Oscar

[ostap77]

"Natalie Portman won the Oscar as best actress on Sunday."

OR

"Natalie Portman won an Oscar as best actress on Sunday."

If both possible, what would be the difference? What do we call an actress who plays the leading role "the leading actress"? And the actress who is less important in a movie?

[Coolfootluke]

I am not a teacher.

We win an Oscar "for" a category: "Natalie Portman won the Oscar for Best Actress on Sunday." I capitalized "Best Actress" because it is the name of a category in the Oscars. The secondary actress in a movie gets "Supporting Actress", but that is not a generic term, yet, I don't think---everybody will know what you mean, but they will think of the Oscars.

Portman was the female lead in the movie, the star of the movie, and the lead actress in it (pronounced "leed", not "led", of course). "Leading" does not work there. She can be a leading actress, meaning one of great stature.

We would not say that she won "an" Oscar for Best Actress on Sunday, because there is only one each year.

[TheParser]

"Natalie Portman won the Oscar as best actress on Sunday."

OR

"Natalie Portman won an Oscar as best actress on Sunday."

If both possible, what would be the difference? What do we call an actress who plays the leading role "the leading actress"? And the actress who is less important in a movie?

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Ostap,


I thought that you would like to know that some (most?) "actresses"

in the United States prefer to be referred to simply as actors.

For example, "waitress" has largely given way to the gender-neutral

"server"; "stewardess" to " flight attendant." In English, for example,

we have always had gender-neutral words: teacher, pilot, president, etc.

In fact (I may be wrong), I think that a few people would like to abolish

the "best actress" award. These people say that the Oscar should go the

best actor -- regardless of gender.

[ostap77]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Ostap,


I thought that you would like to know that some (most?) "actresses"

in the United States prefer to be referred to simply as actors.

For example, "waitress" has largely given way to the gender-neutral

"server"; "stewardess" to " flight attendant." In English, for example,

we have always had gender-neutral words: teacher, pilot, president, etc.

In fact (I may be wrong), I think that a few people would like to abolish

the "best actress" award. These people say that the Oscar should go the

best actor -- regardless of gender.

How about "best female actor"?

[TheParser]

How about "best female actor"?

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Ostap,


I think that some people would be even more insulted by the

term "female actor" than the term "actress." To some people,

the term "female actor" might have this idea:

Ms. X is an actor, but only a female one!!!

For example, I think that Dr. X would feel hurt if her

patients referred to her as "that woman/female doctor."

She is simply a doctor.

Ms. Y is simply an actor.

Ms. Z is simply the president.

P.S. Here in the United States, there is a big push for absolute

equality in everything. Of course, some people feel that it can

go too far. But that is a social issue, not a language issue.

[Susan612]

Regarding "female actor", I frequently hear the word "actor" used as a gender-neutral term. I've also noticed that the Screen Actors Guild gives awards for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role and Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role, however colloquially these are still usually referred to as Best Actor and Best Actress.

[nyota]

I thought that you would like to know that some (most?) "actresses"

in the United States prefer to be referred to simply as actors.

For example, "waitress" has largely given way to the gender-neutral

"server"; "stewardess" to " flight attendant."

I remember using policewoman when I was in England a couple of years ago and I was immediately corrected to say police officer.

[ostap77]

I remember using policewoman when I was in England a couple of years ago and I was immediately corrected to say police officer.

Getting back to the Oscar thing, here's what I'Ve pulled up from the Net:

"(Reuters) - Natalie Portman won the Oscar as best actress on Sunday for her role as an unhinged ballerina in the thriller "Black Swan," denying Annette Bening the golden statuette for the fourth time in her career."

Is it "the Oscar for best actress" or "the Oscar as the best actress"?

[nyota]

"(Reuters) - Natalie Portman won the Oscar as best actress on Sunday for her role as an unhinged ballerina in the thriller "Black Swan," denying Annette Bening the golden statuette for the fourth time in her career."

Is it "the Oscar for best actress" or "the Oscar as the best actress"?

Earlier this year, the screen star won a host of awards - including the Oscar for best actress - for her role in The Reader. BBC

It seems both of them are fine?

[ostap77]

It seems both of them are fine?

Search me! I'm not a native speaker>