Focus Features and the Weinstein Company were criticized this year for promoting Alicia Vikander (“The Danish Girl”) and Rooney Mara (“Carol”), respectively, in the supporting actress category when both performances were arguably leading ones. In the end, the dust-up didn’t harm the campaigns; both actresses received supporting nominations — much to the dismay of actress Diane Ladd.
At the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards earlier this week, where the “Joy” star received the best supporting actress honor, Ladd blasted the “greed and corruption” of forcing leading players into the supporting ranks, pushing out performances like her own.
“I was really upset and chagrined by the studios’ greed and corruption,” Ladd said. “I mean Rooney Mara, she won best actress in Cannes. Three people are stars in leading roles. They are the female lead and the star. So why are they in the supporting category?”
It’s unclear which of the other nominees — “The Hateful Eight’s” Jennifer Jason Leigh, “Spotlight’s” Rachel McAdams or “Steve Jobs'” Kate Winslet — she’s referring to as the third offender. Each of those performances makes sense as a supporting push.
“Joy” received only one Oscar nomination, for lead actress Jennifer Lawrence.
