Oscars mystery: How did Cameron Diaz miss out on Best Actress nomination for ‘There’s Something About Mary’?
The New York Film Critics Circle recently named Lily Gladstone the year’s Best Actress, for her rapturous turn in “Killers of the Flower Moon.” She was a fairly typical selection for the group, which tends to go with serious, dramatic performances in prestigious pictures. (Like Cate Blanchett in 2022’s “Tar,” Isabelle Huppert in 2016’s “Elle” and Meryl Streep in 2011’s “The Iron Lady.” All three were nominated for Oscars for those performances, and Streep actually won.)
However, the New York group occasionally defies expectations by picking someone completely out of left field. Someone whom you never would have predicted, not in a million years.
That was practically the case 25 years ago. That year had produced the likes of Blanchett in “Elizabeth,” Fernanda Montenegro in “Central Station” and Ally Sheedy in “High Art.” Any of those high art choices would have been fitting for the group’s Best Actress award. But there was apparently something about Cameron Diaz in “There’s Something About Mary” that earned her the honors.
The politically incorrect, gross-out romantic comedy had been released in July and grossed well over $150 million in domestic box office receipts. Diaz starred as a sweet and unsuspecting orthopedic surgeon named Mary Jensen who was pursued by a well-intentioned (but mishap-prone) Ben Stiller, as well as a much less scrupulous Matt Dillon. Despite its crude humor (including that infamous hair gel mixup), “Mary” received many positive reviews. Diaz in particular was singled out for her work, and the movie made her an international star.
Could it also have made her an Oscar nominee?
With the kudos from the elite Gotham critics and a Golden Globe citation for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical, Diaz was suddenly looking like a real threat.
Unfortunately, “Something” was just no match for “Shakespeare,” as “Shakespeare in Love” brought Gwyneth Paltrow the Comedy Globe. (At least Paltrow acknowledged her friend Cameron upon accepting the trophy.) And “Shakespeare” easily won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical over “There’s Something About Mary.”
By the time the Academy Award nominations rolled around in February, Diaz seemed like a real wild card in the Best Actress derby. Blanchett, Montenegro, Paltrow plus Emily Watson in “Hilary and Jackie” were all considered safe bets to make the lineup. That fifth slot was up for grabs — and maybe, just maybe, “Mary” could bring Diaz in.
In what came as no surprise to anyone, the academy chose to include Streep for “One True Thing” and ignored Diaz. Sure, Streep was brilliant as always. But Diaz’s performance was one truly original thing. Could any other actress playing Mary have charmed audiences the way that Diaz did? It almost seemed like she was destined to be Mary.
Diaz would once again be in the Oscar conversation the following year, for her work in the bizarre indie comedy “Being John Malkovich.” She would miss again. And her additional Golden Globe-nominated performances in 2001’s “Vanilla Sky” and 2002’s “Gangs of New York” were unable to translate into Oscar bids.
To this day, Diaz has never been nominated for an Academy Award.
However, her fresh and fiercely original comedic skills in “There’s Something About Memory” will always be remembered.
And at least the New York Film Critics had the courage to admit what they saw in her year.
There really was something about Cameron.
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