The Oscar Nominations for Best Lead Actress are far harder to call than Lead Male, with a excellent selection of work between Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Lawrence, Emmanuelle Riva, Quvenzhane Wallis and Naomi Watts, this might be one of the toughest categories to call. If anything, it's a two-horse-race between Lawrence (who's now) and Chastain (2/1).

The category also sees and interesting first, with Wallis (9 years old) the youngest ever nominee, and Riva (85 years old) the oldest. Delivering such a strong performance at the age of 9 is truly staggering, but then so's being so active at 85, so how do you call that!?

Chastain's performance in controversial film Zero Dark Thirty sees her one of the favourites, but she'll face stiff competition from Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook. So popular has the rom-com with a psychological twist been, her co-star Bradley Cooper is nominated in the male equivalent, while David O Russell gets the nod for Director and the film for Best Picture. 

Naomi Watts is perhaps unlucky to be nominated this year; not only is she contending with some excellent fellow pros, she might be victim to a novelty win for Wallis. We're not saying her performance doesn't deserve the nod, but a 9 year-old winning Best Actress would certainly be a story. 

Check out Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook; does she deserve Best Lead Actress?