Emma Stone’s highly acclaimed turn in Kinds of Kindness and Lily Gladstone’s highly acclaimed turn in Fancy Dance could lead to a repeat of this year’s Best Actress race at the 2025 Oscars. Earlier this year, in the run-up to the Academy Awards, Stone was nominated for Poor Things and Gladstone was nominated for Killers of the Flower Moon. They both gave phenomenal performances that were worthy of an Oscar win. But, much like in Highlander, there can only be one.

Since the Golden Globes separate their categories into “Drama” and “Musical or Comedy,” both Stone and Gladstone managed to walk away from that ceremony with a trophy in hand. But there can only be one Best Actress at the Oscars. Ultimately, the award went to Stone for Poor Things and Gladstone unfortunately went home empty-handed. But since they both have movies out this year that have been universally praised by critics, there’s a chance that they’ll both be up for Best Actress again next year.

The 2025 Best Actress Race Might Pit Emma Stone & Lily Gladstone Against Each Other Again

Stone and Gladstone could both be nominated again next year

Just a few months after Poor Things hit theaters, Stone and director Yorgos Lanthimos already have a new movie out. Kinds of Kindness is a surreal, darkly comedic anthology movie consisting of three segments – and Stone plays the lead role in each of the three segments. Playing three characters in the same movie is certainly an Oscar-worthy feat, and Kinds of Kindness has both the widespread acclaim and the involvement of Academy favorites to warrant award consideration, so Stone might be up for Best Actress again next year.

Similarly, Gladstone has a new movie out that’s been met with widespread acclaim. Erica Tremblay’s Fancy Dance stars Gladstone as a woman searching for her missing sister while preparing her niece for an upcoming powwow on the Seneca–Cayuga Nation Reservation. The film has received warm reviews from critics, with particular praise for Gladstone’s performance. Now that Gladstone is on the Academy’s radar, Fancy Dance could earn her another nomination for Best Actress – and that could once again pit her against Stone.

Who Else Is In Contention For A 2025 Oscar Nomination For Best Actress?

There are plenty of strong contenders for the next Oscars race

Stone and Gladstone aren’t the only contenders for the Best Actress award at this year’s Oscars. Jodie Comer could be nominated for The Bikeriders. Mikey Madison could be nominated for Anora. Angelina Jolie could be nominated for her upcoming biopic Maria. Lady Gaga could even be nominated for Joker: Folie à Deux if it lives up to the first one. But their nominations might all end up being moot if there’s a second Stone vs. Gladstone Best Actress race.