Seeing Double: Best Actress
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 7:30PM So, Meryl Streep won the BAFTA for Best Actress playing British political icon Margaret Thatcher and looked great doing so. At first all I could think was Dynasty power bitch combo pack (Collins power / Evans warmth) with those shoulder pads and the dramatic bodice.
But then it hit me...
Aunt Josephine!
Congratulations to Streep and all the BAFTA winners. I know there's been a lot of drama among The Film Experience readers and Streep fans -- the categories overlap ;) -- about who should win Best Actress . This site attracts more than its share of the drama in that regard given that we talk about the category so often even when nobody as beloved as Meryl is involved. I assume the race is neck and neck and neither outcome would surprise on Oscar night. Streep was always going to win BAFTA with the added advantage of the already awards-magnetic gift of mimicry hitting the eyes of the people who would recognize the skill of the mimicry the best and The Help being very American-skewing in its appeal (I'm actually a bit surprised it was nominated for the BAFTA). The Iron Lady was dodgy enough politically not to really get people riled up about its always controversial subject which I think hurt the film but helped the Meryl awards prospects if that makes any sense. But even though she was always going to take it (I never doubted) it still does help her stay in the Oscar conversation; Oscar ballots are due on the 21st so people are still voting.
I hope we can all agree that when the Oscar conversation involves actresses as massively gifted as Meryl and Viola we all win.
That said I still hope it's Viola just on the grounds of these two performances and because if someone has to beat Streep I'm much more comfortable with it being an actor who you know can really throw down with her. Too often Oscars go to people just because they're well liked and not because they're Oscar caliber talents. This is why so many of the greats don't have even one Oscar... and people don't like to think about the harsh realities but if Viola loses that would mean we'd have to add her to that list of Moore, Close, Bening, Weaver, Pfeiffer, et all who can't catch the gold man despite world class gifts.
Streep and Davis at the SAG Awards 3 years ago when Meryl wisely demanded that Hollywood give Viola great rolesI'll be happier for either of them since one is an all time favorite and one is a current favorite who I hope becomes an all time favorite. If only we could have a tie!
I hope we can all agree that if Viola isn't offered great roles after The Help, regardless of who wins next Sunday, we all lose.
I think that should be my last note on this particular Best Actress matter before Oscar Sunday because good lord this topic has taken up huge chunks of the internet and this blog. And to think the world spent the first half of the year obsessing over Meryl vs. Glenn!
Each year brings surprises and who would have ever predicted this neck and neck battle back when they were first watching Doubt (2008)?
BAFTA, Best Actress, Dynasty, Lemony Snicket, Meryl Streep, Oscars (11), Viola Davis
Reader Comments (75)
God, wouldn't it be hilarious if, after all this, Glenn Close wins?
Claude, I'm a Streep fan but I think with some of the unhinged ones you will hear them complaining till Streep has outstripped Katharine Hepburn which means she has to win five Best Actress because the Supporting one only counts as half.
A Glenn Close win would be the ultimate fuck you to the Meryl loons here.
Go, Close!
Lol @ being told my comment made no sense. How so? Geez louise.
I'm over the crazies. I love both Meryl and Viola and either result will bring about some good, but Viola all the way. And that's the last I'll say on it because some people can't seem to ever understand what I'm saying.
OMG-if Glenn Close somehow won, that would be incredible. I still don't understand why she doesn't have more "give her one, already" buzz considering she's just as overdue for a FIRST trophy as Meryl is for a THIRD.
@Philip: Your point about there being fewer and frankly more flawed leads available to actresses of color made perfect sense and was totally apropos. (Let's assume it was the heart attack/kill the person next to you part that didn't land well.) There is no accounting for people who insist on reducing Viola Davis down to her race, who then project that cynical tendency onto "the Academy" instead of taking responsibility for their own obsession, and then (cherry on top!) refuse to face or discuss issues of race in any serious way despite relentlessly taking the conversation there.
@brandz: I strongly disbelieve you can hear Philip "whining" from wherever you are. First of all, disagreeing with you, or pointing out a fact about role availabilities that's not convenient to you, is not "whining." Second, you've had your fingers jammed so far in your ears all season, while loudly repeating your own feelings and demonstrating zero ability to actually engage any other point of view, that I really don't see how you can claim to "hear" anything. My favorite moment in your comments will always be your hilariously tone-deaf cry of "I'm not racist, I gave money to Obama!" It was also the most surprising, since usually people who ascribe every discussion involving race to "white guilt" and whose style of debating involves repeating their own talking points ad nauseum while refusing to listen or respond in pertinent detail to what anyone else has said... usually those people don't vote for Obama.
@Regina: I don't think Peggy Sue means what you think she means about your comment being "unfortunate."
I have to leave and go have lunch with Whoopi Goldberg and Denzel Washington. We're going to discuss their nominations from 1985 and 1992 and talk about how "the race card" always trumps "the overdue card," and every other "card," and how everything really is about "cards." Then Whoopi's going to go all Oda Mae and channel Galileo on our behalf. When he arrives, he will explain how there are actually two suns in the galaxy - "Meryl Streep" and "white guilt" - and how nothing else exists besides those, and how the Earth actually revolves around them.
@NIck Davis - that takedown was amazing.
I would like to settle the dust that the REASON Streep fans like me think and know she is due for a third Oscar is not because having 2 Oscars is not great (it is), but the fact that she has been NOMINATED over and over and over again and still lost. She is Oscar's biggest loser, with 14 losses! Name another actor that has lost that many times. Right, you can't- because no actor comes close. And sorry, so Streep only deserves 2 Oscars but Jack Nicholson, Ingrid Bergman, Katharine Hepburn deserve more why? Yes they're amazing actors, but so is Streep.
Also the fact that Streep has delivered arguably the best performance of the year in her field (eg Julie & Julia, Bridges of Madison County, A Cry in the Dark, The Devil wears Prada) and still lost means that the academy seems to really opt to go for actors based on who they are- I dare anyone to tell me Sandra Bullock won based on her performance. She won because her movie made $200 million and she's Sandra Bullock- that's why she won (and not only defeated Streep, but Sidibe, Mirren and Mulligan, all of whom gave better performances).
Pfeiffer, Weaver, the other actresses people speak of that don't have won have not been nominated NEARLY as much as Streep. Streep's over due for a third because of the Math! 16 nominations and only 2 wins? Are you freakin kidding me? And now nomination 17 and she's STILL vulnerable to win? If I were Streep, I would kindly tell the academy to withdraw my name for future consideration. Who wants to keep showing up to the Oscars year after year and LOSE? Name me another actor that could sit in their seat year after year and applaud and smile while yet another actor takes the award? None. Streep is the only one humble enough to keep smiling and pay homage to her coworkers. She even plugged for Davis. Would Davis do the same for Streep is Davis kept losing? I think not.
This is why Streep is due kiddies. She's lost a billion times even though she's always consistently the best. It's getting tiresome. Sorry for the rant, I know I come off delirious, but its getting quite annoying and sad to see her lose over and over and over again.
Just to be clear, I'm totally pro-Streep and, in general, pro-Streep fans. My comment was pretty targeted. I've learned a lot about why a lot of people love her in The Iron Lady all season, especially from folks who actually lay out the details of what they see in her work as Thatcher, like one of the two Steves did a week or two back. And Nathaniel's post has me almost craving a tie. That would be kind of awesome. For me, this isn't about Davis vs. Streep anymore (and it obviously isn't for them!), just about talking to each other and seeing multiple points of view. I'm still rooting for Davis but I'll clap for Streep. </That's all, your honor.>
Nick Davis, that was beautiful.
A tie would make everything right in the world.
Go, Close!
Dear Ms. Streep in regards to your acceptance speech, Margret Thatcher was not misunderstood she was a menace. It was with great disappointment that I heard these words fall from your mouth from someone who I believed was an advocate for Human Rights. And if that quote can be attributed to Margret Atwood, I do not believe she would not have used it in reference to Maggie Thatcher. I do hope that if you are determined the best actress by the academy of motion picture arts and sciences you make right your statements about one of mordern histories greatest monsters!
I do not think an Oscar win for Viola Davis would necessarily open any doors to her. Do you want me to get started on all the Oscar winning actors whose careers went downhill after the "big moment"? A certain actress which Nat despises has two, and her career is nothing special anyway. Doors will open for Viola if that is her destiny, whether or not she wins an Oscar.
As for the Streepfreaks factor: if so called "normal" people are tired of them, they might as well just root for Streep to win even if they hate her. Most of her fans would finally shut up if that happened. The oscarblogging world would finally be at peace. Think about it. Sacrifices are necessary sometimes. LOL
@Jason Travis: I'm sure any actress would gladly trade in her career for one of Streep's caliber (in terms of quality of roles/professional recognition). Trying to turn her into some poor thing is silly. Earning an Oscar nomination is a major, major honor, and reaching Streep's nomination tally is an incredible achievement. It makes no sense to consider her a "loser", particularly when she's already won twice (something many actors, even the legendary ones, never do). I suspect Meryl's humility and good humor during her many years of "losses" are proof that she recognizes this, and knows she has no reason to complain about her career.
Now I think Viola will be the go-to Black actress, where age appropriate of course, as Streep is the go-to over 60 actress.
As Black nominees go:
7 black BSA noms (2 wins to boot) last decade, the 80's were next best with 3 noms.
5 black BSActor noms (1 win) last decade, 5 in the 80's as well, and 4 in the 90's
2 black best actress noms (1 win) last decade, 3 in a short span in the 70's was best (including 2 in one year)
8 black best actor noms (3 wins) last decade, next best was the 90's with 4.
I have a feeling that the black Best Actress toll will be at least 4-5 this decade.
Lol at putting Annette Bening in a list of greats. She is the Marsha Mason of our time.
Meryl Streep has been massively overrated for 30 years. She is a skilled technician. That is all.
" God, wouldn't it be hilarious if, after all this, Glenn Close wins?"
it would indeed DJ (or Michelle Williams or even Rooney Mara), but I hope they don't because then would be left with months discussing how whoeover did just won because of vote splitting
I'm sorry, I know this isn't the popular sentiment but I thought Meryl's turn was baity and overrated. Viola was spot-on in an underwhelming film...probably the best thing about the film even with Spencer in the mix. I'd rather see Michelle or Glenn take it home, but knowing that won't happen, I hope it's Viola. Then maybe Meryl can actually find another Oscar-worthy role rather than another caricature of someone famous.
Jason-by that same logic (her losses), John Williams deserves a win for War Horse far, far more than Meryl deserves a second trophy. Williams has lost 40 times and counting, and 14 of those times have been since his last trophy for Schindler's List. Granted, Williams has 5 awards to Streep's two, but where does the cutoff exist? Once you have three do you have to win on that performance alone? Four? I know that no one wins on performance alone, but I think that the argument can't also be made that someone deserves a third trophy merely on previous losses.
I will be very happy if either actress wins. They are both great.
If a split happens (and it’s very likely) I would also be very happy with Close or Williams winning. One is due as hell and the other is a still young interesting actress.
What would be, for me, the most awful thing on Oscar night would be Rooney Mara to win. I still think she stole the attention from Noomi Rapace, the real Lisbeth Salander.
As far as the other acting categories go, they are all locked. Anyone who thinks differently is kidding him or herself. Dujardin, Spencer and Plummer have their names all over those gold men.
Yes, I gave money to Obama and I'm damned proud of it. And I will continue to do so. And Meryl Streep gave the Best Lead Actress performance of the nominees this year and she deserves to win for the BEST Lead performance by an actress.
And I can still hear an awful lot of people whining now.
I saw nothing Oscar-worthy in Streep's performance in The Iron Lady. I found both the film and her performance truly insufferable. In terms of acting alone, Davis would be a much fairer choice.
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