This might be a stupid question but it is something that has confused me. Why exactly was Kate nominated for a supporting role in the Reader? I watched the movie and if someone asked me, I'd say she should be in the lead actress category. Is there some sort of rule as to what makes a lead or a supporting role when it comes to award shows? Or can the distributor decide where each actor is nominated by campaigning for them for that category? If so, isn't that unfair because it's trying to get someone to win two awards instead of one?

The way I understand it, it was the studios' decision which category to place her in. (and someone please correct me if I'm wrong) Both were distributed by Harvey Weinstein, and Revolutionary Road was seen to be the bigger of the two (they wouldn't campaign for her to be Lead in both b/c Oscar rules will not allow an actor to receive 2 nominations in the same category/same year). I saw The Reader this past weekend, and I think there can be arguments made for placing her in lead or in supporting. Re: supporting, there is a substantial amount of the film that she is not in. Granted, she is most definitely in more than not, but I don't think it's that much of a stretch, considering the main central lead figure is definitely the character of Michael.

It also reminded me of when Nicole Kidman won for the Oscar in lead for The Hours. You could easily make the case either way that she should have been in either the lead or the supporting categories, since she was in just over 1/3 of the film. (she shouldn't have won anyway, that Oscar belonged to Julianne Moore, but I digress)

I just think there are certain cases where category lines aren't as clear cut.

Oh ok I see.. thank you

kate was great in the reader though and i'm glad she won twice last night..can't wait to check out revolutionary road

Kate Winslet's name should not have been place in nomination for Supporting Actress. BAFTA called it right this week when it has placed both of her performances in the Best Actress category. Feinstein has been lobbying the Oscars for the Best Supporting because of the 'no two performances in the same category' rule- which is an archaeic rule. Why should one of two brilliant performances go unnominated so a less than stellar one be elevated to make a mandatory quota? It's a bad call on the part of the Oscars but even worse on the part of the marketing machine of the Feinsteins.