Will Kate Winslet become Oscar's biggest loser among actresses?
While Kate Winslet made Oscar history by racking up five nominations before she was 32, this English beauty has yet to win. If, as expected, she gets a nod for one of her upcoming performances in "Revolutionary Road" and "The Reader" and loses again, she will have tied the dubious achievements of lead Deborah Kerr and supporting player Thelma Ritter with six losses. And if, as some in the forums are speculating, she pulls off that Oscar rarity and reaps nominations for both roles and remains winless she would stand alone as Oscar's biggest loser among actresses. (Peter O'Toole is the biggest loser among actors with eight defeats).
To perform that Oscar double act means Winslet will have to decide which role is leading and which supporting as performers cannot compete twice in the same category. And the debate in the forums about which role is which is fierce. To date, Winslet has had no luck in either race with two losing supporting nods – "Sense and Sensibility" (1996) and "Iris" (2002) and three losing lead bids – "Titanic" (1998), "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" (2005) and "Little Children" (2007).
"Revolutionary Road" reunites Winslet with her "Titanic" leading man Leonardo DiCaprio under the direction of her Oscar-winning husband Sam Mendes ("American Beauty"). This domestic drama set in the '50s has a glossy look about it but one wonders whether it is all style and no substance. With the recent news that Mendes will not even begin the final polish of the film till September, this puts it out of the running for launching at one of the film fests –- Venice, Toronto and New York –- that are gaining in importance as starting off points for Oscar campaigns. Rather, the movie will open in the last week of December but this may well be too late to build momentum given the accelerated nominating schedule as of late.
On paper, Winslet's other December release, "The Reader" certainly seems like the kind of prestige production that gets showered with Oscar nominations. Adapted by David Hare from the bestselling novel (and Oprah book club pick) by Bernard Schlink, the film is directed by Stephen Daldry ("The Hours") and co-stars Ralph Fiennes.
The role of Hannah Schmitz allows Winslet to age from a sexy thirtysomething who seduces a teenager to an elderly woman on trial for her part in the Holocaust. (See more photos at JustJared.com.) Oscar voters love to see that aging span on screen — it may have helped recent champ Marion Cotillard ("La Vie en Rose"). Basically, they like to see a physical transformation, be it as simple as a bigger nose like Nicole Kidman in "The Hours" or more dramatic, like the makeup that disguised Charlize Theron's beauty in "Monster" or the weight gain of Robert DeNiro for "Raging Bull" or weight loss of Tom Hanks for "Philadelphia" certainly impress Oscar voters.
And Winslet gets to use an accent, thereby demonstrating an acting skill that has proved irresistible to Oscar voters in the past (think Meryl Streep in just about any movie.)
(Photo: JustJared.com/ Paramount Vantage)
I think Kate Winslet was robbed by Hilary Swank, for Million Dollar Baby. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind was her best film, I believe. And no Kate Winslet is not OVERRATED, she is barley on the news, stop thinking about Titanic people! That was 11 years ago.
Posted by: Jnack | February 11, 2009 at 08:51 AM
I think Kate Winslet was robbed by Hilary Swank, for Million Dollar Baby. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind was her best film, I believe. And no Kate Winslet is not OVERRATED, she is barley on the news, stop thinking about Titanic people! That was 11 years ago.
Posted by: George Amparan | October 18, 2008 at 06:39 PM
Love all the opinions & support about performances yet to even be seen! Kinda funny. What's not funny are statements like the biggest loser with 8 Oscar nominations is Peter O'Toole. To have a career as long & successful as O'Toole's and to be honored 8 times as one of the best in each of those years & to be classified as a "loser" is not only an ignorant comment, it's also a stupid & insulting statement. Same goes for the comments about Deborah Kerr and Thelma Ritter. I'm not so sure they'd be appreciative of being called a "loser" after having such long & illustrious careers, but this site has always been full of childish, overwrought, hysterical and inappropriate comments. I sure wish I could be that big of a loser in life!
Posted by: Bill B. | July 12, 2008 at 01:18 PM
just like Martin Scorsese who was nominated so many times and had great movies made him one of the most respected directors from actors to everyone in Hollywood. i think the same goes for Kate Winslet. the more shes nominated the more respect she gets from everyone and plus the movies she makes are incredible. she will win one day and that will cause a standing ovation just like Martin Scorsese when he finally won. Kate is the best actress this generation, sorry Cate Blanchett, your hit and miss
Posted by: aleja | July 11, 2008 at 08:33 AM
I too think she is an extremely overrated actor. Her accents are thin, and she doesn't really evolve into the characters she plays unless that is her characters are all based upon the same person. She's competent but not bette davis, thats for sure.
Posted by: miriam | July 09, 2008 at 08:14 PM
I worship Kate Winslet like no other actor or actress, but I'm not bothered by her lack of an Oscar. She hasn't "lost" five times, she's gotten five nominations. That's a LOT. It speaks to a body of work that is undeniably respected. Personally, I'd much rather have five nominations than one win.
Posted by: Todd | July 09, 2008 at 06:22 AM
Kate is the Greatest actress of her generation.
She will remain constant in film.
Her problem is this: she never fails. So it seems that when and if, in the future she gives a bad performance she will be given more print etc.
She is a risk taker.
Who really believes she should have lost the oscer to hillary skank. ms. skank got it on the coat-tails of clint eastwood.
Posted by: Josh | July 09, 2008 at 05:24 AM
Kate Winslet to me is one of brilliant actresses of her generation but is sadly underrated by Oscar voters. If there is anyone who deserves an oscar its Kate. She has the total package. And there is no doubt that she will get a nod for one or both of these impending films, its just a question of will she win. We're Rooting for you Kate!
Posted by: Ashley | July 08, 2008 at 09:56 PM
To me Kate Winslet is really overrated. She's a good actress and was great in some roles, but I don't think she deserves the Oscar more than Julianne Moore or Joan Allen, who to me are the two actors, who really SHOULD be recognized by the Academy.
Other Oscar-less great actresses: Glenn Close, Judy Davis, Miranda Richardson. What about THE READER? It's a great novel and many love this novel, so the film is in a thankless position. Come on, I really don't get the time shifts in the film. Ralph Fiennes's role doesn't make sense because of his age. And that make-up job (look at the picture!) is awful. Makes me think about A BEAUTIFUL MIND. Anyway, I think that Kate could walk away with best supporting actress, with Meryl Streep possibly taking lead.
Posted by: Ross | July 08, 2008 at 09:47 PM
Also I think she has to follow wich role is lead and wich supporting... My feeling Lead for Revolutionary Road and supporting for The Reader and I believe she has better chances in supporting... I think too she deserves the lead Oscar, but Oscar is Oscar and a supporting one is a good taste
Posted by: Xavi Rodriguez | July 08, 2008 at 06:47 PM
I love Kate Winslet's work. I think Revolutionary Road will get the Oscar buzz it deserves because we are talking about it even in July. She is a wonderful actress and the Academy needs to honor her for her wonderful breath of work.
Posted by: Brian T. | July 08, 2008 at 06:26 PM