Actress Falco Rewarded for her Funny Side

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Actress Falco Rewarded for her Funny Side

Edie Falco always considered herself a dramatic actress. While there were funny bits in "The Sopranos," the show was considered a drama.

Likewise, she's been praised on stage for roles in shows like "'Night, Mother," "Side Man," and "Frankie and Johnnie in the Clair de Lune."

In fact, when she read the first draft of the script for her Showtime program "Nurse Jackie," there were few laughs to be had.

So Falco is still surprised when she finds herself nominated for best comedy actress awards. Already she's been nominated for a Golden Globe, a Satellite Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award for the show.

Executive producers Linda Wallem and Liz Brixius revamped the show as a dark comedy. "The idea that it's a comedy? I still struggle with that," Falco admits.

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

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.

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Actor or Actress?

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Actor or Actress?

There's been some debate among my friends over what a woman who acts is supposed to call herself: Is she an actor or an actress? Or a female actor? Or a woman who acts?

The L.A. Times today which illuminates the debate, though does not give any answers.

Some contend that actress actually means a "small actor."

In days gone by, the term connoted a woman of ill repute (even worse than that of her male counterparts, which is saying something).

The actress Gene Tierney considered the word a "title," not a job description.

David Mamet is vehemently--and colorfully--opposed to the use of the term "actress."

Actress Fiona Shaw is in the minority of those who actually consider the word "actress" a badge of honor; usually the best you can hope for is that it not be considered an insult.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences still uses the word "actress," while the Screen Actors Guild uses the term "female actor."

On the other hand, the SAG award statuette is very definitely male, which may dilute the message of equality a bit.

In the meantime, I don't seem to be offended by the suffix "-ess" and the blog is already named, so for now, I continue to call myself...

Gina Wilhelm Actress