Oh, babe-y! Will Helen's Globes win her Oscar?
The cover of L.A. Magazine suggests that Helen Mirren has a firm grasp on how to solve the biggest problem she faces in the Oscar race — The Babe Factor.
Sure, the 60-year-old British Dame has already won every critics' award plus two Golden Globes (the second for starring in TV mini "Elizabeth I"). Now it looks like she can't be stopped. But let's recall a similar early kudos sweep by Sissy Spacek ("In the Bedroom") back in 2001. On Oscar night when the best-actress envelope was opened, a typical babe-type popped out: Halle Berry ("Monster's Ball"). In the past 15 years only one woman over age 50 has won an acting award: Judi Dench ("Shakespeare in Love"). The others have been real lookers, and young, for the most part: Charlize Theron ("Monster"), Nicole Kidman ("The Hours"), Reese Witherspoon ("Walk the Line"), Julia Roberts ("Erin Brockovich"), etc.
Face it, Oscar voters are brazen, white, straight ole geezers who lust shamelessly after babes. It's OK for wrinkled guys to win (James Coburn, Jim Broadbent, Michael Caine), but nearly every time we think a mature woman will prevail — like, say, Lauren Bacall ("Mirror Has Two Faces") — a babe like Juliette Binoche ("English Patient") pops up.
However, Mirren reminds us of her naughty side — and her well-kept curves — while donning a peek-a-boo pose on the cover of the issue of L.A. magazine that will arrive in voters' mailboxes around the same time as their Oscar ballots.
Never one to shy away from saucy scenes, Mirren's first major film role, "Age of Consent" back in 1969, had her frolicking nude on a beach to the delight of the decades-older James Mason. A decade later, she bared all in the notorious "Caligula." And just three years ago, she played one of the real life "Calendar Girls" who posed nude for charity.
Other notable nude scenes of her film and TV career: "Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone" (2003), "Passion of Ayn Rand" (1999), "Painted Lady" (1997), "The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover" (1989), "Pascali's Island" (1988), "Cause celebre" (1987), "Cal" (1984), "Royal Deceit" (1984), "Excalibur" (1981), "Hussy" (1980), "Hamlet" (1976) and "Savage Messiah" (1972).
Mirren's cover is a bold move for L.A. Mag, which usually features babes, but at least the publication isn't risking the mass subscriber exodus that might've occurred if it had featured such a sexy come-on from the last mature gal to win best actress: Jessica Tandy ("Driving Miss Daisy").
Photo: Los Angeles Magazine
"nearly every time we think a mature woman will prevail — like, say, Lauren Bacall ("Mirror Has Two Faces") — a babe like Juliette Binoche ("English Patient") pops up."
The reason Bacall lost that year is because she was in a Barbra Streisand movie. Think about it: in all of Babs' movies (which she directed), a Supporting Actress nod was given, but none of them won, not even screen legend Bacall.
Posted by: Scott Witherall | January 23, 2007 at 08:11 PM
The only factor that can steal Ms. Mirren's Oscar win is the fact that four nominees are foreign born and the only American is Ms. Streep. Look back at the 1998 Oscar win for Helen Hunt in which she was up against four foreign born candidates--the favorite being Judi Dench for Mrs. Brown. This time around though Ms. Streep may not get that Helen Hunt moment because her performance in the THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA isn't as strong or much of a lead performance. All five nominees this year are well-deserved though and any one of them taking the Oscar will be just fine.
Posted by: Frankie R. | January 23, 2007 at 09:47 AM
Tom-
You keep framing The 2001 Oscars as a year when Halle Berry won nothing until Oscar night and it was shocking that she won. Halle Berry had won the NBR award and the SAG award. Sissy Spacek did not win every award under the sun that year (she did win many, but not all). I remember going into the Oscars that night convinced that Halle Berry would win. It wasn't shocking.
Posted by: BryanS | January 23, 2007 at 09:45 AM
Hellen Mirren was awesome, but this is the first year where I'm hoping the babe factor will actually be a factor and the prize go to Kate Winslett! But this will probably be the first year where it doesn't play a factor.
The Academy's love for pretty girls and lack of love for hunky guys is very obvious. Too bad hunky actors who are truly good don't stand a chance during the Oscars. Poor Leo. Oh well, in 20 to 30 years when he's old and wrinkled, maybe he'll have a chance then.
Posted by: Anna | January 23, 2007 at 07:14 AM