It's the most wonderful time of the year. No, not Christmas. TheAcademy Awards are here, and we can't wait to watch the cream of the film world descend on Hollywood to see if they are going to win the famous little gold man that could prove the cherry on top to a successful season, or take their career to the next level.
The women nominated in acting categories - Jessica Chastain, Olivia Colman, Nicole Kidman, Penélope Cruz, Kristen Stewart, Kirsten Dunst, Ariana DeBose, Judi Dench, Jessie Buckley and Aunjanue Ellis - will surely be approaching this weekend with nerves and excitement. And with any luck, they're not thinking about the Oscar Love Curse.
Humour us for a second. The so-called Oscar Love Curse refers to the fact that those who win the Best Actress or Best Supporting Actress Academy Awards often follow this professional peak with an emotional trough: the end of their romantic relationship in the form of a split or divorce. It may sound completely bonkers, and we can pull the concept apart shortly, but let's look at the facts first.
In the history of the Oscars, 41 Best Actress winners have experienced the break-up of a long-term relationship shortly after their victory. In the last two decades, they include Halle Berry, Sandra Bullock, Hilary Swank, Reese Witherspoon, Kate Winslet, Charlize Theron. This is the case for 23 Best Supporting Actress winners, including Jennifer Hudson and Rachel Weisz. Looking through the long list of names feels quite persuasive. Faced with such a block of text, it's easy to see why you might give the curse some credence, or carry on with your day thinking 'spooky!' But give it a second thought and the absurdity of the Oscar Love Curse becomes clear.
First of all, the statistics don't really bear scrutiny. 18 women stayed with their significant others beyond their Best Actress wins. They include Meryl Streep, who really counts as three exceptions to the 'curse' due to her three wins, Natalie Portman and two-time winner Frances McDormand. There are 26 exceptions in the Best Supporting Actress category: more than in the 'cursed' column. Can one really cite a curse where there are so many women, happy with their partners, proving that it's fallacy? We also question the timing: can you really blame a curse for the breakdown of a marriage a year after the win? Is there a statute of limitations on curses?
Separate from that, this so-called curse reeks of misogyny. While the aforementioned list of women is easily found via Google, you have a much harder time quantifying the relationship history of the male winners. A curse is less fun, it seems, when it doesn't accompany pictures of women in sparkly dresses. It also lays the blame for the split firmly at the door of the woman: the actress won the prize, and lost the man. There is an implication that she made her choice, and that choice was career over love.
In actual fact, the end of these relationships stemmed from the same circumstances that cause the end of any relationship in the real world. Those of our friends, our colleagues or even our own. These women aren't cursed. No woman is. Their husbands have cheated, or fallen out of love. They may have mutually agreed that the relationship had run its course. The woman's work - on film sets, on worldwide press tours - may have taken her away from her partner, leading to strain. Some men, watching their girlfriend, fiancee or wife held aloft as the most acclaimed actress in the world, would begin to question their place in her life, due to a societal focus on male power and female submission. It's simply a more public version of when some men struggle emotionally when their wife earns more than they do.
A curse is mystical. Claiming that women gain a prize and lose a beau is hokey at best, misogynistic at worst. Like the Strictly Curse and Glee Curse of recent times, such talk trivialises the pain of a break-up, and enforces anti-feminist ideals of a woman's place. We all love a Hollywood fairytale, but let's not pity or scorn those who don't get their happily ever after.
READ MORE: Everything You Need To Know About This Year's Oscars
From Flop to Fabulous: The Best 'Worst' Oscars Looks Ever
1 of 9Cher, 1986 Oscars
Cher wore this Bob Mackie two-piece - and monumental plumed headpiece - to the 1986 ceremony. Snubbed by the Academy for her role in Mask, this look said: 'Who cares? I'm Cher!'
2 of 9Demi Moore, 1989 Oscars
Demi Moore's DIY look for the 1989 Academy Awards included a bustier, cycling shorts and acres of brocade fabric. Gen Z's rising stars are taking note.
3 of 9Kim Basinger, 1990 Oscars
When you can't decide between a tuxedo or gown - have both. Basinger designer this hybrid look herself.
4 of 9Geena Davis, 1992 Oscars
We're getting Bridgerton vibes off Geena Davis's 1992 frock. HBU?
5 of 9Celine Dion, 1999 Oscars
Everyone know's that Celine is a fashion queen now, but she was already showing off her outré side back in 1999 in this back-to-front Dior suit.
6 of 9Gwyneth Paltrow, 2001 Oscars
America's sweetheart gave her rebellious side an outing at the 2001 ceremony. In 2022, it really doesn't look that daring does it? Besides, it's remarkable she stole any column inches from another look that year...
7 of 9Björk, 2001 Oscars
...You guessed it. You might have loved it, you probably hated it, you were definitely confused by it. Either way, Björk's 2001 Marjan Pejowski swan is one of the most iconic Oscars looks of all time.
8 of 9Uma Thurman, 2004 Oscars
A bit Heidi, a bit Marie Antoinette, Uma Thurman didn't care about ending up on the worst dressed lists in her Christian Lacroix dress. She thought playing it safe was boring.
9 of 9Lady Gaga, 2015 Oscars
The look that launched a million memes, thanks to the kitchen sink gloves. But would it really have passed the Gaga test if she had not subverted this Alaïa dress just a little?