Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 1961
Elizabeth Taylor BUtterfield 8 1961
SEX WORKER ROLE
Wins Oscar For Playing A Prostitute
Elizabeth Taylor in BUtterfield 8 1961
1961 was the year of the prostitute. The Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress honors went to actors who played hookers. In addition, the Best Picture Oscar was awarded to “The Apartment,” which was about a love shack. So 1961 was a banner year for the profession of the sex trade industry. Elizabeth plays Gloria, a prostitute who wants to get out of hooking. Elizabeth despised the script, she accepted the role to escape her contract. It’s ironic that she won an Oscar for it. However, in real life, Elizabeth managed to survive a near-death situation. So she received the sympathy vote. It was such a given that Elizabeth would win; the other four nominees in her category didn’t even bother to attend the ceremonies.
Watch clip of the film “BUtterfield 8”
Liz Taylor played more than one hooker role on film.
Go to Elizabeth Taylor Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? 1967 to read her other prostitute role.
To read more about other Oscar-winning actresses playing characters working in the sex trade industry, please continue perusing Oscar Hookers