Last Chance to Debate Oscar's Good Actress

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Last Chance to Debate Oscar's Good Actress

With The Oscar ceremony mere hours away (5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on ABC), there are also mere hours to debate who will take home the best actress award.

Although the conventional wisdom is that it's between Meryl Streep and Sandra Bullock, entertainmentandshowbiz.com advise not counting out Helen Mirren or Gabourey Sidibe.

Of particular import, they point to the fact that Gabourey Sidibe (as well as costar and supporting actress favorite Mo'Nique) were both honored at the NAACP Image Awards.

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Trying to Pick Oscar's Good Actress

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Trying to Pick Oscar's Good Actress

Apparently the best actor race is all tied up already (I had no idea, did you?) and will go to Jeff Bridges.

That leaves the debate open for the best actress award. Bloggers Jack Matthews and Anne Thompson both think Meryl Streep should win, but suspect that Sandra Bullock may get the Oscar instead.

Both bloggers suspect that voters may think they'll never get another chance to vote for Bullock and therefore give it to her for her role in "The Blind Side."

Matthews, who writes for Moviefone, thinks that they might honor Streep for her portrayal of Julia Child in "Julie & Julia" since voters like to honor performances they don't think they could give themselves.

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Actress Images from Critics' Choice Awards

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Actress Images from Critics' Choice Awards

The Critics' Choice Awards were held this weekend, and Meryl Streep and Sandra Bullock tied for the best actress.

After coming up to the podium, Bullock kissed Streep full on the lips and said that Streep inspired her to do everything better.

In the press room, both actresses praised the other and posed for photos.

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Newcomers and Vets Battle for Oscar's Good Actress

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Newcomers and Vets Battle for Oscar's Good Actress

Although there is nearly a month until the Academy Award nominations are announced, the Los Angeles Times is trying to figure out who the nominees and winners of the actress awards will be.

Newcomers Carey Mulligan of "An Education" and Gabourey Sidibe of "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire" are both top contenders.

Both young women have already gotten nominations for National Board of Review, Screen Actors Guild, and Critics Choice Movie Awards.

Other less sure bets are Abbie Cornish of "Bright Star," Emily Blunt from "The Young Victoria," and Mo'Nique, also from "Precious."

Oddly enough, 15-year-old Saoirse Ronan of "The Lovely Bones" is among the vets, having been nominated two years ago for "Atonement."

Other veterans who have a good shot at hearing their names on February 2 include Meryl Streep for her role as Julia Child in "Julie & Julia" or for her turn in "It's Complicated."

Also likely candidates are Helen Mirren in "The Last Station," Sandra Bullock for "The Blind Side," and Penélope Cruz and Marion Cotillard from "Nine."

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Predicting Oscar's Good Actress

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Predicting Oscar's Good Actress

Oscar Nominations will be announced on Tuesday, February 2. Gossipvita.com has joined in on predicting whose name will be called that morning.

The predictions include Meryl Streep for "Julie & Julia," Carey Mulligan for "An Education," and Hilary Swank in "Amelia."

Also predicted are Gabourey Sidibe in "Precious" and Marion Cotillard for her performance in the musical "Nine."

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New York Actress Makes "It's Complicated" Shine

Gina Wilhelm Actress - New York Actress Makes "It's Complicated" Shine

"It's Complicated" opens on Friday. The Buffalo News has a favorable review. One of the high points of the film, according to the review, is actress Lake Bell.

Bell plays the young second wife of Alec Baldwin's character. In the movie, she is "semi-crazy." Her previous experience as a television actress serves her well in this role.

She shares the screen with Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin as well as Steve Martin and John Krasinski.

The Buffalo News gives "It's Complicated" three stars out of four.

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Golden Globe Names Good Actress Candidates

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Golden Globe Names Good Actress Candidates


The Golden Globe nominations have come out, and once again, there are a lot of talented actresses vying to be named the year's best leading actress in a motion picture.


Among them are the perennials, such as Helen Mirren, Emily Blunt, and Sandra Bullock, as well as newcomers Gabourey Sidibe and Carey Mulligan in the movie drama category.


For musical or comedy motion picture, Sandra Bullock is nominated again, but is joined by Meryl Streep, Marion Cotillard, and Julia Roberts.


In fact, Meryl Streep is nominated twice in musical/comedy, both for "It's Complicated" and "Julie & Julia."

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Ronan Nominated as a Good Actress Twice

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Ronan Nominated as a Good Actress Twice

The Broadcast Film Critics Association's 15th annual Critics' Choice Movie Award nominations came out on Monday. Among those nominated were Irish actress Saoirse Ronan.

The 15-year-old actress, who plays a murdered woman in "The Lovely Bones," got dual nominations, both for best actress and best young actor/actress.

The only other actress in the young actor/actress category is Bailey Madison for her performance in "Brothers."

Other best actress nominees are Emily Blunt in "The Young Victoria," Sandra Bullock from "The Blind Side," Carey Mulligan from "An Education," Gabourey Sidibe from "Precious" and Meryl Streep in "Julie & Julia."

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Good Actress Streep Makes True A List

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Good Actress Streep Makes True A List

Forbes magazine has compiled a "True A List" of actors and actresses in Hollywood today.

To do so, they looked at the actors and actresses who had been nominated for Oscars in the past five years. They then tallied their box office draws for the same types of roles.

The list of Oscar-winning women was topped by Cate Blanchett, who has received four nominations in the past five years.

However, when box office draw was figured in, Meryl Streep was the clear leading lady, with two Oscar nominations in the last five years and $1.3 billion in ticket sales.

Streep ranked fifth overall, behind Will Smith. Blanchett doesn't even make the top 10 overall, due to critically acclaimed but under-attended films like "I'm Not There" and "Elizabeth: The Golden Age."

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Amy Adams Actress with Versatility

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Amy Adams Actress with Versatility

The movie "Julie and Julia" has arrived in New Zealand, and the Howick and Pakuranga Times's review highlights the versatility Amy Adams brings to her portrayal of Julia.

Most of the plaudits go to Meryl Streep's portrayal of Julia Child, but the reviewer says the "kooky, idealistic, angst-ridden" Julia is an "easy fit" for Adams.

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Naomi Watts is the Best Value in Actresses

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Naomi Watts is the Best Value in Actresses

Forbes Magazine analyzed the salaries and box office returns of the top actresses in Hollywood and announced that British-born actress Naomi Watts is the "best value" actress.

Watts's last three movies made $44 for every dollar she was paid.

Jennifer Connelly and Rachel McAdams were also highly rated for value, as was Meryl Streep, who, despite her high status and multiple Oscar nominations, earns $27 for each dollar she is paid.

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Amy Adams has Range

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Amy Adams has Range

Amy Adams is having a big year. Within the last 12 months, she's been a nun, a crime-scene cleaner, she's soon to be in a Julia Child biopic, and next week she'll be playing Amelia Earhart.

Better yet, her coworkers can't say enough good things about her.

Shawn Levy, who directed her performance as Earhart in "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian," says he doesn't think there's a better actress in her generation.

Her castmates are similarly effusive. Ben Stiller said she couldn't have been better.

Meryl Streep, her costar in both "Doubt" and the upcoming "Julie & Julia" (the Julia Child biopic) calls Adams "the real thing."

For her part, Adams is very modest. Of Levy's remarks, she said "Awww, he's the best." She called him "amazing to work with."

Although she started out in fringe movies and TV before making a big splash in "Junebug." She followed that up starring in "Enchanted."

After playing two sweeter-than-sweet characters, she could have found herself typecast, but instead, she followed that with "Doubt."

In "Smithsonian," she finds herself in a sassier role-Levy describes her part as "Amelia Earhart, by way of Katharine Hepburn."

Adams says the saucier role fits her own personality better than the sweet and saintly roles that have marked the other movies.

Maybe so, but she plays all of them beautifully.

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Kate Winslet Gets Her Oscar

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Kate Winslet Gets Her Oscar

After much speculation and handicapping (I think I've posted at least 10 times about various aspects of the awards season alone), the Oscars were handed out last night, and Kate Winslet finally won hers.

The 33-year-old actress had been nominated on five previous occasions, so was giddy to have finally won.

She won for her performance in "The Reader," in which she played a woman on trial for Holocaust crimes.

Some had said that she would get an Oscar because it was time or because she had to age several years in the film and because the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences loves to reward movies about the Holocaust.

On the other hand, she was up against Meryl Streep, fresh off her record-setting 15th nomination and always tough competition.

Additionally, as reported here, there was some concern that her acceptance speech at the Golden Globes ceremony might have gotten her in trouble with Oscar voters.

In that speech, she forgot fellow nominee Angelina Jolie's name. She also acted like it actually mattered to her, a British actress, that she had gotten an award.

Some have said that the British are supposed to act like they're above receiving honors and that American voters wouldn't want to reward her for her excitement..

Apparently, though, the voters liked her just fine. She continued to be giddy with last night's win.

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Has Kate Winslet "Blown Her Chances" at an Oscar?

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Has Kate Winslet "Blown Her Chances" at an Oscar?

Now that the Oscar nominations have come out, everyone is trying to figure out who's going to win.

Film critic Barry Norman thinks that Kate Winslet may have blown her chances at a win with her flustered Golden Globe acceptance speech.

In the speech, Winslet recognized the other women who were nominated in her category. Unfortunately, she forgot the name of Angelina Jolie.

In accepting the Golden Globe, Winslet said "I'm so sorry Anne, Meryl, Kristin - oh god, who's the other one... Angelina!"

Norman feels that between the unintended slight towards Jolie, Hollywood "royalty," and the fact that Winslet isn't American, she may very well have ruined her shot at winning the Oscar.

Though probably not connected, oddsmakers have shortened the odds that Meryl Streep will win the Oscar for her performance in "Doubt."

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SAG Award Winners Announced

Gina Wilhelm Actress - SAG Award Winners Announced

The Screen Actors Guild awards were announced January 25th, and some very familiar faces were again recognized for their outstanding work.

Meryl Streep received an Actor award for her leading performance in "Doubt." Followers of this blog will remember that Streep has already achieved an Oscar milestone, having received a record 15 nominations.

Her SAG win could portend well for an Oscar.

However, the same could hold true for Kate Winslet, who already won Golden Globes for both lead actress and supporting actress and won a SAG award this weekend for her supporting performance in "The Reader."

The twist here is that her Golden Globe for "The Reader" was for supporting actress. Her lead actress award was for "Revolutionary Road."

For the Academy Awards, she received only a lead actress nomination (not one in each category), and that was for her "supporting" role in "The Reader."

When the Oscars are handed out, the actresses will be competing in the same category.

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Meryl Streep Achieves Oscar Milestone

Gina Wilhelm - Meryl Streep Achieves Oscar Milestone

Meryl Streep sat down with Cynthia McFadden of Nightline to talk about her latest achievement.

With her latest nomination for leading actress in "Doubt," Streep has received 15 Oscar nominations, a record.

Streep talked to McFadden about the meaninglessness of being called "the world's greatest living actress."

She discussed how much she enjoys "difficult" women, whether Sister Aloysius from "Doubt" is the nun equivalent of Miranda Priestly from "The Devil Wears Prada", and if powerful women are being seen more positively.

Finally, she discusses her role-models.

I know I have found mine.

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Actresses React to Their First Oscar Nominations

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Actresses React to Their First Oscar Nominations

Viola Davis and Taraji P. Henson both received their first nominations for Academy Awards this year for "Doubt" and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," respectively.

Both actresses, nominated in the supporting actress category, reflected on the new honors.

Henson screamed silently so as not to wake her baby. She also says costar Brad Pitt (also nominated for an award) was more excited for her than she was.

Viola Davis, who was in a single scene with with Meryl Streep, had her script for four months.

It sounds like the practice paid off.

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Cherry Jones is Not a Happy Housewife

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Cherry Jones is Not a Happy Housewife

When the new season of "24" starts tonight, there will be a new president--a woman. As played by Cherry Jones, Allison Taylor is the new Commander-in-Chief.

Ms. Jones points out that President Taylor's character isn't based on Hillary Clinton, though she can understand why one might think she was.

She actually based her own portrayal of the character on Eleanor Roosevelt, Golda Meir, and John Wayne, though The Duke has more to do with her walk than her psychology.

She does wonder, however, if President Taylor might lead the way for a nonfiction female president someday.

After all, Dennis Haysbert was an African-American president when Barack Obama was just starting his senate career.

The new job comes at a time when Meryl Streep is receiving accolades for playing a part Jones herself originated.

Ms. Jones won a Tony for her work as Sister Aloysius in the stage version of "Doubt." Streep is now up for a Golden Globe for the same role and is considered likely to get an Oscar nomination for the same part.

Cherry Jones is pragmatic about the situation. She says that she had a terrific run playing the role, but the director needed someone who hadn't played the role over 700 times.

She also calls Streep a "genius actor."

She also says that although President Taylor is married, she isn't a wife. She's the one running the show.

Jones refuses to play characters like Nora, the unhappy wife in Ibsen's "A Doll's House." She feels that those characters are always trying to be free.

That just isn't in her make-up. It may limit her somewhat (it's a highly prevalent type of role), but she prefers to play women who start free and have greater challenges.

Meryl Streep Achieves Golden Globe Milestone

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Meryl Streep has achieved yet another milestone this year.

As previously mentioned here, she nominated for a Golden Globe as lead actress in both the drama and the musical/comedy categories for her performances in "Doubt" and "Mamma Mia!" respectively.

That alone is impressive enough, but it turns out that with those two nominations, she now has 23 career nominations, the most of anyone in film history.

In doing so, she surpassed Jack Lemmon, who has a mere 22 nominations.

If anyone's keeping track, she's won six Golden Globes. So far.

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Year-End Quotes from Hollywood

Gina Wilhelm Actress

As the year draws to a close, Inquirer.net compiles their favorite quotes from interviews with various movers and shakers in the film industry.

There are the standard questions of Brad and Angelina about their families. And the also standard question to Jennifer Aniston about her love life.

But there are also insightful questions and answers, including with Andrew Stanton of Pixar.

There's also a terrific quote from Woody Allen on the charm of filming a love scene.

However, the nicest quotes are from Meryl Streep on whether there's anything she can't do. She also talks about getting to record "The Winner Takes it All" for "Mamma Mia!"

The recording was made in the same studio on the same microphone where the original recording was made, and she talks about that.

Finally, there are some quotes from Benny Anderson and Bjorn Ulvaeus of Abba and the writers of Mamma Mia! about the chances of an Abba reunion and their other future plans.

Gina Wilhelm Actress