Oscars 2021: Frances McDormand, Viola Davis Could Make History

KEY POINTS

Frances McDormand and Viola Davis are expected to receive acting nods at the 2021 Academy Awards
McDormand could become the first woman to receive both the best actress and best picture nominations for one movie
Davis, if nominated for "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," could become the most nominated Black actress in Oscar history

Frances McDormand and Viola Davis could create history for women at the 2021 Academy Awards.

McDormand, who has already won two Oscars in her illustrious career, is in line to become the first woman in the history of the Oscars to be a double nominee for producing and starring in Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland,” Variety first reported.

The actress is one of the producers of the movie, which is expected to be nominated in the best picture category.

The film follows the story of a woman named Fern (McDormand) who has lost everything during the Great Recession. Fern embarks on a journey and starts living as a modern-day nomad. The movie is scheduled to hit theaters in North America on Feb. 19.

Apart from that, McDormand is also on the verge of joining the elite list of actors and actresses who have three acting Oscars. She won her first acting trophy in 1997 for “Fargo,” while her second Oscar came 21 years after the first in 2018 for “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.”

Frances McDormand, pictured accepting the Best Actress Oscar for "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" at the 90th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on March 4, 2018, has explained what she meant by discussing inclusion riders in her speech. Kevin Winter/Getty Images

The only other artists to win three acting honors are Meryl Streep (“Kramer vs Kramer,” “Sophie’s Choice” and “The Iron Lady”), Jack Nicholson (“One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest,” “Terms of Endearment” and “As Good As It Gets”), Ingrid Bergman (“Gaslight,” “Anastasia” and “Murder on the Orient Express”), Walter Brennan (“Come and Get It,” “Kentucky” and “The Westerner”) and Daniel Day-Lewis (“My Left Foot,” “There Will Be Blood” and “Lincoln”).

Only two female acting nominees have been nominated as producers as well in Oscar history. Barbra Streisand and Oprah Winfrey are the only two women to achieve the monumental feat.

Meanwhile, Davis is set to enter the history books if she is nominated for “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” If nominated, Davis could become the most nominated Black woman in the 92-year history of the Academy Awards. This will be Davis’ fourth Oscar nod.

“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” is based on the story of one of the iconic voices of the Black community, Ma Rainey. The legendary jazz singer faced a lot of struggles during her years in the industry.

The movie currently holds a score of 99% on review site Rotten Tomatoes.