OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Kim Hye-ja as Mother in "MOTHER"

Nicole Kidman as Becca Corbett in "RABBIT HOLE"

Lesley Manville as Mary Smith in "ANOTHER YEAR"

Natalie Portman as Nina Sayers/The Swan Queen in "BLACK SWAN"

Michelle Williams as Cindy in "BLUE VALENTINE"

AND THE WINNER:

NATALIE PORTMAN AS NINA SAYERS/THE SWAN QUEEN IN "BLACK SWAN"

This is the first win and third nomination for Natalie Portman. She was previously nominated individually and with the ensemble of Closer (2004).

Natalie Portman's career has been a mixed bag for me with the highs of Closer and the low lows of the Star Wars franchise. With her performance as Nina Sayers Natalie has brought herself to an even higher level of greatness. The role of Nina is such a complex one to play because it requires the performer to believably play all the emotions of a performer rising and quickly falling. Portman is so secure in this role that she strongly leads the film with her wonderful performance. A lot of Natalie's work require heightened reactions and Portman's whole body is so expressive that the thrilling moments of the film are so well sold by her that you can't help but describe her performance as captivating.

If Portman's career continues in the vein of this performance a decade from now Portman will have to be referred to as one of the best actors of her generation.