Ladies in Waiting: The Supporting Actress Nominees

01 of 06

TILDA SWINTON

Michael Clayton
Oscar History: This was Swinton's first time out for an Oscar.
2008 Scorecard: Swinton has scored four nominations, including the Golden Globe.
Before She Hit Oscar: The Brit, who attended school with Princess Diana, bet on horses semi-professionally and supported herself on the winnings for two years.
Just Getting Started: "I've always known that I would not really start my work until my forties," Swinton, 47, told L.A. Weekly. "That may be a self-fulfilling prophecy, but you ain't seen nothing yet. I'm just cranking up."

02 of 06

CATE BLANCHETT

And the Oscar Nominees are... — Ferdaus Shamim/WireImage

I'm Not There
Oscar History: Five nominations, one win (for The Aviator in 2005).
2008 Scorecard: She won a Golden Globe for best supporting actress (and was also up for best actress, in addition to four other nominations this season).
Before She Hit Oscar: The Aussie star, who played Bob Dylan in the film, studied economics and fine art at the University of Melbourne.
Just One of the Guys ... Again: "I was constantly playing men at high school," Blanchett, 38, told the Today show. "I was relieved when I became a professional actor, and suddenly was able to wear dresses. I was tall, and I don't know, probably pig-headed and strong, and so therefore was often cast as men."

03 of 06

RUBY DEE

American Gangster
Oscar History: This is the first Academy Award nomination for the 83-year-old.
2008 Scorecard: She took home the SAG Award for outstanding supporting actress.
Before She Hit Oscar: She was an aspiring writer. At age 9, her first poem – called "The Graveyard" – was published in the Amsterdam News.
Hitting Close to Home: "In the film, I see some of the very streets I lived on," the Harlem native told the NPR. "This film is where I come from. I don't know who I'd be if I weren't this child from Harlem, this woman from Harlem. It's in me so deep."

04 of 06

SAOIRSE RONAN

Atonement
Oscar History: This is the 13-year-old's first Oscar nod.
2008 Scorecard: She's received three nominations, including a Golden Globe.
Before She Hit Oscar: She was playing tag rugby and basketball in the Irish countryside with her friends.
High School vs. Hollywood: "Unless something really special such as Atonement comes up, I'm going back to school," Ronan told the Sunday Mirror.

05 of 06

AMY RYAN

Gone Baby Gone
Oscar History: This is Ryan's first Oscar nomination.
2008 Scorecard: She's received five nominations so far, winning the NBR and Critics' Choice Awards.
Before She Hit Oscar: The Queens, N.Y., native attended LaGuardia High School – a.k.a., the Fame school.
Coming to Fruition: " I believe we control our destinies to a point, but what's happening now is a summary of hard work over the years," Ryan, 38, told Newsday. "Part of it is luck – I did happen to meet Ben Affleck, I think he was the tipping point for me. Everything else feels like it's what I've been working toward. I'm surprised and grateful."