Long-standing legend claims that the most celebrated actors in Hollywood have been afflicted by the ‘Oscars Curse’ for many years.
There have been countless instances offered as support for the existence of the curse over the years.
But what is the ‘Oscars curse’ and what are some examples?
What is the ‘Oscars curse’?
The curse references a fallow period for an actor, when they face a deterioration in their personal or professional lives after winning an Oscar. The first black artist to win an academy award, Hattie McDaniel, established a pattern of Oscar winners never making a name for themselves after receiving the award. She was frequently cast in maid parts and never won any significant awards after receiving the highest accolade.
It attached its label for 92 years to actors including Marisa Tomei, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Adrien Brody.
Other examples of the ‘Oscars curse’
Halle Berry: She struggled to land good roles after taking home the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in Monster’s Ball in 2002. Berry also experienced a string of commercial failures.
Gwyneth Paltrow: After winning Best Actress for the 1999 film Shakespeare in Love, Paltrow’s career slowed and she took a break from performing for a while.
Renee Zellweger: After taking home the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Cold Mountain in 2004, Zellweger’s career dragged on for a while before she finally broke through with her praised turn in Judy in 2019.
Charlize Theron: After winning Best Actress for her performance in Monster in 2004, Theron found it difficult to land roles that matched that film’s critical and financial success.
Some claim that the curse affects women more than males and has been mostly been linked to the Best Actress category.
Celebrities who have beaten the ‘curse’
It's crucial to remember that the Oscar jinx is primarily a myth. After winning an Oscar, some actresses have struggled, but many others have pursued prosperous careers. There are also many instances of actors and actresses who have won Oscars who have gone on to succeed both personally and professionally.
Jennifer Lawrence, Viola Davis, and Saoirse Ronan are a few examples of actresses who defied the curse, some say because they’ve been nominated for multiple ceremonies within a two- to four-year span.
