His nondescript appearance belies the powerhouse of talent that has launched the careers of many stars, especially women.Such is the movie-making power of Woody Allen, a director, writer, actor, comedian, musician and playwright that these very stars have gone on to taste Oscar success after starring in his movies. A triple Oscar winner himself, Allen has been nominated 17 times. Now, our very own Freida Pinto has been signed up to star in Woody’s next, alongside Hollywood stars Naomi Watts, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Josh Brolin. The untitled movie, a comedy, goes on the floors in London later this year. Will Freida walk the Oscar red carpet once again, like many of Woody’s heroines have? Only time will tell. Until then, here’s a look at the actresses, who have worked with him earlier.
Penelope Cruz
’Thank you, Woody, for trusting me with this beautiful character. Thank for you having written over all these years some of the greatest characters for women.’ This is what Penelope Cruz said during her acceptance speech at this year’s Annual Academy Awards. Cruz won her first Oscar in the Best Supporting Actress category for her role of Maria Elena, an emotionally unstable woman, in Woody Allen’s Vicky Christina Barcelona. She plays Javier Bardem’s wife in the movie. Bardem plays an artist, who is attracted to two American women played by Scarlett Johansson and newcomer Rebbeca Hall while still in love with his wife.
’I only met Woody for one minute, then I was told that I had passed the audition,’ the Daily Express quoted Cruz as saying. ’That was it. When we started work, I did all my scenes in four weeks, no rehearsal, everything in two takes. I loved it and although I always prefer working in Spanish, I felt really relaxed in English for the first time. He has a way of making his actors feel really free.’
In the picture: Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem in a scene from Vicky Christina Barcelona.
Mira Sorvino
Before her Academy award-winning role in Woody Allen’s 1995 movie, Mighty Aphrodite, Sorvino had starred in small but showy roles in Robert Redford’s Quiz Show and Whit Stillman’s Barcelona. You may have also seen her in Michele’s High School Reunion (opposite Friends star Lisa Kudrow) and At First Sight with Val Kilmer.
Her portrayal of a squeaky-voiced, foul-mouthed prostitute in Mighty Aphrodite was clearly her best performance until then. No wonder she beat Joan Allen, (Nixon), Kathleen Quinlan (Apollo 13), Mare Winningham (Georgia) and Kate Winslet (Sense and Sensibility) to win the Best Supporting Actress award.
In the picture: Mira Sorvino and Woody Allen in a scene from Mighty Aphrodite.
Dianne Wiest and Diane Keaton
A common factor shared by these talented actresses -- besides a similar sounding name -- is that both have worked with Woody Allen, and won an Oscar for it. Dianne Wiest (extreme right in first picture) won Best Supporting Actress awards for Hannah And Her Sisters as well as Bullets Over Broadway, both made by Woody. Diane Keaton (left in second picture), who starred in numerous films by Allen, won the Best Actress award for Annie Hall in 1977. This film remains one of his zaniest comedies ever.
In the picture: A scene from Hannah and Her Sisters and Annie Hall.
Scarlett Johansson
Okay, so you may not hit the jackpot every time you star in a Woody Allen movie. Yet, his movies may get you a nomination at best, like it did for Maureen Stapleton (Interiors), Mariel Hemingway Manhattan, Judy Davis (Husbands and Wives), Jennifer Tilly (Bullets Over Broadway and Samantha Morton for (Sweet and Lowdown). All the actresses were nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category. Though Scarlett Johansson has not been nominated so far, Woody loves to cast her in his films like Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Match Point and Scoop.
In the picture: Woody Allen and Scarlett Johansson in a scene from Scoop.
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