Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role 1944
Katrina Paxinou For Whom the Bell Tolls 1944
SEX WORKER ROLE
Sophie in Mr. Arkadin 1955
Character Runs A White Slavery Ring
Katina Paxinou in Mr Arkadin 1955
In the film “Mr. Arkadin” (first released in Spain, 1955), Katina Paxinou plays Sophie. Her character runs a dance studio, a front for a white slavery ring. She takes advantage of poor, naive girls seeking a career as ballet dancers and turns them into sexy prostitutes to make her money. Fans of Katina should not miss this film, despite her glorified cameo performance. Katina would later star in another film for Orson Welles, 1962’s “The Trial.” However, all of her scenes were cut from that film.
Watch clip from “Mr Arkadin”
To read more about other Oscar-winning actresses playing characters working in the sex trade industry, please continue perusing Oscar Hookers