With Christopher Nolan’s epic The Odyssey already dominating awards conversations after its acclaimed debut, one of Hollywood’s biggest questions has little to do with the film itself—and everything to do with Anne Hathaway.

The Oscar-winning actress delivers a powerful performance as Penelope, the devoted wife of Odysseus (Matt Damon) and mother of Telemachus (Tom Holland). But as awards season begins to take shape, industry insiders are asking one crucial question: should Hathaway compete for Best Actress or Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards?

The debate has quickly become one of the earliest strategic storylines of the Oscar race. While Universal Pictures is expected to launch a major campaign for The Odyssey, the studio has yet to reveal where Hathaway will be submitted, and history suggests there are compelling arguments for either choice.

Fresh off the enormous success of Oppenheimer, Nolan’s latest film has become an immediate awards frontrunner. Early industry projections even suggest the epic could collect as many as 17 Oscar nominations, potentially setting a new Academy Awards record after Ryan Coogler’s Sinners established the current benchmark with 16 nominations, surpassing the longtime record of 14 shared by All About Eve, Titanic, and La La Land.

Despite the excitement, a decision isn’t expected anytime soon. Nolan has traditionally avoided discussing awards strategy until months after a film’s release, meaning conversations between the filmmaker, Universal and the cast are likely to take place later in the fall.

For Hathaway, The Odyssey caps an exceptionally busy year. Alongside Nolan’s epic, she has already appeared in The Devil Wears Prada 2 and Mother Mary, with The End of Oak Street and Verity still awaiting release.

Rather than worrying about competing against herself, Hathaway’s biggest challenge could be identifying the category that offers the strongest opportunity to earn another Oscar nomination—and possibly a second Academy Award following her Best Supporting Actress victory for Les Misérables in 2012.

Another factor complicating the decision is co-star Samantha Morton, whose portrayal of Circe has generated significant awards buzz. Campaigning both actresses in Supporting Actress could create competition within the same film, something Academy history shows can be both beneficial and risky.

Fortunately, Hathaway’s performance comfortably fits either category, making this less a case of category controversy and more a strategic calculation. The Academy has seen several performances successfully compete in either lead or supporting over the years, leaving voters open to different interpretations.

Looking at Nolan’s track record only adds to the intrigue. Across his entire directing career, only four acting performances from his films have earned Oscar nominations. Remarkably, three of those nominees went on to win, including Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight, along with Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. for Oppenheimer.

However, one recent example also serves as a warning.

In Oppenheimer, Emily Blunt earned a Supporting Actress nomination for portraying Kitty Oppenheimer, another emotionally grounded wife whose story unfolded alongside her husband’s larger journey. Although the film dominated the Oscars with seven wins, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor, Blunt ultimately lost the Supporting Actress race.

That precedent could influence Universal’s strategy for Hathaway, whose Penelope serves a similarly emotional role while Odysseus’ adventure unfolds elsewhere.

Statistics also present a mixed picture. While 56 of the 90 Supporting Actress winners in Oscar history came from films nominated for Best Picture, only 14 actually came from the eventual Best Picture winner. In other words, starring in the year’s biggest movie often leads to a nomination—but not necessarily a victory.

Supporting Actress has also historically been the Academy’s favorite category for recognizing multiple performers from the same film. It has happened 37 times, more than any other acting category. Yet only 13 of those dual nominations resulted in one of the actresses winning, meaning shared nominations frequently leave both contenders empty-handed.

If Universal instead campaigns Hathaway for Best Actress, the move would create another historic opportunity. No Christopher Nolan film has ever produced a Lead Actress Oscar nominee, and Hathaway could become the first woman to achieve that milestone under his direction.

Still, that strategy comes with its own risks. Academy history has shown that performances viewed by some as supporting can struggle to secure nominations when placed in lead categories, even in Best Picture-winning films.

Morton’s strong critical reception adds another layer to the equation. Nolan himself reportedly praised her performance, comparing the crew’s reaction on set to the excitement surrounding Heath Ledger’s work on The Dark Knight. With two previous Oscar nominations already to her name, Morton could emerge as a formidable Supporting Actress contender herself.

At this stage, many awards analysts believe Supporting Actress may offer Hathaway the safer path to another nomination, though whether that ultimately results in a second Oscar could depend largely on how much momentum Morton’s campaign gains over the coming months.

For now, Universal has time before making its decision. As awards season approaches, Anne Hathaway’s category placement remains one of Hollywood’s most fascinating Oscar storylines—and one that could shape the race long before nominations are announced.

Source: Various Sources.