Gwyneth had no trouble getting an Oscar nomination for Best Actress with "A Beautiful Mind." The role of Alicia in the film was originally no less significant than that of Nash. Jennifer Connelly, as recalled by Adrian, opted for Best Supporting Actress over Best Actress—a smart move by her or her team, since the competition for Best Actress at the 74th Oscars was notoriously fierce.
The most formidable competitors were Halle Berry and Cissy Spacek, the latter being a veteran actress with six previous Best Actress nominations. Halle's dark complexion alone said it all, let alone the fact that Spacek had already won an Oscar for Best Actress. The results were almost predictable. Thus, competing for Best Supporting Actress with a role that could compete for Best Actress was a very clever and far-sighted move.
