Oscars 2011: Powerful Female Actresses Who Died in 2010

The movie-viewing public lost three powerful, Oscar-nominated actresses in 2010. They weren't superstars in the sense of an Angelina Jolie or (earlier) Elizabeth Taylor, but each brought a depth and believability to her work that will be sorely missed.

Patricia Neal

An Academy Award nominee in 1972 for "The Subject Was Roses" and a Best Actress winner for "Hud" in 1964, Patricia Neal starred in dozens of films throughout her 50-year acting career. Neal died on Aug. 8, 2010, from lung cancer at the age of 84, reported the "Los Angeles Times." In addition to her Oscar-recognized roles, Neal is well-known for work in "The Fountainhead" (1949), "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1951), and "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (1961).

For me, it was in her gritty portrayal of Alma, the world-wise housekeeper in "Hud" opposite Paul Newman, that Neal's talent shown most brilliantly. In an era where most actresses were loath to be seen without full make-up and designer gowns, Neal makes this small, unglamorous role one every woman can relate to.

Lynn Redgrave

A member of Britain's talented Redgrave family, Lynn Redgrave was the daughter of actor Sir Michael Redgrave; the sister of actor Vanessa Redgrave; and aunt to actors Joely Richardson, Natasha Richardson, and Jemma Redgrave. Lynn, who, as reported by the "New York Times," died at the age of 67 on May 2, 2010, of breast cancer, was a veteran of stage and screen. Her movie credits include "Tom Jones" (1963), "Shine" (1996), and "Gods and Monsters" (1998). However, to me, her best work was the title role in the 1966 film "Georgy Girl," a part that won her a Golden Globe award and an Oscar nomination.

"Georgy Girl" embodies the combination of naivete and boldness that defined young women in the early 1960s. The title character, played by Redgrave, is a 20-something working-class girl who finds herself somewhat overwhelmed by all of the men and temptations that 1960s London has to offer. Georgy is a role that could have been campy or even sordid with another actress, but is tender and sympathetic in Redgrave's hands.

Jill Clayburgh

A daughter of New York's privileged Upper East Side, Jill Clayburgh found her calling as a versatile actress and the world is better for her choice. Her obituary in the "New York Times" indicates that Clayburgh died of leukemia at age 66 on Nov. 5, 2010, after 21 years battling the disease. Clayburgh was featured in more than a dozen films, including 2010's "Love and Other Drugs." However, she is best known for the two movies that earned her Academy Award nominations for Best Actress--"An Unmarried Woman" (1978) and "Starting Over" (1979).

To me, her role as Erica in "An Unmarried Woman" was her most layered and complex. During the course of this film, Clayburgh's character evolves from a New York socialite to a free-thinking, independent woman. It was one of the first, and arguably the most realistic, of the 1970s liberated woman movies.

Sources:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/04/arts/04redgrave.html
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/aug/09/local/la-me-neal.0802-20100809-14
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/06/arts/06clayburgh.html
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0623658/
http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800065591/bio
http://www.redgrave.com/biolrprof.htm

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