Oscars BETTING: Who will win Best Actress, huh?

One things for sure: It won't not be Julie Christie

And the nominees are: Cate Blanchett - Elizabeth: The Golden Age (20), Julie Christie - Away from Her (1.49), Marion Cotillard - La vie en Rose (4.2), Laura Linney - The Savages (30), Ellen Page - Juno (7)

POPBET OFFER: Click here for your free £25 bet with Betfair

Of course, until very recently women in films were only allowed to play the parts of prostitutes, the Virgin Mary, or people who could somehow find Tom Cruise attractive. Thankfully, times have changed, and this year sees the once beautiful Julie Christie playing the part of a very doddery and forgetful old woman. But will she remember to pick up her Oscar? Or will she be blown out of the water by a young pretender, like Blanchett or Ellen Page (not to be confused with Elaine Page)?

The Nominees: Cate Blanchett - Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Julie Christie - Away from Her, Marion Cotillard - La vie en Rose, Laura Linney - Savages, Ellen Page - Juno

» Only two of the last ten Best Actresses have been in the Best Picture (Hilary Swank, 2004, Million Dollar Baby; Gwyneth Paltrow, 1998, Shakespeare In Love). Juno is the only film up for Best Picture and Best Actress (Ellen Page).

» Recent awards have gone to actresses playing real people, four of the last five in fact (Helen Mirren playing the Queen, 2006; Reese Witherspoon, June Carter, 2005; Charlize Theron, Aileen Wournos, 2003; Nicole Kidman, Virginia Woolf, 2002). This bodes well for Marion Cotillard, playing Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose, and Cate Blanchett playing Elizabeth.

» Dressing down and uglying up can do wonders for a beautiful Hollywood lady, just ask Charlize Theron (Monster, 2002) and Nicole Kidman (The Hours, 2003). Both won, both looked ropey. Brilliant news for elderly Julie Christie, who used to be a stunner.

» Also good for Christie is that physical or mental illness can propel an actor (Day-Lewis, My Left Foot; Dustin Hoffman, Rain Man) to the prize, making her portrayal of a woman with Alzheimer's in Away From Her a very strong contender.

» Cate Blanchett is nominated as the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress (for No Way Home) categories. The last time an actress won for a leading role after being nominated for both was when Holly Hunter triumphed for The Piano (1993), whilst simultaneously gracing the Best Supporting Acress category for her turn in The Firm. Unlikely.

» Katharine Hepburn, with four wins, has more Best Actress Awards than any other actress, but eleven others women have won two (Luise Rainer, Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, Vivien Leigh, Ingrid Bergman, Elizabeth Taylor, Glenda Jackson, Jane Fonda, Sally Field, Jodie Foster, and Hilary Swank). Julie Christie will be looking to join that merry group.

» There has been only one tie in the history of this category. This occurred in 1968 when Katharine Hepburn and Barbra Streisand were both given the award.

» In 1998 Cate Blanchett was nominated for Best Actress for playing Queen Elizabeth I in Elizabeth - she didn't win. This year she is nominated for playing the same role.