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Talk Less and Win the Oscar
Four actresses who won an Oscar for portraying mute roles.
The best actress award is among the major awards given at the annual Oscar Awards Night that most people are interested in and is keenly followed. Majority of Best actress winners played the role of famous, real-life individuals (showbiz figures and entertainers) and other winners got it by playing mentally ill (handicapped with disabilities) roles or playing nuns.
And a few Best Actress winners acquired acting Oscars for characters that were essentially mute: Here are the list of actresses that played such role and run home with an Oscar Best Actress/Best Supporting Actress trophy.
Jane Wyman won the Best Actress Oscar for her role as a deaf-mute in Johnny Belinda (1948). A film directed by Jean Negulesco, Johnny Belinda is the story of a deaf girl, Belinda McDonald, who is befriended by Dr. Robert Richardson who is the new town doctor and later married her. Prior to marrying Dr. Richardson, she was raped by Locky McCormick, a family customer and got pregnant. When the people in town find out that she is pregnant, they suspect Dr. Richardson because he has spent a lot of time with her. As time goes by, the pressure of the rumors finally cause the doctor to look for a new practice. He decides to marry Belinda and take her and the baby with him. He goes on ahead to find both a new place to practice and a new home for them.
Holly Hunter won the Best Actress Oscar for her non-speaking role (although she did voice-over narration) as a 19th century pianist mute in The Piano (1993). It is set in the mid-nineteenth century. Ada (played by Holly hunter) is a mute who has a young daughter, Flora. In an arranged marriage she leaves her native Scotland accompanied by her daughter and her beloved piano. She spend a miserable life in the rugged forests of New Zealand’s South Island with her new husband Stewart. She suffers torment and loss when Stewart sells her piano to a neighbor, George. She could earned back her piano provided she teaches George how to play it. Soon a relationship followed.
Marlee Matlin (truly hearing impaired) won the Best Actress Oscar for her mostly silent, realistic performance in Children of a Lesser God (1986). James is a new speech teacher at a school for the deaf. He falls in love with one of her students Sarah played by Marlee Matlin.
Patty Duke won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for portraying Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker (1962). The true story of Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan, a gripping battle to overcome impossible obstacles and the struggle to communicate. Stricken with scarlet fever at a young age, Helen Keller grew up blind, mute, and deaf. At times Helen showed some rages and tantrums due to the fact that she felt frustrated and desperate about her life Annie Sullivan had the big task of trying to help the girl understand the world from which she is isolated.
32 Comments
Great article to remind of us of some of the old Oscar winning films, very good timing.
Well, Hollywood always loved the characters of disabled people… Many actors and actresses won the Oscar for playing roles of this kind.
I have seen all of these movies and they are good. Well done, article.
great article, you’re up-to-date!
Interesting and informative – I hadn’t heard of two of these films!
Thanks for the info! This is an interesting and well written article. I knew two of the movies but not the others. Nicely done!
looks like some of this movies are older than I am, will watch them when I get bored..
That was very interesting!
Awesome article papaleng.Knew about 3 of them,watched 2 of them.The Piano is my ultimate favorite though.
I think that the non-speaking roles would be the most difficult play because the actor or actress, has to work extra hard to portray the personality of the character. When someone wins an award due to the performance on such role, then it is well deserved. Excellent article, I enjoyed it
That’s incredible and a brilliant article. I had heard of two of them but hadn’t realised they were all playing mute roles.
The piano was a great film.
Nice article!
Marami din niyan sa Pinoy version kung pwede nga lang ma-publish dito. Anyway, this was a nice topic and well-researched.
I loved all the movies but Johnny Belinda was my favorite. I saw it many years ago when movies were an event.
great actresses
The actors too, remember Al Pacino played a blind veteran in Scent of a Woman
Oscar winners.
Great article and great actors
Nice work. Keep it going
Monica
i watched 2 of the movies mentioned and i must say, they did a pretty good job. nice work! interesting.
very interesting and well laid out.
Great article!
Very well written article loved the embedded videos.
Interesting atricle!
Really interesting! I’ll have to watch the couple of these that I’ve missed.
This is indeed interesting. Great article.
That’s pretty fine information.
Great article, and information.
I did not know of this,
so it is interesting to know!
As always, a very interesting article. My favorite of the movies you listed is “The Miracle Worker.” Patty Duke definitely earned her Oscar in that movie.
Nice info! A very interesting read.
Wow! I never heard these movies. You kept lots of things in your closet papaleng. Now it’s about time to open and share it. Glad you shared this one..