Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 1987
Marlee Matlin Children of a Lesser God 1987
SEX WORKER ROLE
Katy Wesson in When Justice Fails 1999
Character Dabbles In Prostitution
Marlee Matlin in When Justice Fails 1999
Marlee Matlin made history as the first deaf performer to win an Oscar for acting. Unfortunately (or fortunately?), there are few deaf prostitute roles. Ironically, Matlin’s acting mentor, the late Tony Award-winning actress Phyllis Frelich, once played a deaf prostitute in an episode of “Barney Miller.”
But the movie where Marlee Matlin plays a femme fatale is “When Justice Fails.” This film is a hybrid of “Looking For Mr. Goodbar” and “Basic Instinct.” The cops even reference “Basic Instinct” in this movie! Marlee plays an assistant DA with an impressive track record of jailing rapists. However, she fails to apprehend two perpetrators, ultimately leading to their murder. Then, it comes to light that Marlee’s character leads a secret life. During the day, she prosecutes cases, but at night, she cruises bars and clubs in search of turning tricks. In her autobiography, Marlee writes of this movie, “(It) was just downright steamy. I think 90 percent of my wardrobe was different cuts of black leather!”
Watch trailer for the film “When Justice Fails”
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