Best Actress Oscar winners often play real people (5 examples)

Everybody loves a good human-interest story.   Enter the stage, Sandra Bullock star of 2009's "The Blind Side."   As Leigh Anne Tuohy, she saved a young football star (real life offensive tackle, Michael Oher) from his disenfranchised existence.   Unfortunately, shortly after scoring her golden statue, Bullock was “blindsided” (extremely overused pun) by a nasty scandal and messy public divorce.Charlize Theron stole the show in “Monster” (2003) as Aileen Wuornos, the world’s most notorious female serial killer.  In a story that still haunts us, Theron mastered the nuances of a mentally disturbed woman headed for self-destruction.   The transformation of this Hollywood “beauty-turned-beast” amazed fans and critics.  Aileen Wuornos was executed by lethal injection in October 2002.Ever so often, we need a story about one of the world’s tortured geniuses.   Nicole Kidman solved that problem when she played legendary 20th century novelist Virginia Woolf in 2002’s “The Hours.”  This multi-layered film that began with Woolf’s poignant suicide note also starred Julianne Moore (nominated for Best Supporting Actress) and Meryl Streep.View the list »
2013 Oscars

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Hollywood loves true stories. Actresses who convincingly step into the shoes of their real life counterparts are practically shoo-ins for Tinseltown’s most coveted award. So it can’t be a big surprise that in the last decade, more than half of the Academy Award winners for Best Actress have played real people. Still not a believer? Check out this list of winners who’ve been holding down the industry’s most popular true stories.

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  • Ever so often, we need a story about one of the world’s tortured geniuses.   Nicole Kidman solved that problem when she played legendary 20th century novelist Virginia Woolf in 2002’s “The Hours.”  This multi-layered film that began with Woolf’s poignant suicide note also starred Julianne Moore (nominated for Best Supporting Actress) and Meryl Streep.
  • Charlize Theron stole the show in “Monster” (2003) as Aileen Wuornos, the world’s most notorious female serial killer.  In a story that still haunts us, Theron mastered the nuances of a mentally disturbed woman headed for self-destruction.   The transformation of this Hollywood “beauty-turned-beast” amazed fans and critics.  Aileen Wuornos was executed by lethal injection in October 2002.
  • Everybody loves a good human-interest story.   Enter the stage, Sandra Bullock star of 2009's "The Blind Side."   As Leigh Anne Tuohy, she saved a young football star (real life offensive tackle, Michael Oher) from his disenfranchised existence.   Unfortunately, shortly after scoring her golden statue, Bullock was “blindsided” (extremely overused pun) by a nasty scandal and messy public divorce.
  • For the longest time, Reese was considered one of Hollywood’s little darlings.  The “Legally Blonde” actress ultimately went from darling debutante to romantic comedienne.  But it was her portrayal of the late June Carter Cash (wife of country singer Johnny Cash) in 2005’s “Walk the Line” that cemented her title as the Serious Actress.
  • For all intents and purposes, both these women have portrayed powerful political world figures (Margaret Thatcher and Queen Elizabeth, respectively).  Both in their sixties, these two ladies probably have more acting experience collectively than all of this year’s nominees put together.  Stunning physical transformations aside, Streep is especially celebrated for her ability to master any dialect, which she did seamlessly in her performance in “The Iron Lady” (2011); Mirren’s cinematic pedigree made playing Queen Elizabeth II ("The Queen, 2006), a cinch.
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, Atlanta Urban Entertainment Examiner

Ayanna Guyhto, a transplanted "New Yawwwker", is a freelance writer, musician, and visual artist. This pop culture enthusiast's coverage of hot urban topics comes from an unusual, yet eye-catching perspective. Contact her at indieflickjunkie@yahoo.com.

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