Who Is The Only Actress To Have Won An Oscar For Playing A Man?
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In 1982, legendary actress and comedienne Linda Hunt won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role as male Chinese-American photographer Billy Kwan in Peter Weir’s “The Year of Living Dangerously.” Hunt was the first, and so far only, actress to win an Oscar for playing a man.
"The Year of Living Dangerously" is set against the backdrop of Indonesia’s military coup and the fall of President Sukarno in 1965. Hunt’s character Billy Kwan is a news photographer who assists Mel Gibson’s character, Guy Hamilton, in his quest to get closer to the country’s crisis.
Hunt’s commitment to her craft in the role was extraordinary and she is said to have spent more than three full hours in make-up every day for more than five months to prepare for the role. When it came to awards season, Hunt was the overwhelming favorite for Best Supporting Actress and her win was met with an uproarious standing ovation from the audience.
Hunt’s powerful performance wasn’t just confined to the big screen, as her groundbreaking turn in "The Year of Living Dangerously" helped to pave the way for more minority actor representation in Hollywood. Her iconic role inspired generations of actors to break down gender and racial stereotypes and to be fearless in their exploration of challenging roles.
Hunt went on to have a long and successful career in television and film with memorable roles in “The Hot Chick,” “NCIS,” “The Simpsons,” and “Star Trek: Voyager,” among other projects. Her Oscar win also set a precedent for future aspiring actors that it is possible to break down Hollywood’s gender barriers, and be rewarded for it.