Oscars are right around the corner and this writer is hoping the Best Actress award goes to one of the two unmarried actresses nominated Michelle Williams or Jennifer Lawrence. That isn’t because I think they are more worthy, but because the curse can’t befall them.
Researchers from the University of Toronto and Carnegie Mellon found in a recent study that Oscar winners in the Best Actress category are at a higher risk of divorce than nominees who don’t win.
The study looked at 751 winners from 1936 up to 2010 and found 63% of the winners all found themselves divorced shortly after taking the statue home.
This could be for a number of reasons, one of which could cause even average couples to divorce. Typically a relationship where the woman earns more than her spouse or wins a major reward suffers a strain that is often times irreparable. Sandra Bullock was the latest to suffer this fate after her Oscar win last year. She was divorced later that year.
Of this year’s nominees the one who may have to worry is Natalie Portman. She is engaged to Benjamin Millepied. I know, Benjamin who? The other married nominees, Annette Bening and Nicole Kidman are both married to strong successful men who are the least likely to feel threatened by their wife’s success.
Warren Beatty, Bening’s husband has seemingly called it quits in Hollywood. He has had many successful roles, earned his own Oscar and now appears to be quite happy rooting for his wife and playing dad to their four children.
Keith Urban, Kidman’s husband, has a successful music career with a Grammy win already. The couple has two beautiful daughters together.
If Michelle or Jennifer are the lucky winners the curse ca just float right until next year.