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Few Options for Best Actress Nods
Even as the industry buzzes about the female frontrunners for Oscar's Best Director category (Kathryn Bigelow, Jane Campion and Lone Scherfig), the pool for Best Actress nominees is looking rather shallow. Barring bravura performances in yet-to-be-widely-seen films like The Lovely Bones, only veteran nominee Meryl Streep (for Julie & Julia) and virtual unknowns Carey Mulligan (An Education) and Gabourey Sidibe (Precious) seem to be likely nominees. Some even think unusual choices like Sandra Bullock for The Blind Side could fill out the rest of the slate. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the "shallow pool" may be the result of a changing culture that makes it harder for women—especially older women—to get the kinds of meaty roles that result in Oscar nominations: only one woman in her 50s—Helen Mirren—has one the award in the last two decades.
CultureVulture
Who proof-reads TDB posts???
"...only one woman in her 50s - Helen Mirren - has one the award in the last two decades".
The word is 'won'. OK????
lisabath22
ha! good catch.
piktor
Mirren was born in May 1945 and won in 2006, so she was 60 at the time.
MaeQueen
Well, well, another article whining about the lack of qualified female Oscar contenders. Hollywood has always been run by the good old boys, and so the focus is kept on the male performers and directors.
There are PLENTY of great performances by women from 2009's talent pool, so take off the blinders of sexism and really SEE!
Housebird
Sandra Bullock --- UH ?? No please no --- such an eye sore.
Not quite as ugly as Sarah Jessica Parker but almost.
Carey Mulligan , and Gabourey Sidibe 2 more eye sores
Perhaps Hollywood wants to convince the "plain Jane" Public that even if you are plain and ugly you can have a handsome male hunk fall in love with you.
.
kansasrefugee
"According to the Hollywood Reporter, the "shallow pool" may be the result of a changing culture that makes it harder for women-especially older women-to get the kinds of meaty roles that result in Oscar nominations"
Huh? I thought the culture had changed such that women play a more prominent role in public life and hence older women as well. Maybe not equality with men, but more than it used to be, no?
kansasrefugee
OK, I just read the article and it says women DIRECTORS are doing better, with three possible nominees for the gender-neutral best-director category. There does seem to be something going on with movies having few older women in them compared to the 80s, though.
This is annoying reporting by TDB.
eurydice9276
It might be that the really interesting roles for women are on TV now.
sandwiches
BLAH! adolf obama!!!!
Death Panels!!!
oops, wrong article
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