Could Hailee Steinfeld take home an Oscar for best supporting actress?

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Whenever there are Oscar upsets, they tend to occur in supporting slots. Just three years ago Tilda Swinton (‘Michael Clayton’) pulled off a jawdropper for best supporting actress. Other shockeroos in that same category include Marcia Gay Harden (‘Pollock,’ 2000), Kim Basinger (‘L.A. Confidential,’ 1997), Juliette Binoche (‘The English Patient,’ 1996) and Marisa Tomei (‘My Cousin Vinny,’ 1992).

Melissa Leo (‘The Fighter’) is the front-runner this year after nabbing the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award, but she’s not a sure thing. Remember, Lauren Bacall (‘The Mirror Has Two Faces,’ 1996) won both prizes, then lost to Binoche at the Academy Awards.

This year, some notable pundits predict Hailee Steinfeld (‘True Grit’) will be the victor. Oscar voters have displayed a historic love of juvenile stars, especially women such as Tatum O’Neal, who was 10 when she won for ‘Paper Moon’ (1973) and Anna Paquin, who was 11 when she won for ‘The Piano’ (1993). Steinfeld is 14 years old.

Among the notable Oscar prophets who foresee the Steinfeld upset: Dave Karger (Entertainment Weekly), Sasha Stone (Awards Daily), Kris Tapley (In Contention) and Anne Thompson (Indie Wire). Most other pundits in Gold Derby’s survey predict Leo will prevail.

-- Tom O’Neil