Oscar experts predict Meryl Streep will win for ‘Iron Lady’

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The release of a new poster for Meryl Streep’s upcoming film and her inevitable next Oscar nomination –- as British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in ‘The Iron Lady’ -– brings up the nagging question: Can she actually win?

Streep is almost a perennial nominee. When a derby occurs without her contending, like last year, it seems odd, like something familiar and precious is missing. She’s been nominated 16 times, but the last 12 of those bids have been defeats. She hasn’t won since for 1982’s ‘Sophie’s Choice’. Her only other victory was as supporting actress for 1979’s ‘Kramer vs. Kramer.’

But now, if Gold Derby‘s Oscarologists are correct, she’s set to triumph again. Eight top experts polled by the site predict Streep will win next February: Pete Hammond (Deadline Hollywood), Dave Karger (Entertainment Weekly), Michael Musto (Village Voice), Steve Pond (the Wrap), Paul Sheehan (Gold Derby), Sasha Stone (AwardsDaily), S.T. VanAirsdale (Movieline), Jeff Wells (Hollywood Elsewhere) and Susan Wloszczyna (USA Today).

Gold Derby’s Inside Track gives Streep the best racetrack odds (8 to 11), followed by Glenn Close (11 to 2 for ‘Albert Nobbs’) and Viola Davis (6 to 1 for ‘The Help’). Personally, I’m betting on Viola Davis, but on rare occasions, ahem, I’ve been wrong.

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— Tom O’Neil