Last night a reader (yourmama) wrote, “something about Penelope in Broken Embraces makes me feel so glamorous.” Salud! I’ll raise a glass to that. After last year’s decidedly deglammed clique of dimly-lit Best Actress nominees, maybe the ladies of 2009 are poised to bring back some radiance to these no-frills unlux belt-tightened hard times. Almodovar sets Penelope in a retro neonoir realm of glorified glam reminiscent of Rita Hayworth’s Gilda. That kind of sultry sophistication is a rarity in the real world, but from kittens to cougars, the top 10 women from yesterday’s poll show us 10 different spins on movie grace and glamor.
- Meryl Streep – gregarious gourmand glam
- Carey Mulligan – dewy debutante glam
- Hilary Swank – tomboy flygirl glam
- Saoirse Ronan – tragic tween glam
- Abbie Cornish – breathless Brit Lit glam
- Tilda Swinton – wicked wanton glam
- Penelope Cruz – femme fatale glam
- Gabourey Sidibe – ghetto girlpower glam
- Marion Cotillard – la dolce vita voltage glam
- Michelle Pfeiffer – coquettish courtesan glam