Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role 1940
Hattie McDaniel Gone With The Wind 1940
SEX WORKER ROLE
Cora in Blonde Venus 1932
Character Operates A House Of Prostitution In New Orleans
(Under Louisiana Law – The Character Would Be Classified As A Sex Worker)
Hattie McDaniel in Blond Venus 1932
Louisiana law would classify Hattie McDaniel’s character in the film “Blond Venus” (which takes place in New Orleans) to be a sex worker. The state categorizes anyone engaged in the prostitution industry, regardless of what the job entails, to be a sex worker. In Louisiana, it is illegal and considered a crime for anyone to oversee a house of prostitution, which is the profession of Hattie McDaniel’s character. That is because operating such an establishment involves facilitating or profiting from prostitution, which is against the law in Louisiana. If convicted of operating such an establishment, that person would be required to register as a sex offender. The laws have not changed, even back in 1932 when this film takes place.
In the film Blonde Venus, which is set in the state of Louisiana, Hattie’s character, Cora, runs a prostitution house in New Orleans. She serves as a Girl Friday to hooker Helen Faraday, played by Marlene Dietrich. Cora is responsible for scheduling Helen’s sessions with clients, cleaning the rooms after each appointment, and performing all the necessary tasks to ensure the smooth operation of this house of prostitution. According to Louisiana law, even that job qualifies as the profession of a sex worker.
Hattie McDaniel with Marlene Dietrich in Blond Venus 1932
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