BREAKOUT ROLES

Michelle Williams
Not only has Michelle Williams played the most sought after female role, playing beauty icon Marilyn Monroe and nominated for an Oscar for her performance, she is a strong female advocate and recently opened a Yoga Center to Aid Single Mothers in Cambridge, MA. Ever since Heath Ledger’s death she found stability in yoga and wants this exercise available to all single mothers around the country. This is a yoga center for single moms to go to find inner peace, that offers in house day care, drum roll please… ALL FREE! Visit : http://yogaforsinglemoms.com/wordpress/

 

Rooney Mara
Is a brilliant actress who is nominated for an Academy Award for her raw performance in Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. She fearlessly showed how a leading woman can be combative, strong, dark and lovable in Hollywood all the while wearing face piercings. She not only is a talented actress, she started a charity called the Faces of Kibera – helping children in Kenya get housing, medical attention and food. Sighhh
Visit: http://www.uweza.org/

 

 

BREAKING RACE

      
Viola Davis
Viola Davis, nominated for her role in “The Help”, was a clear frontrunner, earning a top spot on our short list of SweetWomen.

Her fierce SAG Award acceptance speech for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor, Viola had us, on our feet, applauding when she said, “I just want to say that the stain of racism and sexism is not just for people of color or women. It is all of our burden…I don’t care how ordinary you may feel – all of us can inspire change, every single one of us.”

Also a Tony Award-winner, it’s no surprise to us that this ambitious leading lady has next set her sights on film producing. “I am doing this out of necessity,” she said to L.A. Times Magazine. “If I am not the instrument of change, I can meander through this business and be the black woman who always has two or three scenes but with fabulous actors around me.”

BREAKOUT COMEDIAN

Melissa McCarthy
Melissa McCarthy was the star of an all female cast in a comedy (RIGHT?!) and we cannot remember the last time we laughed so hard since watching “Bridesmaids.” Melissa McCarthy stole the screen in all of her puppy-hoarding, mile-high club, bathroom emergency glory. This humbled Emmy-winning television and now Oscar-nominated film actress/comedian/writer/producer is a mix of all the right stuff and has rightfully earned her title as “The New Queen of Comedy.

BREAK OUT DIRECTORS

Jennifer Yuh Nelson
For the 80th time, this year’s 84th Academy Award’s Best Director category is 100% men! Sad but true. So in light of this unfortunate reality¸ we want to show some love to Jennifer Yuh Nelson accomplishments in a male dominated profession. She directed Kung Fu Panda 2, which has been nominated for Best Animated Feature film at this year’s Oscars. Kung Fu Panda 2 took the world by storm. The film earned $663 million worldwide and is the 50th highest-grossing film of all time.

Lucy Walker
Lucy is a documentary director and producer whose film, Tsunami & the Cherry Blossom, is nominated for Best Documentary (short subject). Tsunami & The Cherry Blossom brings attention to the aftermath of the 2011 Japanese disaster and how the survivors find courage to revive and rebuild as cherry blossom season begins. Lucy is a true force in the world of documentary and has numerous awards to prove it. We admire Lucy for her ongoing dedication to direct, create and inspire change for activism and charity. SWEET!