• February 24, 2003
• Vol. 59
• No. 7

Wonder Women

Mining Rich Roles, Five Stunning Talents—and Style Stars—Capture Oscar's Heart. Now, What to Wear?

They had it comin'!" sneer the murderesses of Chicago, and they may as well have been singing about this year's crop of Oscar-nominated leading ladies. In slay-'em performances that ranged from heartbreaking (Far from Heaven's Julianne Moore, who also got a supporting nod for The Hours) to heat-making (Diane Lane in Unfaithful) to booty-shaking (Renée Zellweger in, yes, Chicago), the women who earned Best Actress nods on Feb. 11 practically relegated their male counterparts to ho-hum status. "It's an astonishing year for women," says producer Lynda Obst (How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days). What brought on the change? Obst cites an increase in the ranks of female studio execs, along with stars like Nicole Kidman who have become box office draws. "That's given women power," says Obst, "and when they have power, they're not playing girlfriends anymore."

Which isn't to say they're not up for playing dress-up—especially come Oscar night March 23. With these nominees among the world's most glamorous women, the race to bedeck them in ballgowns and baubles is now on. One in particular is the fashion world's holy grail. "Nicole," says stylist Fati Parsia, "is beyond fabulous!"

RENEE ZELLWEGER, 33, CHICAGO

•OSCAR RECORD
0 for 1 (2001's Bridget Jones's Diary)

•VEGAS ODDS
15-1. As the star of a musical, says one oddsmaker, "she's the outsider."

•GIRL POWER
"It's about time," Zellweger says of all the strong female roles.

DIANE LANE, 38, UNFAITHFUL

•OSCAR RECORD
0 for 0

•VEGAS ODDS
5-2. "She deserves it most," says a studio exec. "She is that picture."

•SURPRISE!
"I was deeply asleep" when "all three phone lines lit up at once," she says. "I'm waiting to have a private little freak-out."

NICOLE KIDMAN, 35, THE HOURS

•OSCAR RECORD
0 for 1 ('01's Moulin Rouge)

•VEGAS ODDS
2-1. One Hollywood insider predicts she'll win because "she stands out. This is Nicole's year to shine."

•WHAT TO WEAR?
"I've no idea" she says. "I don't really have a favorite designer."

SALMA HAYEK, 36, FRIDA

•OSCAR RECORD
0 FOR 0

•VEGAS ODDS
6-1. A long shot, says Bally's/Paris Las Vegas oddsmaker Johnny Avello: "The competition is too strong."

•THE DRESS
"She's beautiful and could for the Latin goodness look," says stylist Fati Parsia.

JULIANNE MOORE, 42, FAR FROM HEAVEN

•OSCAR RECORD
0 FOR 2 (1999'S The end of the affair and'97's Boogie Nights)

•VEGAS ODDS
3-1. Moore "is the It girl right now says a showbiz insider.

•THE DRESS
"I've got to looking!" she says.

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