Handicapping this season's winner for Best Actress at the Feb. 27 Hollywood gala is tougher than usual, USA Today reported Thursday.

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Nominations come out Jan. 25, and at least 12 women are considered contenders.

They are Annette Bening for "Being Julia," Laura Dern for "We Don't Live Here Anymore," Scarlett Johansson for "A Love Song for Bobby Long," Nicole Kidman for "Birth," Tea Leoni for "Spanglish," Julia Roberts for "Closer," Catalina Sandino Moreno for "Maria Full of Grace," Imelda Staunton for "Vera Drake," Hillary Swank for "Million Dollar Baby," Audrey Tautou for "A Very Long Engagement," Paz Vega for "Spanglish" and Kate Winslet for two roles, one in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and the other in "Finding Neverland."