Drawing Inspiration from Good Actress Mo'Nique

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Drawing Inspiration from Good Actress Mo'Nique

When Mo'Nique won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar on Sunday, there were a lot of excited fans. But some of the most excited came from her native Baltimore.

Rachel Hilson, a singer, dancer, and actress at the Baltimore School of the Arts was particularly inspired by Mo'Nique's win for portraying an abusive mother in "Precious."

"I think that Mo'Nique is such an inspiration, regardless of where she is from. However, being from Baltimore, which is not the easiest city to live in, she is even more of an inspiration." Hilson said.

She also explained that watching Mo'Nique helped to "clarify my desire to become an actress." Next, Hilson will compete in the NAACP's ACT-SO competition. It sounds like she's pretty clear.

Gina Wilhelm Actress

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.

Gina Wilhelm Actress

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."

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Mo'Nique Considered Good Actress by Critics

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Mo'Nique Considered Good Actress by Critics

Ever since her win at Sundance last year, Mo'Nique has been considered a top contender for best supporting actress awards for her performance in "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire."

So far, she has won 17 awards and a number of nominations for her portrayal of the abusive mother of an obese illiterate girl in the movie.

In addition to winning at a number of film festivals, she's also received nominations for SAG, Critics Choice, Golden Globe, and Spirit awards.

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Mariah Carey Named Good Actress

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Mariah Carey Named Good Actress

Mariah Carey received the Supporting Actress of the Year award at 14th Annual Capri Hollywood International Film Festival in Italy on Monday.

Carey received the award for her very unglamorous performance in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' By Sapphire."

In that movie, Carey plays a social worker opposite newcomer Gabourey Sidibe. Mo'Nique also stars in the movie. All three actresses have received a lot of acclaim for their work in the movie.

The entire cast has also been nominated for a Screen Actors' Guild award for Best Ensemble.

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Sundance Winners React

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Sundance Winners React

The Sundance Film Festival is over now, and one of its big winners is "Push: Based on the novel by Sapphire."

The movie got both the Audience and Grand Jury awards for a U.S. drama, and actress Mo'Nique received a Special Jury Prize for her performance.

One of the film's stars, first-time actress Gabourey Sidibe, described her experience at the festival as "insanely awesome," and as if it were "the land of Oz or something."

What a great start to an acting career!

Gina Wilhelm Actress