and singer Judy Garland in Rupert Goold’s biographical film “Judy,” focusing on the last year of Garland’s life in London before her death in 1969. Zellweger, already well-established in Hollywood during the 1990s and 2000s, had three consecutive Oscar nominations during that period for “Bridget Jones’s Diary” (2001), “Chicago” (2002), and “Cold Mountain” (2003). Her role in “Cold Mountain” earned her a win for Best Supporting Actress.

After a period away from the limelight, Zellweger’s portrayal of Garland marked her grand return to prominence. She dominated the awards season, securing Best Actress titles at the Golden Globe, Critics Choice, SAG, and BAFTA Awards, ultimately culminating in an Oscar win.

This year, Jolie plays Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín’s biographical film “Maria,” which depicts the final years of the legendary opera star’s life in 1970s Paris. Like Zellweger, Jolie was highly active in the late 1990s and 2000s. She won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance in “Girl, Interrupted” (1999) and later received a Best Actress nomination for “Changeling” (2008).

In recent years, Jolie’s appearances in films have been sporadic. However, 2023 is set to be a significant year for her. She ventured into Broadway production with the stage musical adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s novel “The Outsiders,” surprisingly winning a Tony for Best Musical in June. Now, with “Maria,” she is once again a topic of Oscar discussions. While it’s uncertain if she will match Zellweger’s awards season success with “Judy,” history suggests that it is certainly within the realm of possibility.

Source: Gold Derby