Buckley and Chalamet Favored for Top Acting Oscars

Jessie Buckley and Timothée Chalamet lead the pack in Best Actress and Best Actor races ahead of the 98th Academy Awards

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Jessie Buckley is heavily favored to win her first Academy Award for her performance in "Hamnet," with industry publications consistently predicting her victory in the Best Actress category. Her success follows wins at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and the Actor Awards. In the Best Actor race, Timothée Chalamet was initially considered the frontrunner for his role in "Marty Supreme," but his momentum has waned slightly as challengers like Leonardo DiCaprio and Michael B. Jordan have emerged.

Why it matters

The Oscars are the most prestigious awards in the film industry, and the winners often go on to see increased recognition and opportunities. Buckley and Chalamet's potential wins would mark significant career milestones, with Buckley potentially becoming the first Irish performer to win Best Actress.

The details

Jessie Buckley is the heavy favorite to win Best Actress, having already won at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and Actor Awards for her performance in "Hamnet." She faces competition from Emma Stone for "Bugonia," Renate Reinsve for "Sentimental Value," and Rose Byrne and Kate Hudson in other roles. In the Best Actor race, Timothée Chalamet had been the frontrunner for "Marty Supreme," but Leonardo DiCaprio for "One Battle After Another" and Michael B. Jordan for "Blood & Sinners" have emerged as strong challengers, with Jordan recently winning the Screen Actors Guild Award.

  • Academy voting continues until March 5th.
  • The 98th Academy Awards ceremony will be broadcast live on March 16th.

The players

Jessie Buckley

An Irish actress heavily favored to win her first Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in "Hamnet."

Timothée Chalamet

An American actor who was initially considered the frontrunner for Best Actor for his role in "Marty Supreme," but has faced increased competition from other nominees.

Leonardo DiCaprio

An American actor starring in "One Battle After Another" who is a strong competitor in the Best Actor category.

Michael B. Jordan

An American actor who recently won the Screen Actors Guild Award for his dual role in "Blood & Sinners" and is gaining momentum in the Best Actor race.

ORF (Austrian Broadcasting Corporation)

The Austrian public broadcaster that will air the 98th Academy Awards ceremony.

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What’s next

The winners will be revealed during the live Oscar broadcast on March 16th.

The takeaway

The 98th Academy Awards ceremony will feature a tight race for the top acting honors, with Jessie Buckley and Timothée Chalamet leading the way but facing strong challenges from other contenders like Leonardo DiCaprio and Michael B. Jordan.