Number 51: Olympia Dukakis as Rose Castorini in "Moonstruck" (Best Supporting Actress Ranking)

Olympia Dukakis took home an expected Oscar for her work as Rose Castorini, the suffering wife of a wandering husband and the supportive mother of a confused daughter in the romantic comedy Moonstruck.

Suffering wife AND supportive mother? OSCAR!!! Yes, there is no denying that this role is practically an engraved invitation to an Academy Award but if Olympia Dukakis took a challenging role and delivered – then why not?

Mostly, Moonstruck is about Cher and how her character has to decide between two brothers but Olympia Dukakis is easily the most valuable player in the ensemble – she’s the story’s emotional heart and creates a multidimensional, touching character. She brings a beautiful quiet dignity to her part, especially when she gives her sad, silent sigh. Her strongest scenes are in the restaurant when she meets another man and later when she tells this man in front of her house ‘I can’ ask you in because I’m married. Because I know who I am.’

Olympia Dukakis also has strong chemistry with Cher even though both actresses mostly follow their own story-lines. While Cher delivers the laughs and the romance, Olympia Dukakis presents the other side of love – a love that needs fighting, a love that may be lost already. There is nothing new and exciting about her relationship with her husband who fears that his life may be over already and got a mistress to cover these worries. Olympia Dukakis’s strongest scene is at the end, when she finally confronts him and tells him ‘I want you to stop seeing her’. Her tears, her assurance that she loves him and that his life is worth something, her ability to support her husband even at a moment like this – it’s all done magnificently.

Just like Rose is the centre of her family, Olympia Dukakis somehow became the centre of Moonstruck with her wonderful ability to combine comedy and drama and her strong screen presence.