And a few Best Actress winners acquired acting Oscars for characters that were essentially mute: Here are the list of actresses that played such role and run home with an Oscar Best Actress/Best Supporting Actress trophy.
Jane Wyman
Jane Wyman won the Best Actress Oscar for her role as a deaf-mute in Johnny Belinda (1948). A film directed by Jean Negulesco, Johnny Belinda is the story of a deaf girl, Belinda McDonald, who is befriended by Dr. Robert Richardson who is the new town doctor and later married her. Prior to marrying Dr. Richardson, she was raped by Locky McCormick, a family customer and got pregnant. When the people in town find out that she is pregnant, they suspect Dr. Richardson because he has spent a lot of time with her. As time goes by, the pressure of the rumors finally cause the doctor to look for a new practice. He decides to marry Belinda and take her and the baby with him. He goes on ahead to find both a new place to practice and a new home for them.
Holly Hunter
Holly Hunter won the Best Actress Oscar for her non-speaking role (although she did voice-over narration) as a 19th century pianist mute in The Piano (1993). It is set in the mid-nineteenth century. Ada (played by Holly hunter) is a mute who has a young daughter, Flora. In an arranged marriage she leaves her native Scotland accompanied by her daughter and her beloved piano. She spend a miserable life in the rugged forests of New Zealand’s South Island with her new husband Stewart. She suffers torment and loss when Stewart sells her piano to a neighbor, George. She could earned back her piano provided she teaches George how to play it. Soon a relationship followed.
Patty Duke
Patty Duke won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for portraying Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker (1962). The true story of Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan, a gripping battle to overcome impossible obstacles and the struggle to communicate. Stricken with scarlet fever at a young age, Helen Keller grew up blind, mute, and deaf. At times Helen showed some rages and tantrums due to the fact that she felt frustrated and desperate about her life Annie Sullivan had the big task of trying to help the girl understand the world from which she is isolated.
Marlee Matlin
Marlee Matlin (truly hearing impaired) won the Best Actress Oscar for her mostly silent, realistic performance in Children of a Lesser God (1986). James is a new speech teacher at a school for the deaf. He falls in love with one of her students Sarah played by Marlee Matlin.
Brilliant discovery on winning the Oscar. Perhaps these were the times when film techs are not yet in their primes, but I could be wrong.
ReplyDeleteIt was a much different time then. You can really see that there was a lot MORE acting talent before (they had to). I took up a couple of semesters of film as an elective and learned that prior to the mainstream use of sound in film, many actors and actresses were "triple threats" - meaning they could sing, dance, AND act. Fantastic.
ReplyDeleteAction speaks better than words... it is more challenging for artists to express emotions without using words, that could be the reason why they always won the award
ReplyDeleteI salute these actresses for portraying such a difficult role being differently-abled. Actions do speak louder than words and they proved it by their acting.
ReplyDeleteI think playing a role of a mute can really be challenging and requires great acting. If done well, it would be convincing like how these actress performed to win best actress.
ReplyDeleteTrue, you can see the best actress true eye acting like Nora Aunor. It is difficult to act, express yourself without talking. Congrats to these Oscar winners
ReplyDeleteI've never seen any of these films. But the acors must be really good! It's much harder to express your emotions without a lot of words, really.
ReplyDeleteI am a member of FOOFS or better known as FRIENDS OF OLD FILMS. I am fond of watching movies like this, simple act but great in implying stories.
ReplyDeleteGreat eye-opener for today :) I'm not familiar with all these films though I might add this to my lists. 'Actresses won Oscars for non-speaking roles' I'm might compile a top 10 list article about this one.
ReplyDeleteThe emotions plus tears will speak why these actresses were considered the best.
ReplyDeleteNon-speaking part must be the hardest role a thespian can undertake because he/she must have the power to convince and express feeling across to the audience. The acting becomes believable and effective when even without words, they manage to convey the story through expressions.
ReplyDeleteI think more acting is required when there are no speaking lines thus portraying the role of mute must be very difficult.
ReplyDeleteCan't believe I haven't seen any of those above mentioned movies. Will check them out.
ReplyDeleteahmmm di ako pamilyar ni isang movie dito. Maka download nga ng isa yung the piano. mukhang maganda.
ReplyDeleteThese are all interesting movies to watch. I love the first one.
ReplyDeletewow! papaleng grabe parang sa baol ito na hinalungkot mo pa para lang maipakita mo sa amin and am sure all those movies are worth our time. Familiar ako sa The Piano.
ReplyDeleteHats off to them! It's no mean feat to convince an audience of a portrayal minus the words. The acting must be with so much depth.
ReplyDeleteit is difficult to convey emotions when you can't talk. i have to watch The Piano again...
ReplyDeleteOld school movies rocks... the settings the cast of characters they're all have signature move..
ReplyDeletemaybe because it's much harder to just act to convey the message in the movie, rather than voice it out at the same time act it.
ReplyDeleteCome to think of it.. oo nga nman. And don't forget the latest... un The Artist. :)
ReplyDeletesaan naman ito nanggaling, nako at parang na remember ko yong kay holly eh...pero tika ewan ko ba... di ako masyadong mahilig sa mga awarding nights pero love more nice and old classic movies...as far as i have observed they are all worth for the win
ReplyDeleteSave for the Piano, I still have to watch all the other movies you mentioned. :)
ReplyDeleteinteresting movies... ano wonder they bagged the Oscars award. :D
ReplyDeleteI saw the one with the story of Helen Keller and yes it's very beautiful, very human.. no special effects, now I'm missing those kinds of movies.
ReplyDeleteThese are the best paps! :)
ReplyDeletevery unusual but interesting subject, so many reminders of good times!!
ReplyDeleteamazing isnt it? u dont need to speak. ur facial expression and action is enough to awed the audience. =)
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing another interesting thing! its the emotion and facial expression works great for those actors...:) maybe for the judges, its harder to act when you are not talking.
ReplyDeleteit is difficult to act without saying the words, you should really have the talent to show your emotions through your facial expressions
ReplyDeleteThe title of this post really caught my attention. It's good to know that you can give the perfect examples of individuals who win without having to talk or show more :)
ReplyDeleteArayku,wala man ln akong kilala sa kanila idol,ngek! but I'm sure they are great artists,hehe! :)
ReplyDeleteClassical movies are really something sad to say but I can't remember any of them.
ReplyDeleteMute or Deaf maybe is hard than when you are talking so they just deserved of what they acted.
i think its more challenging to do that kind of role..its not easy to let audience understand you with just your action and more on eye contact...
ReplyDelete..indeed, action speak louder than words..