Female Actor In a Leading Role

1. Jessica Chastain, “Zero Dark Thirty”

Little is known at this point about director Kathryn Bigelow and writer Mark Boal’s follow-up to “The Hurt Locker,” but the pedigree is tough to beat. Both Bigelow and Boal won Oscars for their work, and the plot—about the capture of Osama bin Laden—could not be timelier. Heading a cast that includes Chris Pratt and Joel Edgerton is Chastain, one of the most exciting female actors to come along in recent years. Coming off a great year that included an Oscar nod for “The Help,” Chastain is always fascinating to watch.