Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role 1977
Beatrice Straight Network 1978
SEX WORKER ROLE
Mrs. Toothe in Everything in the Garden 1967
Character Is A Madam Who Runs A House Of Prostitution
And Is An Employer Of Prostitutes
(She Was A Former Hooker, Now A Madam Of A Brothel)
>
Beatrice Straight in Everything in the Garden 1967
Female owners of brothels are known as madams. Typically, these are older women who have retired from prostitution and now leverage their experience to hire prostitutes and oversee their sex transactions. They collect a portion of the profits from every job.
In the play “Everything in the Garden,” suburban couple Jenny and Richard both wish they had more disposable money at their discretion. Enter Mrs. Toothe, a madam played by Beatrice. She tells housewife Jenny she could work for her, turning tricks in the afternoon. Will Jenny accept Mrs. Toothe’s offer so they can get themselves out of their financial hole? Or will they turn her down? 20th Century Fox purchased the film rights for $300,000, but the film has never been produced.
“Everything in the Garden” was originally written by Giles Cooper for the London stage. Edward Albee later adapted this property for an American audience. Albee’s version had its Broadway debut in 1967, running 84 performances.
Honorable Mention: Played the role of Blanche du Bois in A Streetcar Named Desire on tour in 1969.
Al Hirschfeld Cast Drawing Of Everything in the Garden 1969
From Left To Right: Barry Nelson, Robert Morse Beatrice Straight and Barbara Bel Geddes
To read more about other Oscar-winning actresses playing characters working in the sex trade industry, please continue perusing Oscar Hookers