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Five brilliant performances. One award.

It's a close tie between topnotch performers: Russell Crowe (A Beautiful Mind), Denzel Washington (Training Day), Will Smith (Ali), Sean Penn (I Am Sam) and Tom Wilkinson (In The Bedroom).

A closer look at the Best Actor nominees for the 74th Annual Academy Awards:



		*Russell Crowe* [A Beautiful Mind] Role: Last year's Academy Award Winner for Best Actor (Gladiator), Russell Crowe is back with yet another winner in a scintillating and complex performance. He plays John Forbes Nash Jr, the mathematical genius dealing with schizophrenia. Earlier nominations: The Insider (leading role) and Oscar winner Gladiator (leading role) Official Website


		*Sean Penn* [I Am Sam] Role: Sean Penn gives s a truly inspiring performance as the mentally challenged Sam with only one mission in life -- to win his daughter back from the courts which labelled him unfit to take care of her. Earlier nominations: Dead Man Walking (leading role), Sweet And Lowdown (leading role) Official Website


		*Will Smith* [Ali] Role: Ali turned out to be a breakthrough in Will Smith's career. A far cry from the buffoonery he has been associated with so far, Smith portrays the life and times of the legendary boxer. Earlier nominations: None Official Website


		*Denzel Washington* [Training Day] Role: A powerhouse of talent, Denzel Washington plays a narcotics officer with a difference. Washington packs in quite a punch as a slightly negative character with a questionable method to fight crime. Earlier nominations: The Hurricane (leading role), Malcolm X (leading role), Cry Freedom (supporting role) and Oscar winner Glory (supporting role) Official Website


		*Tom Wilkinson* [In The Bedroom] Role: The veteran Tom Wilkinson plays a local doctor who turns dangerously aggressive after his young son is killed in a coldblooded murder in the disturbing In the Bedroom. Earlier nominations: None Official Website
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