The chances that a husband and wife will take part in a project that will bring them both Oscar nominations in the same year are statistically not necessarily the greatest: practice shows that these are rare cases. Oscars have been awarded since 1928. In the entire 94-year history of the plebiscite, there were six more cases such as that of Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem. In addition, it has been a long time since someone managed to do the same. The last married couple to simultaneously win nominations were Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, honored for their roles in the joint 1966 film Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.
Marriage history of the Oscars
They were the first of such a marriage appointment Lynn Fontanne and Alfred Luntwho played major roles in production “The Guardsman”. The film is based on a Broadway play in 1924, in which the couple also starred together. It tells about a jealous husband-actor who disguises himself as a Russian guard to test his wife’s fidelity – also an actress. Interestingly, it was also the only film where Fontanne and Lunt played together. They repeated their feat more than 20 years later Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner. In 1953, he received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in a wartime romance “From here to eternity” (won), and she was awarded for her leading performance in “Mogambo”.
They were next in line Elsa Lanchester and Charles Laughtonnominated for his performance in the Billy Wilder-directed film “Prosecution witness “ from 1957. Let us add that it was an adaptation of Agatha Christie’s play (and the first screening of her work), and the writer helped with the script, although she was not mentioned in the credits. The next marriage celebrated at a gala when the English actress Rachel Roberts received a nomination for her role in “Sports life” the same year as her spouse Rex Harrison for the leading role in “Cleopatra”. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor a year later for the role of Professor Henry Higgins in the musical “My Fair Lady”.
Nevertheless Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burtonwho appeared by his side in “Cleopatra” for simultaneous nominations (and in addition for a joint performance in one film) had to wait the next three years, when the Academy appreciated “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf“Since then, no other couple has managed to coalesce their professional achievements enough to be nominated for Academy Awards that same year. Until 2022, Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem appeared on the scene.
How Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem make the history of the Oscars
A new film by Almodovar “Parallel Mothers” is the story of two single mothers who meet in the delivery room. A few words that they will exchange with each other in the hospital will connect their fates for many years. Before the festival in Venice, Pedro Almodovar said: “In Parallel Mothers” I return to the world of women, to motherhood, to the family. I tell about the importance of ancestors and descendants. About memories that cannot be escaped. There are many mothers in my filmography, but the ones that are part of the story stand out a lot. Non-ideal mothers inspire me the most at this point. Parallel mothers will be a really intense, emotional drama. Or at least I hope so. ” At the same festival, Cruz received the Volpi Cup for Best Actress.
Penelope Cruz in the film ‘Parallel Mothers’ by Pedro Almodovar Photo press materials
Polish audiences can watch this picture in cinemas from February 18. Critics agree that it is worth it, because Penelope showed her life form in it. Some even think that this is her best project with Almodovar since 1999’s All About My Mother. It just so happens that it was the first film by this director for which he won an Oscar (for the best foreign language film).
They’re both lucky, because Penelope Cruz won her first personal nomination for the lead role in his endearing 2006 “Volver.” The next nomination also marked an Oscar win for her. She won it for a supporting role in the comedy “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” from 2009 – although the director was Woody Allen, the project had a lot in common with the actress’s native Spain (setting, cast). She got her third nomination a year after winning, this time for the film “Nine-Nine” (again for a supporting role). However, 12 years have passed since then. Fortunately, another Almodovar scenario has emerged.
Four nominations and one award each
It would be an unusual case if Penelope Cruz and her husband Javier Bardem simultaneously won Oscars for leading roles. Bardem, like his wife, won his first Oscar for a supporting performance. He was lucky for his role in the 2007 American Coen Brothers’ This Is Not a Country for Old People. Let us add that he is the first Spanish actor to win an Oscar, and also the first Spanish actor to ever receive an Oscar nomination. Academic recognition earned him a leading performance in “Before Nightfall”, then he was nominated for 2010 “Biutiful”. The nomination for “Being the Ricardos” is the fourth chance for an award in his career.
Finally, let us remind you that the film “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” was so significant that Penelope Cruz played the ex-wife of the protagonist played by her future husband, Javier Bardem. Their on-screen chemistry was all the more convincing as they had been in a relationship since 2007, and they got married in July 2010. They now have two children and a total of two Oscars. Maybe it’s time for another pair?
Source: Gazeta
Tristin is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
