Last year the Best Actress category was criticized for being lackluster and for not having enough candidates. However, this year is shaping up to be a crowded field for actresses with many looking for a comeback and a win. The following is a list of actresses who have not been nominated at the Academy Awards for years.

1. Kate Winslet, "The Dressmaker": Winslet was once a favorite of the Academy until she won in 2008 for "The Reader." The actress nabbed six nominations over a 20-year period but quickly dissipated on the Academy's radar. Seven years later Winslet looks to have one of her strongest years as she stars in four films. Two have been received negatively, but two are highly anticipated. While she will mostly go for Supporting in "Steve Jobs," she has a chance for "The Dressmaker." The film looks promising, but it seems audiences will have to wait until the fall to see if it picks up a good distributor and if it lives up to the promise.

2. Lily Tomlin, "Grandma": One of the most beloved actresses in Hollywood, Tomlin has not been nominated by the Academy Awards since 1975 for "Nashville." This year she has "Grandma," which received great reviews at the Sundance Film Festival and was promptly acquired by Sony Pictures Classics. This is a good sign given the fact that the distributor has won the Best Actress category two years in a row and knows how to play the Oscar game.

3. Carey Mulligan, "Suffragette": Mulligan broke out in 2009 for "An Education" and obtained her first nomination. Since then she has turned in great performances for every single one of her films. However, she was snubbed in 2011 for "Shame" and was overlooked for her work in "Inside Llewyn Davis." This year she has "Suffragette," which is being distributed by Focus Features and has a promising premise and cast. The trailer that recently premiered shows the actress at her very best. While no one has seen the movie, the October release date may hint at the good quality.

4. Saoirse Ronan, "Brooklyn": Ronan was nominated in 2007 for "Atonement" and, like Mulligan, has since given extraordinary performances. Ronan may be young for the category, but her latest film premiered at Sundance where it received great reviews and spurred Oscar buzz. Fox Searchlight also acquired it for distribution, which is a good sign given that the company knows how to build award winning campaigns.

5. Cate Blanchett, "Carol": This is far from a typical comeback as Blanchett just won the Oscar in 2013. However, her latest film "Carol" is said to be a masterpiece, and critics were raving about Blanchett's performance, stating it was her best. Blanchett has already been nominated six times and has won twice. If the Academy likes her daring performance and the Weinstein Company can pull off a solid campaign, this could be her third win.

Other actresses who could come back to the Oscars include Jennifer Lawrence for "Joy," Meryl Streep for "Ricki and the Flash," Marion Cotillard for "Macbeth" and Julianne Moore for "Freeheld."

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