Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 1958
Joanne Woodward The Three Faces of Eve 1958
SEX WORKER ROLE
Lila Green in The Stripper 1963
Geraldine Crosby in WUSA 1970
First Character Is A Stripper. The Second Character Is A Prostitute.
Joanne Woodward in The Stripper 1963 and WUSA 1970
The movie “The Stripper” was adapted from the play “A Loss of Roses” by William Inge. Joanne Woodward portrays Lila Green, a struggling actress who resorts to the profession of stripping to supplement her income. Real-life stripper Gypsy Rose Lee also appears in the film as Madame Olga.
Watch clip of the film “The Stripper”
Starring opposite her husband, Paul Newman, this film was based on the book “A Hall of Mirrors” by Robert Stone. The plot involves a right-wing radio station and the propaganda it perpetuates. Joanne portrays Geraldine Crosby, a hooker who describes herself as “too dumb for the phone company and too old for the five-and-dime.” Her character has nothing to do except support the role Paul plays. Released during the Nixon presidency, the film bombed at the box office. Maybe the American public was apathetic about politics in 1970. Perhaps this film was innovative in its own right.
Watch clip of the film “WUSA”
To read more about other Oscar-winning actresses playing characters working in the sex trade industry, please continue perusing Oscar Hookers