Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 1990
Jessica Tandy Driving Miss Daisy 1990
SEX WORKER ROLE
Blanche Dubois in Streetcar Named Desire 1947
Wins Tony Award For Playing A Prostitute
Angela Nightingale in Bedtime Story 1959
Both Characters Are Prostitutes
Jessica Tandy in Streetcar Named Desire 1947 and Bedtime Story
Blanche Dubois is one of the most famous female characters in American theatre. One question remains about her. Was she a hooker? Or was she just a sex-starved individual? Her famous exit line is, “I have always depended upon the kindness of strangers.” It is implied in the play, without being specific, that Blanche was a prostitute. Jessica Tandy originated the part, opposite Marlon Brando’s Stanley, on Broadway in 1947. During the play, Blanche gets exposed as a “loose woman” – as she had sex with a 17-year-old male. Later she stays at a hotel frequented by prostitutes. Stanley even accuses her of being a hooker. So at the very least, she is labeled a prostitute. Some historians have argued that because of Blanche’s sexual nature, she was an amoral prostitute. So it is safe to say that the character of Blanche belongs on this list.
Listen to several scenes from “A Streetcar Named Desire”
with Jessica Tandy reprising her role as Blanche Dubois.
Jessica Tandy also played a prostitute in the Broadway Show “Triple Play.” It consisted of 3 short acts and one monologue. In the act entitled “Bedtime Story,” Jessica plays a prostitute who has just ripped off her customer.
To read more about this prostitute role & other Oscar-winning actresses playing a hooker, please continue perusing
If you know of this actress playing more than one prostitute role, please tweet to me and let me know! I’ll gladly add it to the page here. My Twitter handle is at the top of this page.