Two things about this year’s Best Actress category: A) There’s a lot of talent on this list, and B) Margherita Buy is not on it (for once).
Valeria Bruni Tedeschi has already won a best actress award for her role in Il Capitale Umano at the Tribeca Film Festival and her chances are probably very good here since the film did so well in Italy. Valeria is former first lady of France Carla Bruni’s sister; not that it has anything to do with this, but it’s interesting.
Paola Cortellesi (Sotto Una Buona Stella) is a very underestimated comic talent, maybe because she’s so pretty? Whatever the reason, I just love her and would be delighted if she was honored with this award. Tu La Conosci Claudia with Aldo, Giovanni and Giacomo is one of my favorite movies and I’ve probably watched it a dozen times.
Sabrina Ferilli, (La Grande Bellezza) to be honest, has never been one of my favorites, and in the past I couldn’t hear her name without thinking about Cinepanettone, but I’ll give credit where credit is due. If casting her in the role of this aging stripper was director Paolo Sorrentino’s idea it was just another one of his genius decisions.
Kasia Smutniak is (shrug) an OK actress, but to be fair, I have not had the opportunity to see her in Ferzan Ozpetek’s Allacciate Le Cinture. She’s very pretty, but didn’t think she was much of a standout in movies like Benvenuto Presidente and I believe she is the least likely to win.
Jasmine Trinca is amazing in everything she does, from La Stanza Del Figlio to the nominated Miele, directed by Valeria Golino. I’m sure she is a serious contender for this race.
I Love Italian Everything 
