Is There Truth Behind The Best Actress “Oscar Curse”?

Is there an Oscar curse for women who win the Best Actress award? According to a new study, the answer is a definite yes.

Researchers say they were motivated to study the topic because much has been made anecdotally of an “Oscar Curse.” A news story about it last year cited the divorces of Best Actress winner for 2009 Sandra Bullock, 2008 winner Kate Winslet, 2005 winner Reese Witherspoon, 2004 winner Hilary Swank and 2001 winner Halle Berry. On average, Best Actress winners tended to stay married 4.3 years, while the non-winning nominees’ marriages lasted more than twice as long, 9.5 years.

An explanation could be the same as that for high-earning or high-status women with “exceptional career success”: A researcher noted, ”The increased risk of divorce [that] women experience may be ascribed to a husband’s discomfort with his wife’s fame and success.”

To read the full research report, go to: washingtonpost.com