Meryl Streep Defeats Viola Davis | Best Actress Oscar 2012 

Viola herself said she isn't proud of doing the help

Meryl captured Margerat Thatcher meticulously in her performance, without being caricaturish or superficial… Her senile scenes are heartbreakingly honest… I remember having an intuition of her winning Oscar for this performance, after I watched the trailer…

It would have been great if Kristen Dunst was nominated during the 2011-2012 Season for Melancholia.

I commented this on the community post for this vid but I'll say it again: I'm happy for Viola to win for "Fences" instead of "The Help". She has gone on the record to express regret for ever being a part of "The Help", whereas "Fences" was a project that meant a lot to her, going as far back as 2010 where she won a Tony for the stage revival of it

There's another reason: you mention how Octavia Spencer was the breakout star of The Help, but also Viola Davis is a co-lead in that film with Emma Stone. Had Davis's character been the central figure of The Help and Stone's character in more of a supporting role ,it probably would have helped her chances come Oscar night.

This very much what happened between Austin and Brendan this year. I can imagine the voting was so close that I think Meryl won by a small percentage. I do want viola to win best actress but she needs to win in a role that is set in the modern/contemporary era. Most of her nominations come from period films and if she wants that Oscar she needs a role that’s so captivating and modern.

2 of the best actresses of all time u can't go wrong with either one and they both have awards wins that Noone can count

I would like her to win the Oscar for Julie & Julia. Firstly because in my opinion she was better than Sandra Bullock (whom i love) but also because it would be great for her to have an Oscar for a comedy role too. Plus for the academy to award more actors in other genre than drama roles. And Meryl would be a good start.

Can you imagine being in the crew and filming that walk of the two of them in Doubt? Everyone must have just had chills at the end of that scene. I still think Doubt is very underrated as a movie. In ‘the old days’, it would eventually had its first TV showing on one of the three networks, and gotten the highest ratings of the year.

I’m glad you covered this. People keep saying that Viola should’ve won for The Help. She should’ve had three Oscars to her name.

Regardless of The Iron Lady's reception, Meryl was brutally good in that movie especially the ending which really got me when I watched it the first time. We've seen actors win for polarizing films like Jessica Chastain for The Eyes of Tammy Faye and Brendan for The Whale. As long as they have the transformation aspect and their films win makeup, the voters easily give them the win because in these cases, the makeup believably helps them become the characters they portray. I'm glad Viola won for Fences although she was really the lead in that movie instead of supporting. Since she has regrets about The Help, it was wise that she didn't win for playing a maid. She would've been a better winner for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. And yeah, can Glenn Close finally win an Oscar already??

I feel like if Streep would’ve won her third Oscar for “Doubt”, then Davis would’ve beaten her. If Winslet was put into supporting for the reader, then she easily would’ve beaten Penelope Cruz, Davis would’ve beaten Streep this year, and Michelle would’ve won for supporting for Manchester by the sea, I feel like Viola Davis would’ve went all out in lead for “Fences” had she won for “the Help.”

Meryl Streep has shown her range and versatility in different movies which makes her the greatest actress of all time while Viola is a great actress she hasn’t shown her versatility because she hasn’t gotten the opportunities Meryl has gotten as a white woman.

I think Mara’s chances were also slightly dashed because the original Swedish trilogy was not that old and was a pretty massive success globally on its own and Noomi Rapace was so amazing in the original. I’m glad she got Hollywood roles after that like Prometheus, but I think she deserved recognition for originating the role of Lisbeth more so than Mara.

That sitdown of Meryl and Viola that you talked about... I'd LOOOOOVE to see that too. Can someone please tell Variety's Actors on Actors to try and make that happen please?!!!

Also 2 things you forgot that went in Meryls favor were: The fact that her role was pure bait, transformation while Davis was very subtle in comparison. The whole Iron Lady film is basically a collection of Meryl Oscar clips except for few flashback scenes. Which brings us to the second point and that is that Meryl was her film, she was the front and center a pure leading performance, while back then many believed that Davis was in the wrong category. She has much less screen time than Meryl and is arguably a supporting character in an ensemble film and even then I know many who preffered either Chastain or Spencer in the same Film. To sum it up, Meryl had a true leading performance with much more Oscar hungry clips.

One big reason was that Streep was in nearly every scene of The Iron Lady while Davis had less screen time than Emma Stone and maybe even Spencer. I remember hearing something about Weinstein making sure voters actually knew Streep hadn't won an Oscar since 1982 despite all her nominations.

Meryl so deserved that Oscar for her astonishing performance in that role, and it was indeed a massive relief after all those other Oscars she missed out on!! Plus she was perfectly dressed for it in gold!!

In my heart my nominees for this year were Glenn Close - Albert Nobbs Viola Davis - The Help Kirsten Dunst - Melancholia(that performance literally saved my life) Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady Tilda Swinton - We Need To Talk About Kevin Also Charlize Theron was fantastic in Young Adult as well ❤ Love the video. Here's hoping Glenn Glose and Viola Davis get their Best Actress oscar in the future

I am glad Viola Davis didn't win for The Help. I'm sorry but she deserved to win for Fences. I have loved the character of Rose ever since I read the play and she brought that character to life so well. Wish she had been nominated for Best Actress but I still love the win.

One of the strongest best actress category in decades, I would have literally imagined anyone from that year winning the Oscar: -Should have been a real well deserved first Oscar for Close (even more deserved than for Wife and specially for Hillbilly elegey...) -the way Rooney proved everyone wrong that she might have been miscast as Salander. Glad her star was rising so high so soon she was only cast as Nancy in NOES remake the year prior. I knew right away she will be a huge hit, she had that IT factor simply. -Michelle's take on Marilyn was such layered even though I did not particularly liked the movie she did justice to Marilyn. -Meryl is Meryl......even though I'd have preferred her 3rd Oscar to be for August Osage County or Devil wears Prada, I'm okay with her being the winner that year. -The Help is easily in my top 10 ever since I saw it, thanks to the directing, the script and the powerhouse cast! Viola should have been the greatest winner in my opinion and to this day it is so weird she actually did not win for that performance......

I, too, LOVE Streep’s speeches. When she speaks, I listen.

I also think the academy felt like viola was at the start of a career of nominations and probable future wins

Why do I think it never bothered her to not win early on?.she has been championed as one of the best, worked consistently on high-profile projects, her pick of any movie she gleamed, and the paychecks to back it all up.. You start to think, if I win, things will turn for me..

Here's another reason I'd like to add as to why Meryl beat Viola in 2011: The former was the central lead of her movie while the latter arguably had a borderline supporting role in a big ensemble piece. I heard that when it was announced that Viola was going supporting for FENCES, Baby Clyde asked something like “Why? Was it because your last attempt at category fraud failed you?.”

I wish she would have won her third Oscar for another role. Also Viola deserves a leading actor award.

As a mega stan to both viola Davis and Meryl Streep I would say this was a crazy race 2 of my favorite actresses of all time going toe to toe in their best works, I would say I personally would’ve given it to viola Davis for the help although I do understand viola regrets making the film and I honestly get why, Meryl should’ve won more Oscars for the devil wears Prada (yup I definitely think she should’ve won over Helen mirren for the queen), doubt, adaption, and the French lieutenant’s woman, she should’ve broken Katharine Hepburn’ record for most Oscar wins and I think this didn’t happen the GOAT level of praises Meryl have only been more recently if you notice it tbh, back in the day mainly in the 1980s and 90s she was disliked and polarized bc Meryl wasn’t a movie star based actress where she played herself or played a specific persona of herself she was indeed a character actress but was achieving Hollywood movie star level success and recognition (I mean Pauline Kael reviews of her movies summed up the idea of Meryl back in that time) it wasn’t until recently with social media cinephile that are more Gen z and millennials that truly appreciate her talent, especially since the shift she did in the 80s and 90s where she played a big factor in changing the way a Hollywood movie stars are being less about personality/like-able persona and more chameleon-esque. I also think it’s bc Meryl have more nite picky with her work recently her the irony lady why it would be hard to break that Kate Hepburn record as she should, hopefully this will happen and hopefully viola will win the Oscar for best leading actress

Meryl Streep deserved the Oscar for The Iron Lady. I’m tired of people saying that she didn’t. She is the greatest actress of her generation. This Oscar was not one of those Shame she’s been nominated so many times let’s give it to her kinda award. She should have also won for Doubt, The Bridges of Madison County, Adaptation, Florence Foster Jenkins. An actor must be able to do accents and not only that must make you believe in the character and inhabit the character. Meryl does that immersion in every role that she plays.

My honest opinion is that I think Michelle Williams should’ve actually won best actress that year! Her turn as the late and great Marilyn Monroe was a master class in acting.

I’ve been binging your vids lately, excited for this one 👏

This is a very well done video Brian...Good Job!!!

Thank you so much for another great video! Just incredible! Love the content you’ve been blessing us with. It doesn’t go unnoticed. Thank you 😊

Interesting how in tight races, the person with Critics Choice/SAG usually wins (Brendan Fraser, Sean Penn, Lupita Nyong’o) but that wasn’t the case here

Thank you Brian for your always excellent presentations. I always look forward to seeing your new videos. Much appreciated.

Ugh yes, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is incredibly underrated and Rooney is fantastic. Truly one of the best mystery movies ever made in my opinion. I hate the genre bias against mystery/thriller films present in the Academy.

I’ve been waiting on this one !

u just give me the content i didn’t even know i needed

Viola Davis should have won for "Doubt" in my opinion. She was on screen for not even 10 minutes but I would never forget her performance.

Omg I’ve been waiting on this video

I enjoy your videos! I remember you said at some point you were quitting teaching to pursue this full-time. I wish you luck!

i wish you had brought up Kirsten Dunst in Melancholia

Great year for film, but I will never understand how Deathly Hallows didn’t command more of the conversation. Glad you touched upon it!

Meryl's second Oscar should have been The French Lieutenant's Wife and her third Sophie's Choice. The Iron Lady should have been her fourth. I do hope she gets a good script soon. I just saw her in Only Murders in The Building and she is so refreshingly good. I hope she gets a great vehicle on the big screen very soon.

That was a hell of a strong year, with Theron and Swinton out.. Streep is a deserving winner, people need to learn to separate a good film from a good performance, to me the actor even gets more points if they stand out in a bad film

Unpopular opinion: Bryce Dallas Howard should have got the second Best Supporting Actress nom for The Help instead of Jessica Chastain. (But totally agree that Octavia Spencer was unbeatable.)

Highly appreciate and couldn't agree more with the Alan Rickman shoutout

This year was crazy competitive, one for the books!

I'm still affected by Meryl's portrayal of Thatcher. I definitely think it's well deserved and has aged well. Great video, meanwhile!!

I always thought Rooney Mara was the best that year as Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. She truly went all out for the role and disappeared into the character. Of course, her not being as well known at the time was defiantly against her, but I’m still fixated with her amazing performance to this day. The other nominees did a great job in their films as well, but Mara has always been my preferred pick from that year. Thank you for the video Brian, I hope you’re doing well. Keep up the great work, take care!

I would also add that The Help is more of an ensemble film versus The Iron Lady where the focus is entirely on the main protagonist. I like The Help but I'm glad Viola Davis didn't win for a role that again encapsulates the black artist in the typical historical help role. In addition, we know that The Help has many problems which is a topic for another video. So, all in all, although I dislike The Iron Lady, I do like the win for the legend that is Meryl Streep.

Hello Brian, just found your channel and really enjoy it(already subscribed). As far as this particular race, it was Viola running away with it for me, honestly I thought Michelle Williams was better than Meryl. Meryl was very good in this, but this was more of a lifetime achievement gift so she could get her third academy award. Keep up the good work, I will keep tuning in.

Omg!!!!! Finally I wanted Viola honestly

The Iron Lady is a bad movie, but it did actually make $100 million at the box office

How did you forget one of the Main Reasons being Davis being a Black Woman. That most definitely played a part. In all of Academy history only 1 woman of color had won the Best Leading Actress Award up until that point. The odds were literally ALWAYS against Davis and history shows that,

I would have preferred her third win for something else like Doubt or Julie and Julia or The Devil Wears Prada but it’s not that Iron Lady is undeserving I am less partial to it. Davis not being happy about doing The Help makes it ok that she didn’t take it for that. I would have loved it if Meryl and Viola had both won for Doubt . That would have been perfect. I wouldn’t have objected to a Rooney win . The Artist was popular people don’t remember that . Personally I love it.

I just find it sooo funny the one year a black actress was the front runner and it’s like “yeah I think it’s time to finally give it to Meryl again” was so predictable

I still believe that the best acting performance AMONG THE NOMINEES that year was given by Glenn Close. That was a truly monumental feat of acting. Maybe it wasn't too flashy etc, maybe it was too subdued and "in the corner of her eye" type of acting but it was just the most difficult part you can imagine. It can't be harder than that. And she was impeccable.

What we need is a movie in which they starred together opposite each other. That would be the EVENT of the year in cinema.

A bit off the mark, but need to say this: as good as Rooney Mara was as Salander that role cannot be done any better than what Noomi Rapache did with it. She WAS Salander. Not to mention that the US version of the "Girl with the dragon tattoo" is dead flat compared to the Swedish version. It lost it's soul, did not translate well.

I haven’t even watched yet and I am so excited I am saving it for my end of day treat!

Bravo once again to you, Brian! This was one of your best reviews. I'm glad Meryl won; however, I agree with you: The movie, "The Iron Lady" was not well done at all. Keep up the excellent work, Brian. Your guardian angel, Roger Ebert, continues to smile down on you from his front-row movie seat in heaen.

Ps Anna de Armas was fn fantastic and gutsy in blonde and 100% deserved a nomination even if the movie wasn’t good

SAG loves viola davis. She has won more than 5 sag awards

Meryl Streep portrays very starkly and with great emotional depth an old lady having dementia. I 2as so take a back by her emotional faze that she showed in her character with great technical acting prowess How did she do it?,

Reason 8 the gold dress a modern take on her look from when she won for Sophie’s choice…. Manifesting victory.

2 of the best and 2 of my favorites!!! They're consistently impressive!

LOL, *that* Clooney clip about Fassbender ~9:00

Does anyone ever talk about Keaton's Annie Hall win? A mostly light, quirky, not very dramatic or even very comedic role in a comedy. That year also had a pretty heavy roster in that field.

She was great and it was looooong overdue full stop. Or not, your last line of narration is supremely accurate.

Viola Davis should have won best actress Oscar for The Help period.

The Iron Lady is one of my favourite films.

If only Viola Davis had the same opportunities than Meryl Streep...

I mean I just hate that Margaret Thatcher was celebrated at all. That women is quite literally up there with some of the most callous rules throughout history

15:42 Oh I didn't know the library was open!!!

What an intro!

Another Reason: it was unlikely that the 2 female acting Oscar’s would both go to Black women playing maids the same night. I think same reason Blanchett loss best actress in 1998, Judi dench won supporting actress playing Queen Elizabeth I same night

Great as she is, I believe she only deserves about 12 of her nominations (which would still give her jointly the record for most noms). I would say she deserved the nominations for : The Deer Hunter, Kramer vs Kramer, French Lieutenant’s Woman, Sophie’s Choice, Silkwood, A Cry in the Dark, The Bridges of Madison County, Adaptation, The Devil Wears Prada, Doubt, Julie and Julia and The Iron Lady.

Meryl deserves it. Fullstop.

When you mentioned Billy Crystal’s opening monologue being rushed, maybe it was shortened like that because of his age, being in his 60s at the time. He probably did not had the energy he had when he hosted ceremonies during the 90s.

Proud or not, Davis should have won. Streep should’ve won for The Devil wore Prada. She was fantastic.

I would like to see a video on how Matthew McConaughey beat Chitwell Elijfor for 12 Years A Slave, and Leonardo DiCaprio for the Wolf of Wall Street

I predicted Meryl Streep to win that year.

excellent video!!! Let's do one on Spacek V Berry 2001

Maybe I need to rewatch it, but to me, Emma Stone is the lead in The Help and Viola is one of the main maids. Like, Viola is a featured soloist, but Emma is the conductor of the larger orchestra. Whereas Meryl is at her most Meryl-y in the Iron Lady.

I feel like this was Hollywood showing everyone who they want as their champion..it should have been Viola.

Viola Davis is still overdue for that lead actress Oscar

and the other thing who's gonna win the Oscars Best Actress it's the gown! look at the ceremony night wearing by Oscars Best Actress nominees who's the prettiest and memorable gown at that awards night--it's an indication that they have a bigger chance to get the Oscars Best Actress trophy, a hint

PLEASE PLEASE DO CAMERON DIAZ AND THE ELUSIVE OSCAR. I WILL PAY YOU

I jumped on my sofa while watching Meryl's name came from Colin Ferrell. It was overdue. But Meryl is fantastic in Iron Lady and totally derserved.

Loved the video and love you Brian! One thing though - please stop with the Ana de Armas/ Blonde bashing. That performance is staggeringly good - one of the best of this century. And the film itself is already undergoing a reappraisal in certain cineaphile circles. History will be kind.

Viola is literally PHENOMENAL

Viola doesn’t get enough respect for her acting she should have a major career but her work in how to get away with murder even though it’s tv should be watched and studied I mean truly remarkable and that last season everyone on the cast deserved nominations at the Emmy’s because they out on an acting clinic/workshop

I enjoy both happy together as is it been❤

8:36 Brian morphing into a demon with that voice haha.

Viola has gone on record saying she regrets her role in The Help. If she had won do you would have changed how she felt or only strengthen her resolve?

I vividly remember a lot of people in the earlier part of that season thinking Michelle Williams was gonna win, and even though I'm a huge Williams fan, I was really annoyed at the thought of her winning for that performance. I'm glad it didn't pan-out.

I don’t think there was ever a doubt this was Meryl’s year. Globe, BAFTA, extremely overdue for another win narrative equals a third Oscar. I just didn’t see Violas role in the Help as being one that would win her an Oscar. I’ve only see the Iron Lady once. Ok film but Meryl’s done better. But she’s been accruing more votes over the years until she found a role where she could sink into, pull out all her usual Meryl stops in the role, and finally snag that third win. Viola has an EGOT, so this is something she’ll always beat Meryl at, considering Meryl left Broadway behind decades ago.

Ahhhh thank you so much for this video, Brian! I'd been waiting so hard for this one! I really wish Meryl's 3rd Oscar would have been for Silkwood, A Cry In The Dark, Bridges Of Madison County, Adaptation, The Devil Wears Prada, or Doubt. All better performances in better films. Her work in The Iron Lady is magnificent but the film itself is not, it plods and meanders and is not very memorable (side note: I also thought Gillian Anderson was great as Thatcher in The Crown while not nearly looking like her as much). I was rooting so hard for Viola to win, problematic as The Help may be. Now that she regrets being in The Help, I wish Viola would have won in lead for either Fences or Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. She has proven since Doubt why she's one of the greatest actresses of the last 15 years. I rewatched Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and thought Rooney was exceptional and the performance still holds up. I was also very excited for Glenn being nominated for the first time in 23 years for Albert Nobbs. No chance in winning but the nomination was the win itself for her. Glenn in Albert Nobbs is a transformative performance and the picture is a marginally better film than The Iron Lady. I thought Michele Williams was pretty much on par with Ana De Armas in Blonde, but thankfully My Week With Marilyn is a much more watchable film than Blonde is. What a memorable & special race this was. Meryl deserves to be a 3 time winner (but not so much for this), and I hope her 4th win is not too far away. She is definitely an Emmy contender for Supporting Comedy Actress for her dynamite performance in Only Murders In The Building. And Viola will definitely get another Oscar and I want Fantasia to win the Best Actress for The Color Purple, it's about time for history to be made again after Halle Berry & Michelle Yeoh's historic wins. Thank you for another informative and fun and comprehensive video ❤

I know Viola has said she regrets doing The Help but her performance in that movie is one of my favorites EVER. Just that last scene of her walking away and crying makes me choke up! She should have won and deserved to win! Meryl should have won for The Devil Wears Prada.

I think Meryl Streep will be clean sheet all awards that season, if she didn't win Critics' Choice from Doubt and Julie & Julia, and SAG from Doubt before.