Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 1935
Claudette Colbert It Happened One Night 1935
SEX WORKER ROLE
Sally Clark in His Woman 1931
Character Is A Prostitute & Dance Hall Girl
Claudette Colbert in His Woman 1931
In the movie “His Woman,” Claudette Colbert portrays the role of Sally Clark, a former hooker who is vying for the opportunity to relocate from the Caribbean to New York. By chance, she discovers a cruise ship is advertising for a nanny. To secure this caregiver job, Sally pretends to be the daughter of a missionary. In exchange for her transportation to New York, Sally agrees to act as a nursemaid for a young child. There is a blossoming of romance between Sally and the captain of the ship, who is portrayed by Gary Cooper. Once they arrive at shore, the captain discovers Sally’s history. His response is not favorable at all; in fact, it is quite the opposite. In typical Hollywood fashion, everything turns out to be a happy ending.
Watch clip of the film “His Woman”
To read more about this prostitute role & other Oscar-winning actresses playing a hooker, please continue perusing Oscar Hookers
Colbert also played roles as a dance hall girl in ‘His Woman’ (1931) and a torch singer in ‘Torch Singer’ (1933). In both roles her characters are depicted as having a reputation for lewdness–and the films seem to suggest that being a dance hall girl or a torch singer was something akin to being a prostitute. In fact, in His Woman a sailor hints at having had a sexual encounter with her and it’s clear by the conversation between the sailor and Sally Clark (Colbert) they’ve met before. The details of their meeting aren’t clear, but what is clear is the meeting wasn’t pleasant for Sally, and whatever had happened it involved sex. There’s a scene in the film where the sailor attempts to rape her, but Captain Whelan (Gary Cooper) intervenes and fends off her attacker. Also, another sailor on the ship recognizes Sally, too… so the suggestion is, she was a loose woman…