Quiz: Which Oscar-winning role was not gay?
If Sean Penn wins an Academy Award for best actor for "Milk," he'll become the sixth actor to reap an Oscar for a gay role. The other five are cited below. Which role does not belong on this list? See the answer here!
a.) William Hurt, "Kiss of the Spider Woman"
b.) Tom Hanks, "Philadelphia"
c.) John Gielgud, "Arthur"
d.) Nicole Kidman, "The Hours"
e.) Charlize Theron, "Monster"
f.) Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Capote"
ANSWER: c.) Although Gieguld was out in real life and portrayed the role of uppity butler/valet in "Arthur" with campy bravado, the character wasn't technically gay.
Though Nicole Kidman's portrayal of Virginia Woolf was not overtly gay in "The Hours," the film dealt subtly with her same-gender urges. Many scholars believe Woolf was a lesbian.
Hilary Swank is not on this list because she portrayed Brandon Teena in "Boys Don't Cry," a transgender, not a homosexual.
As for my affinity for James Coco's perf in "Only When I Laugh," I realize that his Oscar-nominated role was also up for a Razzie, but, sorry, the Razzies are wrong!
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Photo: Columbia Pictures
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Who else has been nominated or won for gay or gender-bending roles?
There's Felicity Huffman as a male-to-female in Transamerica. Was Robert Preston playing gay in Victor/Victoria?
Also, I don't want to be politically incorrect, but wasn't Brandon Teena technically a lesbian? Or is that distinction too difficult to make?
Which gay/bisexual actors have won? Jodie Foster, Angelina Jolie.
And who has been nominated for playing a person of the opposite gender? Cate Blanchett last year and Linda Hunt won.
Posted by: Zach | February 17, 2009 at 10:06 PM
How about a list of how many nominations have gone to gay roles?
Posted by: brainypirate | February 17, 2009 at 01:55 PM
Something to maybe chew on, also, would be that Aileen Wuornos, in real life, though she had a very important love affair with a woman, did not identify herself as "gay" or "lesbian".
Notice in Ms. Theron's performance that she assumes a macho sort of stance, and begins to take on a man's role in her relationship. This might have signified more of a gender identity issue.
Gay or not, terrific performance!
How can you love such an abomination as Only When I Laugh?! lol!
Posted by: Matt Mazur | February 17, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Whoops, never mind. Though technically, the transgendered are part of the gay community :-)
Posted by: MARC | February 17, 2009 at 10:49 AM
Hi, Tom,
What about Hillary Swank's turn in Boys Don't Cry?
Posted by: marc | February 17, 2009 at 10:48 AM