The last time you rooted for an actor to win an Oscar..?

In terms of actively championing my fandom? Rylance. I was conductor of that train all that season (with Jango as my dependable aide-de-camp).

But Frances McDormand 2.0, Olivia Colman and Anthony Hopkins were pretty damn close to that level. Kerry Condon, too, but there goes that dream.

Lesley Manville probably.

Only do it when it seems possible but isn't a slam dunk.

Hopkins and Colman (so quite happy).

Condon (so quite sad)

Actor: Anthony Hopkins, The Father.
Actress: Blanchett, Tár. Penélope the year before. My favorite never wins this category.
Supporting Actor: Pacino, The Irishman.
Supporting Actress: Atrocious category... I'd have to go back to Jacki Weaver in Animal Kingdom.

Pesci in The Irishman even though he had no shot.

Easy answer, Cate Blanchett for Tar. I was all over that. I think that's a performance that deserves to go down as legendary. Oscar loss, be damned.

Interesting question, my rooting usually falls on directors or tech people, hmm.

It's hard to really root for someone when the season kind of lets you know they're not gonna win... so taking that into consideration, my answer would probably be Olivia Colman for The Favourite, since she was in real danger of losing to a truly inferior performance under a career-win scenario.

But just overall "You go, man/girl!" rooting, even if they didn't have a shot? Cate Blanchett and Michelle Williams last year, I guess. Yeah-yeah, they were in the same category, so what Yeoh was winning anyway, as we found out later in the season.

Actually, with the waterfalls of haterade dropped upon him throughout the season, I'm rooting for Coops

I think Michael Keaton was the last time I was particularly disappointed to see someone lose in a close race.

I can't think of anyone who pulled it off where I'd been like, really on the edge of my seat by the Oscars hoping they'd get it. Usually what happens is I root hardest for the nomination and then I've accepted the possibilities by the time the ceremony rolls around.

With close races, even if I have a preference I'm just curious to see what happens! Like I would have been very happy to see Stallone win but Rylance was also deserving. I never cared to see The Wife so really had no opinion on Glenn Close winning, I'm not against the sentimentality of career Oscars but Colman was a fun surprise.

And I've rooted for steamrollers early on, hoping it'll pan out and it's always nice when I'm on their side as they sweep. I was very invested in Heath Ledger winning so that was gratifying to see.