But in other areas, the poll showed a wide divergence between popular favorites and likely contenders. Some 52 percent of those questioned had seen none of the 24 movies on the Ipsos poll list.

Meryl Streep, who has a record 17 Oscar nominations and three wins, is not expected to be among this year's contenders. But 57 percent of those polled thought Streep should be a top five finalist for her role as a frustrated wife in comedy "Hope Springs" and she came second to Hathaway as their top pick to win again in February.

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Among favorite actors, Americans chose Day-Lewis (18 percent), Denzel Washington's alcoholic pilot in "Flight" (16 percent), Hugh Jackman's turn as convict who makes good in "Les Miserables" (10 percent) and Jamie Foxx's performance as a slave-turned-bounty-hunter in "Django Unchained" (7 percent) as their top picks for Oscar glory.

In the best picture category - the biggest prize at the Oscars - those interviewed chose "Lincoln" (18 percent), "Les Miserables" (13 percent), "The Hobbit" (12 percent), "Django Unchained" and "Life of Pi" (both 6 percent), "The Dark Night Rises" and Bond movie "Skyfall" (both 5 percent), as the films they would pick to win.

The poll was conducted between Jan 8-9 and has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.