Marisa Tomei Oscar?: Hopes To Join Actresses Honored For Playing Strippers, Hookers

wsj.com:

On Sunday night, actress Marisa Tomei could take home an Academy Award for her portrayal of a kind-hearted stripper in the critically acclaimed film "The Wrestler." In a tradition that dates as far back as the Oscar show itself, Ms. Tomei is the latest actress to win Hollywood acclaim for playing a character with a job in the sex industry, such as a striptease artist or streetwalker.

Four years ago, Natalie Portman was nominated for playing a young stripper in Mike Nichols's steamy drama "Closer," and just a year earlier Charlize Theron won an Oscar for her role as a real-life prostitute-turned-serial killer (in "Monster"). In the decade before that, Elisabeth Shue, Mira Sorvino and Julia Roberts all became Oscar nominees (or winners) for playing women who sell their bodies but guard their hearts -- one of Hollywood's longtime fascinations.

Read the whole story: wsj.com

Comments

[hilts]

Marisa Tomei is a stunning sex goddess with a drop dead gorgeous rear end. Of course she deserves an Oscar for her amazing and unforgettable performance.

[Larry of Corrales]

It's not a great movie. Too much blood and guts for my taste. I have loved Marisa in most roles she has been in but I don't see her getting the Oscar for this one.

[skippyB]

Stripper was right - we got to see her character, her heart, a tad of her soul - GREAT performance.

[Citizen54]

All Marisa "Best Supporting Actress" Tomei fans should see the movie Factotum. She's only in a few scenes, but they are excellent scenes.

Love this woman!

[DCCommuter]

This WSJ article raises a good point. Women should think hard before paying for a movie ticket! To be a woman who gets recognition you have to play a hooker or somebody else that takes her clothes off a lot. Men don't have to do that. They can just be people, like cops. And not only are the roles limited, but you are not allowed to age over 35. If you are older than that you can't look it.

[GeeBee]

Yes those nude scenes Meryl Streep does in "Doubt" were the highlight of the film, and the reason she was nominated, I'm sure.

[RoloTomassi]

Tomei was excellent in "In the Bedroom." And no, if you don't know the film, it's not about what you might surmise from the title; the film was based on the short story "Killings" by Andre Dubus, arguably one of the finest literary short fiction writers of the 20th century.

[doglove]

The movie was an excellent rendition of a most perfect short story

One of my favorites

[DBtv]

Ignorant and sensationalist article.

Marissa's performance in The Wrestler was powerful and appropriate.

She deserves her second Oscar.

[bettydavis]

She didn't deserve the first one.

[ColoradoDan]

Ya gotta be kidding. She is a fine actress aside from amazingly sexy looks now and then. For the comedic role in My Cousin Vinnie, she was perfect. Rarely would I agree that a humorous role should win Best but that was the grand exception.

I really liked her in Before the Devil Knows Your Dead. Not seen the Wrestler yet.

If she is called upon to strip for a scene, forgiveness is instantly granted. I have enjoyed her in every role I have ever seen her in.

Simply a delight in every way.

[unbozo]

Mmmm yummy I'd like me some chocolate covered Marisa Tomei

[Trilby]

Charlize Theron in Monster does not belong in this category. That was a bid for the Oscar that goes to a beautiful actress for making herself ugly on camera.

[Citizen54]

Maybe, but you've gotta admit, Theron was pretty darn good in that role. I don't recall any better performances that year.

[playchessordie]

Inappropriate and sexist headline. Marisa is a great actor and gave a wonderfully sensitive performance in "Wrestler."

[bmwracer]

Halle Berry won her Oscar for pretty much doing the same thing...

[shel3364]

Uhh... didn't she already win an Oscar for her fast-talking foul-mouthed portrayal of Joe Pesci's girlfriend???

She was fabulous & didn't need to hook or strip.

[FZliveson]

Yeah but that was over a decade ago. Most actors can't live on well-played-out drama from previous years, even if they live a simple life.

[senorplaid]

Well, Jack Palance had a lot to do with her win.

[HatingTheGame]

She's already got an Oscar. Flog the fact checker on this one. Although, truthfully not sure if Cousin Vinnie role deserved one. It was a surprise, sort of like Sharon Stone winning for Casino. Wonder who slept with whom to make that happen. I know I know, sexist. Trying to think of a male equivalent, but can't think of one and too lazy to google just to avoid the criticism.

So there you have it.

[ProudToBeVeryLiberal]

She got the Oscar for "My Cousin Vinny." Every movie buff is still in shock.

[FZliveson]

Tomei has worked diligently to become a stable actress in a brutally competitive industry.
She was incredibly attractive, both as a person/character and in a "bedroom" way. Now, if she
decides to trade the viewing of several square inches of her body for additional fame, it is her
image and her legacy she is navigating. I find her far less "cheap" in the buff than I do many
actors in full costume. When the value of visual realism supports the character development and
the believe-ability of the film, I see no problem. When it is the lead in to support a bad script or
uninspiring screen play then skin=trash.

[Goliadkin]

I'm puzzled by this definitive-sounding WSJ article about Marisa Tomei's Oscar aspirations that fails to mention that Tomei already has a Best Supporting Actress Award for "My Cousin Vinnie"! The article makes it sound like she's an Academy Award wannabe, when she's already in the club, and deservedly so. Can the highly-trained professional journalists and editors at WSJ be unaware of this highlight of Tomei's career?

Anyway, kudos to Ms. Tomei. She looks fabulous, and she's always been a terrific actress and comedienne. I'll see the movie, for sure.