Waiting for Oscar?: Pretty Girls Can Act Can't They?

Aside from the big-name leading ladies, there is another group of recognisable actresses who often get noticed for their physical appearance. But are they good enough to do more than show up at the Oscars to look pretty and present the statues to other performers? Maybe these names will join the "superstar" list?

1. Jessica Biel – Hollywood seems to love Ms. Biel at the moment. She’s got a number of leading roles in the works, and already attracted attention for “The Illusionist” and “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry”.

2. Rosario Dawson – recently seems to have entered the world of Tarantino and Rodriguez, but stands out for differing reasons in “Alexander”, “25th Hour”, “Ash Wednesday”, and “He Got Game”.

3. Eva Mendes – a star on the rise for “We Own The Night”, “Trust the Man”, and “Hitch”, but she could feel the lure of a number of action films.

4. Amanda Peet – quietly she is a really good actress. “Igby Goes Down”, “Something’s Gotta Give”, and “Syriana” have been her noteworthy roles.

5. Emmanuelle Chriqui – looking good in an Adam Sandler movie isn’t necessarily the sign of a future Oscar winner, but films like “Cadillac Records” alongside Adrien Brody and Beyonce Knowles might put her in the right direction.

6. Megan Fox – the “Transformers” movies have put her on the map – but what next?

7. Kate Beckinsale – the British actress hasn’t hit the heights after “Brokedown Palace”, “Pearl Harbor”, “Serendipity”, and “Laurel Canyon”. Husband Len Wiseman has her on the vampires and action route, so we’ll see if more Oscar-friendly fare is on the horizon.

8. Vera Farmiga – best-known as Matt Damon’s girlfriend in the Oscar-winning “The Departed”, and very different as a prostitute trying to sweet-talk Jude Law in “Breaking and Entering”. A steady string of roles is coming her way, so will an Oscar nomination result?

9. Michelle Monaghan – Ben Stiller’s love interest in “The Heartbreak Kid” followed roles in “Gone Baby Gone”, “Mission Impossible III”, “North Country”, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”, “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang”, and “The Bourne Supremacy”.

10. Rachel Bilson – she should really be listed under TV stars who could make the grade on the big screen for her time in “The O.C.”, but catching Zach Braff’s eye in “The Last Kiss” led to “Jumper” and the “New York, I Love You” ensemble. Maybe this is just the start?

Honourable Mention:

Tea Leoni

Katie Holmes

Embeth Davidtz

Heather Graham

Julia Ormond

Ashley Judd

Kelly Preston

Lake Bell

Radha Mitchell

Robin Wright Penn