Maria Bakalova for Best Actress? Golden Globes shuffle up categories ahead of revealing nominations

Maria Bakalova in 'Borat Subsequent Moviefilm'. Courtesy Amazon Studios

We may be a few months away from the Golden Globes announcing nominees for its 2021 awards, but it appears there will be some changes in place when they are revealed in February.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) has finished reviewing submissions, with several entries placed in different categories to the ones stated by studios, according to Variety.

One of the recategorised performances is Maria Bakalova's portrayal of Borat's daughter, Tutar Sagdiyev, in the film Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.

According to Variety, the Bulgarian actress was initially in the running for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, but has now been moved to Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical category.

Bakalova’s breakout role in Sacha Baron Cohen’s mockumentary gained her considerable attention from awards committees and she is even rumoured to be a prime competitor for next year’s Academy Awards.

Promising Young Woman was also moved to the drama category. The film's distributor, Focus Features, had originally submitted the witty thriller in the comedy category.

The film, directed by Britain's Emerald Fennell, stars Carey Mulligan, Bo Burnham and Alison Brie. It tells the story of a woman who seeks revenge against the men who have wronged her. The film has generated significant awards buzz recently, with Mulligan even nabbing Best Actress at the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards earlier this week.

However, neither Bakalova nor Promising Young Woman are guaranteed to end up on the nominations list when it is revealed on Wednesday, February 3.

A number of other entries could also be recategorised, including Saoirse Ronan's role in the drama Ammonite. Ronan's performance was submitted in the Supporting Actress category but, according to Variety, there have been suggestions that she should be in the running for the Lead Actress in a Drama category alongside co-star Kate Winslet.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, by US filmmaker and playwright George C Wolfe, could also be moved into the comedy or musical categories.

This is not the first time that films and performances have been subject to a reshuffling by the HFPA. In 2003, Catherine Zeta-Jones was moved to the Leading Actress category for her role in Chicago, but lost the award to her co-star Renee Zellweger.

Abigail Breslin was also moved to the lead category for her performance in the 2006 tragicomedy Little Miss Sunshine. She did not end up with a Golden Globe nomination, but was in the running for Best Supporting Actress at both the Oscars and the Screen Actors Guild.

The Golden Globes 2021 will take on Sunday, February 28.