Helen Hayes The Sin of Madelon Claudet 1933

With her performance as a prostitute in the movie “The Sin of Madelon Claudet,” Helen became the second actress to win an Academy Award for playing a hooker. Based on the drama “The Lullaby,” the film’s plot revolves around a woman who faces false accusations of criminal activity. She receives a sentence of imprisonment for her alleged crime. Upon her release from jail, she resorts to thievery and prostitution to support herself and her child. All these actions allowed her the ability to pay for her son’s education, including sending him to medical school! The New York Times’ Mordaunt Hall wrote about Helen’s performance, “Superb portrayal in a difficult role leaves only the regret that the powers that be did not see fit to have her make her screen debut in a more cheerful study.”

To read more about other Oscar-winning actresses playing characters working in the sex trade industry, please continue perusing Oscar Hookers