Glenn Close's gender-bending 'Albert Nobbs' poster -- EXCLUSIVE

Of all the actresses working regularly today, Glenn Close has the most Oscar nominations without ever winning a trophy. In the 1980s, Close scored five Oscar nods in only a seven-year period, for The World According to Garp, The Big Chill, The Natural, Fatal Attraction, and Dangerous Liaisons.

Now, 23 years after her last Academy recognition, she is a lock for her sixth career nomination for her impressively convincing turn as the title character in Albert Nobbs (out Jan. 27), where she plays a woman who must pass as a man in Ireland in the late 1800s in order to keep her job as a hotel worker. Close’s performance earned raves at this year’s Toronto film festival and will easily compete with the likes of Viola Davis (The Help), Michelle Williams (My Week With Marilyn), Charlize Theron (Young Adult), Tilda Swinton (We Need to Talk About Kevin) and Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady) for this season’s five Best Actress slots.

EW has the exclusive debut of the Albert Nobbs poster, which includes Close along with Mia Wasikowska and Aaron Johnson, but leaves out one of the film’s most notable attributes: Close’s spectacular costar Janet McTeer, who’s a likely Best Supporting Actress nominee for her fantastic performance in the film. Check it out below:

Albert Nobbs will hit theaters on Dec. 21.

Dave on Twitter: @davekarger