The year is 1981 and the nominees are: 1. Gena Rowlands - Gloria 2. Goldie Hawn - Private Benjamin 3. Mary Tyler Moore - Ordinary People 4. Ellen Burstyn - Resurrection 5. Sissy Spacek - Coal Miner’s Daughter - In 1981 Sissy Spacek won the Best Actress Academy Award for Coal Miner’s Daughter playing country music legend, Loretta Lynn. This was one of the 4 roles that Meryl Streep was turned down for. Up until this point, it wasn’t common for actors to win Oscars playing real people (as it is today). This win is sort of the gold standard of how an actress should approach playing a real person. Mary Tyler Moore was likely her biggest competition this evening playing an emotionally distant mother mourning the loss of her eldest son. It was a big departure from how the world knew her up until that point because of The Mary Tyler Moore show. Goldie Hawn received her first lead actress nomination for Private Benjamin, an absolute gem. Gena Rowlands was nominated for another film directed by husband John Cassavetes, Gloria. Ellen Burstyn was nominated for Resurrection playing a woman with super natural healing powers. An odd film but worth the watch (if not only for the campy value). Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Christophe Davidson as they discuss.