Sally Field (Norma Rae). Originally they wanted Jane Fonda or Jill Clayburgh for the title role, but director Martin Ritt insisted that Sally Field, a hometown girl trained in TV (Gidget The Flying Nun), could play it beautifully. He was right. She’s an odds-on favorite–1-2.
Bette Midler (The Rose). Like Sally Field, this is her first nomination, Brash and aggressively ambitious, she is not as well-liked as Field. Neither is The Rose as good a film as Norma Rae. Even so, it will be close–2-1.
Jill Clayburgh (Starting Over). A growing, well-trained talent, highly admired on Broadway and in Hollywood. She was nominated in this category last year for An Unmarried Woman. Eventually she is a sure Oscar winner, but not this time–2-1.
Jane Fonda (China Syndrome). Recognized as a brilliant, cooperative, industrious actress, she has already received two Academy Awards in this category–in 1971 for Klute and last year for Coming Home. Politically controversial, Jane suffers from too much exposure at this point–3-1.
Marsha Mason (Chapter Two). Born and reared in St. Louis, trained on the stage and married to Neil Simon, in whose plays she stars, Mason is acknowledged as a superior talent. She was previously nominated in 1973 for Cinderella Liberty and in 1977 for The
Goodbye Girl. She needs an outstanding film to win–4-1.
