There’s a common misconception that women, in order to win a prestigious acting award, must play ugly. My new theory is that you must play gay. Here’s the proof, based on this morning’s Golden Globe Award nominations.
Nominated for: Best Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role In A Motion Picture, A Single Man
Played gay in: The Hours, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee
Nominated for: Best Performance By An Actress In A Motion Picture — Comedy Or Musical , It’s Complicated and Julie & Julia
Played gay in: Manhattan, The Hours
Nominated for: Best Performance By An Actress In A Television Series — Drama, Mad Men
Played gay in: Anger Management
Nominated for: Best Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role In A Series, Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made For Television , Big Love
Played gay in: If These Walls Could Talk 2
Nominated for: Best Performance By An Actress In A Motion Picture — Drama, Precious: Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire
Played gay in: Precious
Nominated for: Best Performance By An Actress In A Motion Picture — Drama, The Young Victoria
Played gay in: My Summer of Love
It’s also worth noting that Zooey Deschanel‘s character once dated a woman in (500) Days of Summer, which is up for Best Motion Picture — Comedy Or Musical, Jane Lynch is up for Best Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role In A Series, Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made For Television, and Drew Barrymore is up for Best Performance By An Actress In A Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made For Television for her performance in Grey Gardens. And though she wasn’t nominated herself, Amy Adams has taken a gay turn twice before (Cruel Intentions 2, Standing Still) and is undeniably part of Julie & Julia‘s multiple nominations.
And, of course, Precious is up for Best Motion Picture — Drama. Who didn’t see that one coming?
How do you feel about my theory? I am hoping my next theory can be that actresses who play gay play lesbians multiple times in their careers, and also win big at the Golden Globes and Oscars.
