2010's Oscar Hopefuls: Portraits

A revelation as a motormouthed high-school debater in the little-seen Rocket Science and fine as Bella's best friend in Twilight, Kendrick comes fully into her own onscreen as corporate stooge Natalie Keener. She's every aging worker's nightmare: a prim, young, impersonal innovator happy to please her bosses by making hordes of workers redundant. But instead of playing Natalie as a harpy, Kendrick makes her vulnerable. She shouldn't be unemployed as an actress anytime soon. (For Your Consideration: Best Supporting Actress)