My Favourite Leading Ladies

I love the oscars. I love the history and the iconic element of it. I more than anything adore the women who have been awarded this awards. Each actress has a great film behind the golden statuette and have their own style that goes with their iconic award.

1. Judy Garland
I count Judy Garland as a true icon of mine. Despite how 'tragic' her life was made out to be, she was a powerful force who starred in films since the age of 13. Despite losing out to Grace Kelly in 1955 for her iconic film, A Star Is Born, she was awarded a 'Academy Juvenile Award' in 1940, which was an award for perfomers under the age of eighteen for their "outstanding contributions to screen entertainment".

2. Barbra Streisand
'Hello Gorgeous', were the first words out of Barbra's mouth when she accepted her award in 1968 for Funny Girl. Her win was a first in oscar history when she joint tied with Katharine Hepburn. Dressed in a Arnold Scaasi peter pan collared suit, there seemed to be a bit of an outcry when the papers reported 'STREISAND, NUDE UNDER SEE-THROUGH OUTFIT!'. Streisand later admitted “I didn't realize the outfit was so see-through,”. Yes Barbra, I adore you even more.

3. Diane Keaton
Annie Hall is my favourite film. It's all about unconventional, unfortunate realistic love. Despite being cast in Woody Allen films before, Keaton scored an oscar in 1977 for playing the kooky, clumsy, head in the clouds Annie. Compared to other extravagent dresses, Keaton played it incredibly casual in a blazer/skirt and a floral broach. The outfit later got listed as a 'fuck it oscar outfit' - which is as it should be. The oscar was for her work, not her plaid scarf.

4. Liza Minnelli
Once dubbed Hollywood's Princess, born the daughter of Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli, Liza grabbed her oscar in 1972 for Cabaret. Minnell's Sally Bowles is an iconic character made up of green eyeshadow, suspenders, legs over chairs and plenty of purple lipstick. Minnelli wore a striking yellow suit made by Halston, who of course the studio 54 Minnelli was great friends with.

5. Audrey Hepburn
The voice. That face. Those eyebrows. Audrey had it all. Crowned with an oscar in 1954 for Roman Holiday, Hepburn stated ' I'm truly, truly grateful and terribly happy'. She was precious when accepting her award. She was dressed in a classic Edith Head/Givenchy pearl white dress which has been replicated in many forms by other actresses at the show.

6. Vivien Leigh 
Clark Gable fell for her. Marlon Brando screamed for her. Laurence Olivier made her his wife. Described as a ''consummate actress, hampered by beauty", Leigh was awarded Best Actress in 1939 for her role as southern belle Scarlett O'Hara, Leigh shot to stardom and was placed on the list of greatest female movie stars of all time. 

These are only just a couple of leading ladies and there will be many more, but these are a few of my favourites. They are all deserving in their own rights and have left an influential impact for years to come. 

Do you have any favourite oscar winners? Leave a comment!

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Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

 

I know you shouldn't always say 'This was the best day of my life' because sometimes you should have higher goals, like you know getting married or being able to eat a 12 inch subway, so I'll say this was the best day of my life so far. 

I'm a little bit obsessed with someone. That someone being Carole King. Who? did I just sense someone say? Who? Oh just Carole King who's written over 400 songs, had her first hit at 16, made an album which stayed in the charts for 17 weeks in the 1970's and you know, is a music ledgend. I get why you may not know her, she was more of a 40's/50's/60's/70's gal but just happened to dominate music with her amazing melodies and her raspy mellow voice. I could gush over Carole all day, but first let me tell you about a musical, which was made about her life. THANK YOU JESUS.

 This is Carole. Glorious Carole.

A brief synopsis for you all. Carole wants to write songs, not be overly famous, just write down all the beautiful things she has to say and for the world to hear them, not teach like her mother suggests. Lucky for Carole she plays a song for a record producer who tells her he'll buy her songs and give it to another band, such as The Drifters. Carole is okay with this because all she wants to do is write songs and that makes her happy. Enter Gerry Goffin, who she later marries, who just also happens to be a lyricist and can fit his words to match Carole's melodies. Perfect right? They marry, kids come along, they sell hit songs and live blissfully.

Ah...if only it was that easy. They go head to head with their best friends and lyricist partners Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, who are equally as good as Carole and Gerry. The pair's roll out songs for The Shirelles, Bobby Vee, The Righteous Brothers and later, Dolly Parton. It's all well and good until Gerry, Carole's beloved husband, doesn't want to live the comfy suburb life with Carole and wants more on his plate than he deserves. I won't give much away but you see Carole go through tough times but eventually she picks herself up and writes an record which captivates the world, Tapestry.

Again, I don't want to spoil it because it all has to be seen to be believed and enjoyed. To start, the sets, costumes, the music is something I can't even go into without sobbing and overall, the actors. King is played by Katie Brayben, who is a gift. She is the pure essence of Carole and when she took her bow at the end, I felt myself getting choked up because I felt I was watching the real Carole King. Goffin is played by Alan Morrissey, who made me hate him but love him so much (at one point I even mumbled, what a dickhead, in a quiet theatre...yeah) but he makes up the expection I had of the pair. 

I just loved this show. I left feeling as if I had been watching the real Carole King sing through her songbook history and better yet, it was so accurate to her book she wrote. Every song she sang and every word was meant and this show just, well, there are not enough words to describe this triumph of a musical.

King is a extraordinary woman. Her talent is everlasting and influential, she is the eptiome of a humble person with an amazing gift. As Carole says, and I now live by:

You've got to get up every morning with a smile on your face
And show the world all the love in your heart
Then people gonna treat you better
You're gonna find, yes, you will
That you're beautiful as you feel 

Thank you Carole.

http://beautifulmusical.co.uk/

 

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