The 84th Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actress

Bérénice Bejo for The Artist (2011) - (Oscar O-Meter: 4/5)

Actress Bérénice Bejo was born in Buenos Aires, the daughter of Argentinian filmmaker Miguel Bejo. When she was age 3, Bejo's family relocated to Paris, France. She embarked on a successful acting career in the 1990s, with various roles in French television and film productions. She made her American film debut as Christiana in _A Knight's Tale (2001)_, but came to major international recognition with her role as Peppy Miller in the critical and popular hit, The Artist (2011), which was written and directed by her husband, Michel Hazanavicius. The film garnered many major awards and nominations. Bejo herself was nominated as Best Supporting Actress of the year at the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Oscars. She was also nominated as Best Leading Actress at the BAFTA Awards.

Jessica Chastain for The Help (2011) - (Oscar O-Meter: 3/5)

Jessica Howard was raised in a middle-class family in a northern California suburb. She discovered dance at the age of nine. By the age of 13, she was in a dance troupe. She took her mother's maiden name and began performing in Shakespearean productions all over the Bay area.

An actor in a production of "Romeo & Juliet" encouraged her to audition for Juilliard as a drama major. She became a member of "Crew 32" with the help of a scholarship from one of the school's famous alumni, Robin Williams.

In her last year at Juilliard, she was offered a holding deal with TV writer/producer John Wells and she eventually worked in three of his TV shows. Jessica continues to do theatre, having played in "The Cherry Orchard", "Rodney's Wife", "Salome" and "Othello". She spends her time between New York and Los Angeles, working in theater, film and TV. 

In 2011, she had a prolific year in film. She was nominated for and won a number of awards, including a 2012 Oscar nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for The Help (2011).

Melissa McCarthy for Bridesmaids (2011) - (Oscar O-Meter: 3/5)

A farmer's daughter from Illinois, McCarthy began her performing career as a stand-up comedian in New York where she appeared at the famous clubs, Stand Up New York and The Improv. She worked on her acting skills at The Actors Studio and appeared in many stage productions in the city before moving to Los Angeles in the late-1990s

She made a number of TV and movie appearances before making her big breakthrough as Sookie in "Gilmore Girls" (2000). A steady stream of comedy performances followed, leading to her starring role in the sitcom "Mike & Molly" (2010).

Janet McTeer for Albert Nobbs (2011) - (Oscar O-Meter: 4/5)

Janet was born in Newcastle, UK, to parents Jean and Allan. She was raised in York from the age of 6. She attended Queen Anne School Grammar School for girls, where there wasn't much opportunity for drama. She became interested in acting at age 16 when she saw 'She Stoops to Conquer' at the York theater. She worked as a waitress at the same theater, where she once served a coffee to Gary Oldman. He suggested that she apply to attend the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), where he had just finished studying. 

She successfully gained a place at RADA. After graduation, she began her career acting on stage by joining the Royal Exchange Theatre. 

Her on-screen film debut came in Half Moon Street (1986). In 2000, she received her first Oscar nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Tumbleweeds (1999).

On being honored with an Oscar nomination for 'Albert Nobbs': There were a lot of people who lived like this. One thing you have to remember in England that is different from over here, is that sodomy if you're a guy was illegal. You'd be kicked out of the country. There was nothing against lesbianism because Queen Victoria didn't believe it existed.

Octavia Spencer for The Help (2011) - (Oscar O-Meter: 5/5)

Spencer is a native of Montgomery, Alabama, which she claims is the proverbial buckle of the Bible belt. She's the sixth of seven siblings and holds a BS in Liberal Arts from Auburn University. A "closet" lover of acting, this practical Alabamian knew that she'd someday work in the film industry, but never dreamed it would be in front of the camera. In 1995, acclaimed director Joel Schumacher changed all that by giving her a small part opposite Sandra Bullock in the hit film A Time to Kill, and Spencer was on her way. In 1996, she teamed up with Bullock again in Bullock's directorial debut of Making Sandwiches, a short film that premiered at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival.

Spencer made her stage debut in Los Angeles and originated the role of "LaSonia" (pronounced lasagna) in famed writer/director Del Shore's, The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife, starring opposite veteran actors Beth Grant, Dale Dickey and David Steen (2003). The play garnered Spencer and her fellow cast mates critical acclaim and a bevy of awards. Since then, Spencer has continued to see success as an actor in both film and television, working alongside Hollywood's elite. In February 2009, she was lauded by Los Angeles Times publication: The Envelope, for her brief but memorable performance in the Will Smith drama Seven Pounds.