Katherine Hepburn and the Oscars

1940: Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?

One of the most hotly anticipated events of the 1940 awards season was the night that Hepburn and Spencer Tracy would go head-to-head for the Best Actress prize. Tracy was nominated for his work in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, while Hepburn was nominated for her performance in the groundbreaking interracial romance Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. The film featured Katharine Houghton (Catherine Hepburn’s real name) playing an engaged woman whose parents are against her marrying her white fiancé. It was a controversial film when it came out in 1967, and a lot of people expected it to be a big Oscar moment.

1941: Morning Glory

In 1941, the Academy Awards were held for the first time at the Hollywood Bowl. This is significant for two reasons. First, it is the first time that the ceremony was not held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Second, it was during this ceremony that Katharine Hepburn lost her first Oscar. Hepburn was nominated for her work in the film Morning Glory, a drama about a female news presenter in an era when women were not allowed to host the news. The film won multiple awards, but Hepburn lost Best Actress to Ginger Rogers for her work in Kitty Foyle.

1942: Woman of the Year

The year after Hepburn lost out for Morning Glory, she was nominated for Woman of the Year. This is significant for two reasons. First, it is the second time she was nominated for the award. Second, it is the first time she lost to her friend and frequent co-star Katharine Hepburn. Hepburn was nominated for her work in the film Woman of the Year, a screwball comedy about a sports columnist and a scientist who fall in love. Hepburn lost herself for her performance in the film, which is understandable. What is not understandable is how this scene played out. The award show was hosted by Bob Hope, and the two Katharines were both in the audience and at each other’s throats. The two women spent the whole night insulting each other. Hepburn even went to the podium to accept her award and make fun of her friend.

1948: Brynhildr

The year after the strange event in which Hepburn and herself fought, the two actresses were nominated for the same award. Hepburn was nominated for her work in the drama Brynhildr, while Katharine Hepburn was nominated for her work in the romantic comedy The Sea of Grass. Hepburn was nominated for her work in the drama Brynhildr, a film about a woman who falls in love with a scientist who is torn between her and his wife. Hepburn lost to her friend and frequent co-star Katharine Hepburn for her work in The Sea of Grass. This year, there was no massive feud, just two women who were both at the top of their careers. Both of them knew they were in the running for the award, and they spent the whole night talking.

1949: The Sea of Grass

The second time that Hepburn and Hepburn were up for the same award, Hepburn lost her temper. She was nominated for her work in the drama The Sea of Grass, and she lost to her friend for her work in the romantic comedy Adam’s Rib. The two Katharines spent the whole night talking, and Hepburn lost her mind when Katharine Hepburn made a joke about her upcoming performance in Summer Theatre.

1950: Summer Theatre

The third time that Katharine Hepburn and Katharine Hepburn went head-to-head for a win, Hepburn lost again. She was nominated for her work in the drama Summer Theatre, and she lost to her friend for her work in the romantic comedy Pat and Mike. This year, the two Katharines were barely talking to each other, and they spent the whole night avoiding each other. Hepburn lost the award, and she spent the rest of the night drinking and making fun of how Hepburn stumbled around the stage.

Conclusion

Catherine Hepburn was a serious contender for the Academy Award every time she was up for one, but her friend Katharine Hepburn was always better. Hepburn never won an Oscar, but she did win three Tony Awards, two Emmy Awards, and a bunch of other accolades. Hepburn was one of the biggest names in American film, and she was hugely popular. Her refusal to conform to Hollywood conventions, as well as her willingness to make fun of herself, made her a fan favorite. As much as she tried, Hepburn just couldn’t catch up to her friend.