The Curse of the Oscars?
Winning an Oscar (at least if you're an actor) is the best thing ever and if ever evidence was ever needed just a peek at these acceptance speeches gives us some indication of the pure joy they feel.
But looking at some of these eerie coincidences, we wonder if the mythical 'curse of the oscar' legend might mean they'll think twice before accepting...
Getty ImagesBen Affleck
The actor won Best Film for Argo, for which he was a producer. In an emotional acceptance speech, he thanked his wife Jennifer Garner.
Won: 2013
Speech: "I want to thank my wife who I don't usually associate with Iran. I want to thank you for working on our marriage for 10 Christmases. It's good. It is work but it's the best kind of work and there's no one I'd rather work."
Split: The pair broke up in 2015, after ten years of marriage.
Rex FeaturesSophia Loren
Sophia Loren stepped up to the podium at the Oscars to accept an award for her role in Two Women.
Won: 1961
Speech: Sophia was in Rome and did not attend the Oscars that year, statin: “I decided that I could not bear the ordeal of sitting in plain view of millions of viewers while my fate was being judged”.
Split: The following year, their marriage was annulled after it came to light that Ponti’s divorce from his first wife had not been recognised in Italy. Ponti’s ex had to earn French citizenship so they could divorce properly. But this is one Oscars story with a happy ending as Loren married Carlo again in 1966.
Getty ImagesEmma Thompson
Emma Thompson won the Best Actress Oscar for her role in 1993 hit Howard’s End.
Won: 1993
Speech: Emma’s speech thanked just about everyone who had been involved in making the movie – but there was a telling omission. She didn't thank her husband Kenneth Branagh.
Split: It later emerged that Kenneth had had an affair with Emma’s Howard’s End co-star Helena Bonham-Carter, and the couple divorced two years later.
Rex FeaturesSandra Bullock
In 2010, Sandra Bullock won her first Best Actress Oscar for her role in the Blind Side.
Won: 2010.
Speech: “To my husband, there’s no surprise that my work got better when I met you, because I never knew what it felt like for someone to have my back, so thank you.”
Split: Sandra and Jesse broke up 11 days after, when it emerged that he'd been unfaithful to her with several women.
Rex FeaturesVivien Leigh
Vivien Leigh swept away the opposition in 1940 when she won a Best Actress Oscar for her role as Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With The Wind.
Won: 1940
Speech: Vivien didn't mention her husband but did thank the producer and those who supported the movie, "If I were to mention all those who have shown me such wonderful generosity through Gone with the Wind I should have to entertain you with an oration as long as Gone with the Wind itself."
Split: But with the win, the wind changed and Vivien, who was married to barrister Herbert Leigh Holman, found her marriage unravelled soon after.
Rex FeaturesKate Winslet
In 2009 Kate Winslet stepped onstage to accept her Best Actress Oscar for the gritty drama The Reader.
Won: 2009
Speech: “I am so lucky to have a wonderful husband and two beautiful children who let me do what I love and who love me just the way I am.”
Split: Kate and the American Beauty movie director, Sam Mendes, divorced the following year after seven years together.
Rex FeaturesReese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Philippe were love’s young dream when she won the Best Actress award for Walk The Line.
Won: 2006
Speech: “I want to say thank you to my wonderful husband…Thank you so much for loving me so much and supporting me.”
Split: Five months... It's all it took for the curse to end another couple. Reese and Ryan divorced in November that year, about the split Ryan said: "When we got together we were so young, I think it can create issues with two people in this industry because there's so much noise that goes along with it."
Rex FeaturesHilary Swank
In 2005 Hilary Swank accepted her second Oscar for Million Dollar Baby.
Won: 2005
Speech: Hilary Swank forgot to mention her husband, Chad Lowe, when she won her first Best Actress award in 2000, so he was the first person she thanked when she picked up her second Oscar for Million Dollar Baby: “I am going to start by thanking my husband…Chad, you’re my everything – thank you for your support. It means the world.”
Split: The next year Hilary allegedly divorced Chad over his unspecified substance abuse problem. Years after the divorce Chad said: "I am so grateful to Hilary for her support of me in a very difficult time in my life three and a half years ago. What hurt me more than anything is that people would think that she wasn't there for me and she was. She was the love of my life and that's not something you just shut off. I will always love her."
Rex FeaturesGwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow looked pretty in pink while accepting the Best Actress Oscar for Shakespeare In Love.
Won: 1999
Speech: “Thank you, my friend Ben Affleck".
Split: When Gwyneth Paltrow thanked Ben Affleck in her legendary blub-fest Oscars speech, she confirmed to the world that the pair were an item after months of speculation - but maybe she shouldn't have. Only two months after the couple split.
Rex FeaturesJulia Roberts
Julia Roberts infamous grin got even wider when she won the Best Actress Oscar for her turn as the ballsy eponymous heroine, Erin Brockovich.
Won: 2001
Speech: “Thank you…Benjamin Bratt".
Split: Months after her win Julia and Benjamin went their separate ways, about the divorce she said: "It has come to a kind and tender-hearted end".
Rex FeaturesHalle Berry
Halle Berry history for being the first black star to win the Best Actress Oscar, for Monster's Ball.
Won: 2002
Speech: “My husband, who is the joy of my life…Thank you, I love you and India [his daughter] with all my heart.”
Split: Seven months after the Oscars Halle Berrys and hubby Eric Benet’s relationship made the headlines. After it was alleged he cheated, the couple divorced.
Rex FeaturesKim Basinger
Kim Basinger put the ‘Bond girl’ firmly behind her when she accepted her Best Supporting Actress award for L.A. Confidential.
Won: 1998
Speech: “Wow. Thanks to my husband, Alec.”
Split: Kim filed for divorce in 2001 and the two had what is to this day remembered as a very nasty breakup. They fought for custody of their only child, Ireland, for over a year in court. The split's legal costs reached $3 million.
Rex FeaturesHelen Hunt
When actress Helen Hunt won her Best Actress award for As Good As It Gets,
Won: 1998
Speech: “Thank you – the very best man I know.”
Split: It looked like she had escaped the curse of the Oscars. She went on to wed actor boyfriend Hank Azaria. But only two years after he had beamed with pride at her big win, Hank moved into a hotel.
