Jennifer Aniston receives Oscar buzz for edgy new role

She’s best known for herromantic comedy roles, playing Rachel in Friends, and of course, being BradPitt’s ex-wife. But things could be about to change as Jennifer Aniston isbeing touted as a contender for an Oscar.

The actress, 45, is receivingstellar reviews for her raw performance in her new indie film Cake. In themovie, directed by Daniel Barnz, the usually glamorousactress plays a dowdy woman suffering from chronic pain and addiction issues and falls for a recently widowedman played by Sam Worthington.

Jenniferstarted generating Oscar buzz after the film received a rousing reception atthe Toronto Film Festival in September. And now the film will hit theatresfor one week in December in order to qualify for Academy Awards consideration,with a wider release set for January 2015.

“Whenmy life and producing partner Ben Barnz and I first read Cake just fourteenmonths ago, we knew we had to go to Jennifer Aniston,” said the film's directorand executive producer Daniel Barnz.

“Itwas the most obvious un-obvious choice – she’s mega-talented, but we’ve neverseen the whole range of her extraordinary comic and dramatic abilitiesshowcased in one role.”

That the film is beingreleased in time for Oscar consideration means Jen could finally get the awardthat has so far eluded her. But she will have many rivals for the goldenstatue, possibly including her ex-husband Brad Pitt's new wife Angelina Jolie, who could benominated for her performance in the Disney film Maleficent.