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Over its many years of history, the Oscars have rewarded several actors and actresses. Find out who was the youngest person to win the Oscar for Best Actress.
Even though it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, the position that the Oscars occupy as the biggest celebration of cinema it’s from Hollywood. Therefore, winning a statuette is still something valued by most actors and actresses in the industry.
In its history, the Academy has awarded some of the most respected performers in Hollywood. It didn’t always consecrate them at the right time or with the ideal film, but several icons like Marlon Brando, Meryl Streep, Paul Newman, Jessica Lange, Denzel Washington, Whoopi Goldberg or Al Pacino had their due moment.
There are also cases such as Jeff Bridges which would only be awarded in 2010 for “Crazy Heart”, after more than 40 years in the industry. In turn, at 29 years old Adrien Brody holds the record for the winner of Best Actor younger by “The pianist” (2002), from Roman Polanski.
At age 20, Timothy Hutton became the youngest winner of the Best Supporting Actor by the film “Vulgar People” (1980), from Robert Redford. On the women’s side, Tatum O’Neal, aged 10, won the category of Best Supporting Actress for the film “Paper Moon” (1973), by Peter Bogdanovich.
In the Best Actress category, we found several examples of women under 30 who won gold, including Jennifer Lawrence (22 years old), Brie Larson (26) or Reese Witherspoon (29).
However, none of these famous performers was younger than the one who won this category in 1987.
At just 21 years old, the deaf actress Marlee Matlin won the much-coveted Oscar statuette by starring in “Children of a Lesser God”, by Randa Haines.
In this, which is also her film debut, Matlin plays Sarah Norman, a former student who works as an usher at a school for the deaf and who will have a romance with James (William Hurt), a new teacher.
Although at the time it defeated some precursors such as Golden GlobesMatlin was taken by surprise by the victory and didn’t even have a speech prepared.
When Hurt, who had won Best Actor in the previous year by “Kiss of the Spider Woman”announced her name in sign language, the actress was amazed.
“He looked right at me and I wasn’t sure why he was looking at me, and then he gestured my name,” he recalled, “For a moment I thought he was joking. That was a joke. But then I thought, ‘Well, no, he can’t be joking on live television in front of millions of people watching the show.’ So, I think I won.”
“I didn’t have a speech prepared,” he explained. “None. I was only 21 and so new to the industry. It was just growing. I had just left home and I think that terrified me more than anything else.” Matlin took the stage to give his improvised speech in sign language, leaving the message “I love you” on the stage.
It is also a great milestone, as Matlin was the first deaf person to win an Oscar and the feat would only be repeated in 2022 when Troy Kotsur won Best Supporting Actor for “CODA”a film that featured Oscar winner Marlee Matlin as actress and producer.
CLIP | MARLEE MATLIN WINS THE OSCAR FOR BEST ACTRESS
And you, did you already know Marlee Matlin? Have you seen the film?