Jennifer Hudson Dreamgirls here's nothing more thrilling than to see a new, rising star win an Oscar in a category full of stellar actresses. This year, Jennifer Hudson meets the criteria. The former American Idol songstress makes her acting debut in the musical Dreamgirls. Hudson gives an amazing performance as Effie White -- the overweight member of "The Dreamettes" who eventually gets kicked out of the group due to her size. Her performance of "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going," as well as her onscreen presence, makes her a shoo-in for a golden statue.
	Adriana Barraza Babel star in her native Mexico, most people haven't heard of Adriana Barraza -- even though the veteran actress has been in the acting biz for a whopping 36 years. She already received recognition for her work in Babel with a Golden Globe nod. In the film, Barraza plays an illegal immigrant who is left to make a difficult decision while looking after two American-born children whose parents (Pitt and Blanchett) are stranded in the Moroccan desert. Amelia decides to take the children across the Mexican border to attend her son's wedding -- only to be abandoned in the scorching Sonoran desert while trying to take them home.
	Cate Blanchett Notes on a Scandal ate Blanchett's Oscar win for 2004's The Aviator firmly established the Aussie actress' place on Hollywood's A-list. The role of Sheba Hart in Notes on a Scandal earns the star her third Oscar nod-with good reason. Blanchett nails the role of the lonely and fragile married schoolteacher who is at the center of a scandal when she engages in a sexual affair with a 15-year-old student. Barbara (Judi Dench), a fellow teacher, who knows of the affair, holds her emotionally hostage. Although Blanchett gives a powerful performance, having won the Oscar 2 years ago in the same category makes her chances of winning slim.
	Abigail Breslin Little Miss Sunshine hen a script comes along that's creatively original, Oscar buzz soon follows. When you're a 10-year-old budding actor, the chance to play in such a film is a dream. Such is the case for Abigail Breslin, who plays the awkward 7-year-old who's on her way to the Little Miss Sunshine Pageant with her dysfunctional family. For someone so young, Breslin delivers an intense performance strong enough to hold her own in the category, and if she wins, she'll be the second youngest person to ever win an Oscar, next to Tatum O'Neal who won at 10 years old for Paper Moon.
	Rinko Kikuchi Babel apanese actress Rinko Kikuchi is one of the least familiar actresses in the Oscar race. What's interesting about Kikuchi's character in Babel, is that she doesn't speak one line of dialogue in the film. Kikuchi plays Chieko, a deaf/mute teenager reeling from the recent death of her mother, who lashes out by taunting boys with her sexuality and abusing drugs. As she struggles with her identity and with her relationship with her father, Kikuchi unleashes a formidable performance with her ability to convey emotion without speech -- making her the dark horse in this race.