Best Actress

[ For full episode catalogue please subscribe to our Patreon at Patreon.com/BestActress ] The year is 1954 and the nominees are: 1. Audrey Hepburn - Roman Holiday  2. Leslie Caron - Lili 3. Ava Gardner - Mogambo 4. Deborah Kerr - From Here to Eternity  5. Maggie McNamara - The Moon is Blue - In 1954 Audrey Hepburn won the Oscar for Best Actress playing a princess going from ‘riches to rags for a day’ in the classic film, Roman Holiday. I’ve always wondered why she won the Oscar for this film and not for something like Breakfast at Tiffany’s or The Nun’s Story. Now having seen the other nominated performances, I get it. I wouldn’t say this was a weak year necessarily but I would say there were some odd choice of nominees. Deborah Kerr was incredible in From Here to Eternity but I don’t think we saw enough of her to warrant a win. Leslie Caron gets so many brownie points for having to sell those scene with those creepy ass puppets in Lili. Ava Gardner in Mogambo is the most confusing nominee in this category, as we discuss at length this episode. Who do you think should have won? Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Cathryn Naiker as they discuss. 

[ For full episode catalogue please subscribe to our Patreon at Patreon.com/BestActress ] The year is 2015 and the nominees are: 1. Marion Cotillard - Two Days, One Night 2. Felicity Jones - The Theory of Everything 3. Julianne Moore - Still Alice 4. Rosamund Pike - Gone Girl 5. Reese Witherspoon - Wild - In 2015 Julianne Moore finally won her Oscar after her fifth nomination for arguably one of the most heartbreaking performances put to screen as a woman suffering from early on set Alzheimer’s disease. An incredibly powerful performance that won her the Golden Globe, SAG, Critics Choice, BAFTA, and Oscar - the “quintuple crown.” This year was nothing short of amazing performances from each nominee. Felicity Jones absolutely slays as Steven Hawkins life partner and caretaker in another heartbreaking performance in The Theory of Everything. Marion Cotillard received her second Oscar nomination playing a woman struggling with depression fighting for her job. Rosamund Pike delivers a ‘she’s fabulous but she’s evil’ performance in Gone Girl. Finally Reese Witherspoon gives one of her grossest (in the best possible way) performances of her career in Wild. Who do you think should have won? Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Robert Watson as they discuss.

[ For full episode catalogue please subscribe to our Patreon at Patreon.com/BestActress ] The year is 1956 and the nominees are: 1. Anna Magnani - The Rose Tattoo 2. Susan Hayward - I'll Cry Tomorrow 3. Katharine Hepburn - Summertime 4. Jennifer Jones - Love Is a Many Splendored Thing 5. Eleanor Parker - Interrupted Melody - Please note: My mic wasn't working and by default used my laptop mic to record. Apologies for sound quality - will be fixed for future episodes. In 1956 Anna Magnani became the first Italian - and first non-English speaking woman - to win an Oscar. Tennessee Williams became an admirer of her acting and wrote The Rose Tattoo specifically for her to star in. This was a very strong year of course for the exception of Jennifer Jones in full yellowface portraying a Chinese/European doctor in China. Who do you think should have won? Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Glenn Sumi as they discuss.

[ For full episode catalogue please subscribe to our Patreon at Patreon.com/BestActress ] The year is 1946 and the nominees are: 1. Joan Crawford - Mildred Pierce 2. Ingrid Bergman - The Bells of St. Mary's  3. Greer Garson - The Valley of Decision 4. Jennifer Jones - Love Letters 5. Gene Tierney - Leave Her to Heaven - In 1946 Joan Crawford won the Best Actress Oscar for Mildred Pierce in one of the greatest Hollywood comeback stories of all time. After being dropped by MGM Crawford signed with Warner Studios. She didn't work for years because she spent her time studying and learning what made a good script. Along comes Mildred Pierce and the rest is history. Some hits and misses this year. Really enjoyed Gene Tierney and Greer Garson in their respective films. Bergman is always a delight to watch but TBOSM isn't exactly a high stakes plot. Jennifer Jones was perhaps my least favourite of the group. These are just my thoughts! Tune in to this week's episode to hear more!  Who do you think should have won? Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Josh Murray as they discuss.

[ For full episode catalogue please subscribe to our Patreon at Patreon.com/BestActress ] The year is 1976 and the nominees are: Isabelle Adjani - The Story of Adele H. Ann-Margret - Tommy Louise Fletcher - One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest Glenda Jackson - Hedda Carol Kane - Hester Street - In 1976 Louise Fletcher won Best Actress for playing one of the most iconic movie villains of all time, Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. This film became the first in 41 years to sweep the major categories of Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, and Screenplay. I would say Adjani was likely Fletcher’s biggest competition as she became the youngest nominee for Best Actress at that time at the age of 20. She won the National Board of Review, National Society of Film Critics, and the New York Film Critics Circle awards for her work in The Story of Adele H. If you have never seen the movie musical Tommy, do yourself a favour, take some bong hits and enjoy. Ann-Margret’s performance as Nora is honestly one of the strangest (in a good way) things I have ever witnessed on this podcast. Who do you think should have won? Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Bryan Hatt as they discuss.

[ For full episode catalogue please subscribe to our Patreon at Patreon.com/BestActress ] The year is 1966 and the nominees are: Julie Andrews - The Sound of Music Julie Christie - Darling Samantha Eggar - The Collector Elizabeth Hartman - A Patch of Blue Simone Signoret - Ship of Fools - In 1966 Julie Christie won Best Actress for Darling playing a young London model who sleeps her way to the top (good for you girl). She famously beat Julie Andrews in what is considered her best work in The Sound of Music. Andrews had won the award for Best Actress the year prior so it made her win unlikely. However many feel if Andrews should have an Oscar, it should have been for this film. Ultimately this year comes down to Julie vs. Julie and it didn't disappoint. A lot of really interesting films and performances. Join host Kyle Brownrigg and he discusses with guest host Joe Arsenal.

[ For full episode catalogue please subscribe to our Patreon at Patreon.com/BestActress ] The year is 2019 and the nominees are: 1. Lady Gaga - A Star is Born 2. Melissa McCarthy - Can You Ever Forgive Me? 3. Olivia Colman - The Favourite 4. Yalitza Aparicio 5. Glenn Close - The Wife - In 2019 Olivia Colman won the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role for The Favourite. Glenn-always-so-Close was the favourite to win for The Wife and her campaign narrative was basically, ‘it’s about time we give her her Oscar.’ She was visibly disappointed by Colman’s win in the telecast (frankly, give her an Oscar just for that reaction) and rightfully so. Colman even mentioned it in her speech. Very interesting year! Lady Gaga’s star was BORN (this way) with the 4th remake of ASIB. She may not have won for acting but she at least walked away with a statue for the film (Best Original Song). Yalitza Aparicio was nominated for her very first film (the dream) for Roma playing Alfonso Cuarón’s childhood nanny, Cleo. Melissa McCarthy redeemed her career (frankly) with Can You Ever Forgive Me? I feel like the title is asking for forgiveness for her string of terrible films directed by her husband Ben Falcone (Tammy, The Boss, Life of the Party). She even won worst actress at the Razzies for Life of the Party while simultaneously winning the ‘Redeemer Award’ for Can You Ever Forgive Me. As a comedian, I think that’s hilarious. Very interesting year! Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Robert Watson as they discuss.

[ For full episode catalogue please subscribe to our Patreon at Patreon.com/BestActress ] The year is 2020 and the nominees are: Saoirse Ronan - Little Women 2. Charlize Theron - Bombshell 3. Renée Zellweger - Judy 4. Cynthia Erivo - Harriet 5. Scarlett Johansson - Marriage Story - In 2020 Renée Zellweger won her second Oscar for portraying Hollywood icon, Judy Garland. This was her first lead actress win as her previous win was for a supporting role in the movie Cold Mountain. Scarlett Johansson became a double nominee for lead and supporting for Marriage Story and Jojo Rabbit. Charlize Theron was nominated for Bombshell for playing Megyn Kelly. Saoirse Ronan received her fourth Oscar nomination for Little Women. Cynthia Erivo became the second actress to be nominated for a leading role as well as best original song (Gaga was the first).   Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Fiona O’Brien as they discuss.  . #bestactress #supporting #oscars #academyawards #hollywood #silverscreen #vintage #gay #queer #lgbtq #canada #losangeles #gaypodcast #robbed #snubbed #film #movie #podcast #supporting #lead #saoirseronan #littlewomen #charlizetheron #bombshell #reneezellweger #judy #cynthiaerivo #harriet #scarlettjohansson #marriagestory 

[ For full episode catalogue please subscribe to our Patreon at Patreon.com/BestActress ] The year is 1955 and the nominees are: 1. Grace Kelly - The Country Girl 2. Judy Garland - A Star is Born 3. Audrey Hepburn - Sabrina 4. Dorothy Dandridge - Carmen Jones 5. Jane Wyman - Magnificent Obsession - In 1955 Grace Kelly won her Oscar for The Country Girl shocking audiences around the world as she beat out the expected winner, Judy Garland. Garland was not present for the ceremony as she was giving birth to her third child but had an NBC crew waiting at the hospital to film her acceptance speech. This win for Kelly is regarded as one of the biggest upsets in Oscar history. The other nominees included Audrey Hepburn for Sabrina, Jane Wyman for Magnificent Obsession, and Dorothy Dandridge who became the first black female to be nominated for a leading role for Carmen Jones. Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Dan Dillabough as they discuss. . . . . . . . . . . . . #bestactress #supporting #oscars #academyawards #hollywood #silverscreen #vintage #gay #queer #lgbtq #canada #losangeles #gaypodcast #robbed #snubbed #film #movie #podcast #supporting #lead #gracekelly #thecountrygirl #judygarland #astarisborn #audreyhepburn #sabrina #dorothydandridge #carmenjones #janewyman #magnificentobsession

[ For full episode catalogue please subscribe to our Patreon at Patreon.com/BestActress ] The year is 2013 and the nominees are: 1. Jessica Chastain - Zero Dark Thirty 2. Jennifer Lawrence - Silver Linings Playbook 3. Emmanuelle Riva - Amour 4. Quvenzhané Wallis - Beasts of the Southern Wild 5. Naomi Watts - The Impossible In 2013 the girl on fire herself, Jennifer Lawrence fell walking up the stairs and took home the Academy Award for Best Actress. Up until the Oscar nominations, Lawrence arguably had this one in the bag but when they announced the nominees Emmanuelle Riva and Quvenzhané Wallis were big threats. Jessica Chastain gave an unrelenting performance in Zero Dark Thirty while Naomi Watts gave an emotionally reactionary performance in The Impossible. Many argued that Riva should have won but others disagreed. Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Rob Browne as they discuss. . . . . . . . . . . . . #bestactress #supporting #oscars #academyawards #hollywood #silverscreen #vintage #gay #queer #lgbtq #canada #losangeles #gaypodcast #robbed #snubbed #film #movie #podcast #supporting #lead #jessicachastain #zerodarkthirty #jenniferlawrence #silverliningsplaybook #emmanuelleriva #amour #quvenzhanewallis #beastsofthesouthernwild #naomiwatts #theimpossible