It’s an odd sight in this week’s Gold Derby predictions. The latest update has Teyana Taylor suddenly the odds-on favorite to win Best Supporting Actress — for a role that only spans about twenty minutes of screen time. Still, those twenty minutes seem to have left quite the mark on the Oscar experts.
In “One Battle After Another,” Taylor plays Perfidia Beverly Hills, the revolutionary lover of Bob Ferguson (Leonardo DiCaprio) and mother to a teenage daughter (Chase Infiniti). She also has one the most memorable lines in the film (“this p*ssy don’t pop for you!”)
Perfodia dominates the film’s first third, disappearing after the 30-minute mark but remaining a lingering presence throughout. I’ll agree, it’s a fiery, unpredictable turn on the part of Taylor one that’s made her the talk of the category — though I’d argue Regina Hall, as her equally formidable supporting counterpart, matches Taylor beat for beat.
However, Sean Penn, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Benicio del Toro, however, steal the show — all three delivering great performances. Taylor? It’s hard to ignore how strange it feels to see Taylor sitting atop the odds with only a fraction of the film’s runtime, but I did see her ascension coming weeks ago. Yes, she vanishes early, but you feel her shadow throughout the film. Sometimes, that’s enough to win.
For context, Taylor currently holds a 91% chance of being nominated, edging past Elle Fanning (“Sentimental Value,” 88%) and Ariana Grande (“Wicked: For Good,” 83%). Other hopefuls include Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (“Sentimental Value”), Gwyneth Paltrow (“Marty Supreme”), Amy Madigan (“Weapons”), and Emily Blunt (“The Smashing Machine”).
If there’s justice, though, Amy Madigan’s playfully dark work in “Weapons” should be the one to beat. Why is she only sixth in Gold Derby’s rankings? You’re telling me that Madigan might not even get nominated? Why? Because her film is too genre-y?
Regardless, one look at the contenders below and you can see how Taylor could climb to the top of the charts. The competition is thin — Emily Blunt at #7 for The Smashing Machine says it all. With that said, all hail Amy Madigan.
