
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 25, 1994                   TAG: 9403250217
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

OSCARS FINALLY PUT WOMEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT

No one was more surprised by her Supporting Actress win than little Anna Paquin, who looked like a deer caught in headlights. She leapt to the stage and stood there saucer-eyed and trembling; for a while, it seemed as if she would do an imitation of Holly Hunter's character in ``The Piano,'' and remain unaccountably mute.

When she finally spoke, she revealed the poise of an old pro, belying her tender age of 11. If that were a planned pause - and it wasn't - then Paquin certainly has a star-quality sense of timing.

Although a similar Supporting Actress award in 1973 didn't do much for the career of Tatum O'Neal, who won at age 9 for ``Paper Moon,'' Paquin is in a unique position - with the right handling, of course - to become the female Macaulay Culkin.

Winona Ryder and Rosie Perez could have profited more easily from a win here at this point in their budding careers. But Paquin, who comes to her award with no ``back-story'' of previous performances, can use her considerable Adorable Factor to corner some of those Culkin child-star millions.

And she doesn't have to suffer Oedipal guilt for winning over her co-star Holly Hunter, who won Best Actress for ``The Piano'' but lost to Paquin for her supporting role in ``The Firm.''

Hard to believe that only two years ago, the Academy was touting the Year of the Woman at a time when they could hardly come up with enough nominations in each category.

This year, more women are going to profit than just the ones who took home the golden statuettes.

As the telecast's first solo female emcee, Whoopi Goldberg used a gracious, composed and easy-going patter to catapult herself into a singular spotlight - if nothing else, a billion viewers are now familiar with her face (and startling mid-show change of clothes).

Among the mixed doubles who presented awards Monday night, willowy Nicole Kidman strode forcefully ahead of a sheepish looking Christian Slater, and steely Shirley MacLaine dominated Nicolas Cage (as she does in their movie, ``Guarding Tess'').

Solo presenters Glenn Close, Rosie O'Donnell, Sharon Stone, Whitney Houston and Geena Davis came on like gangbusters, looking like women to reckon with.

Even Goldie Hawn didn't giggle as much as she used to.

It seems as if the 66th annual Oscar telecast Monday night marked the beginning of a true Year of the Woman.

by CNB