Superstar Nora Aunor has scored a milestone, having earned her twenty first nomination in the 40th Gawad Urian Awards. That may be comparable to Meryl Streep’s record of 2 Oscar nominations. But what is more doubly significant is that the senior actress has achieved the rare feat of getting nominated with her daughter and granddaughter, Lotlot de Leon and Janine Gutierrez.
Aunor was cited for her compelling performance in Kristian S. Corderos’ Hinulid, a Bicolano epic tale of Sita, a justice-seeking mother grieving for the loss of her son, a victim of hazing, played by newcomer Jess Mendoza (also nominated for best supporting actor). De Leon won her first Urian nomination for Adolfo Alix, Jr’s Mrs., a Sinag Maynila Film Festival best film, while Gutierrez also scored her first Urian nomination for her role of an American Military officer’s daughter in the period-movie by Atom Magadia’s Dagsin (an entry in Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2016).
Three generations of actresses competing in one single film awards. This has been accomplished only in the Academy Awards (Oscars) and Golden Globes Awards. Mother and daughter, Diane Ladd and Laura Dern, were nominated at the 1992 Oscars and Golden Globes for their roles in the film Rambling Rose. Father and daughter Henry Fonda and Jane Fonda co-starred in On Golden Fond earning for her an Oscar best supporting nomination and for him the best actor award in 1982. Father and daughter Ryan O’Neal and Tatum O’Neal also co-starred in Paper Moon and were both nominated at the 1974 Golden Globes Awards.
Aunor is undoubtedly the “darling of the Manunuris,’’ from her winning Urian’s first ever best actress awardee in1977 for Mario O’Hara’s Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos to last year’s Urian best picture, Brilliante Mendoza’s Taklub. She was Urian’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient in 2015 and won Urian’s Natatanging Aktress ng Dekada (1990-1999) in 2001.
Aunor at 64 is here to stay.
In the rave review of Hinulid by Urian chairman Tito Valiente, he said of Aunor’s scintillating, poetic performance, “She has, indeed, grown old in this film, a testament to her dedication to the craft. But more that, she has, in Hinulid, became an even greater actor, if such were still possible with an actor who has already been hailed as the greatest.”
Aunor’s co-nominees for best actress are Jaclyn Jose (Ma’ Rosa), Cherry Pie Picache (Pauwi Na), Angeli Bayani (Ned’s Project), Ai Ai delas Alas (Area), Laila Ulao (Women of the Weeping River), Charo Santos (Ang Babaeng Humayo), Hasmine Killip (Pamilya Ordinaryo), Irma Adlawan (Oro) and Elizabeth Oropesa (Mrs.)
The awards night will be held on July 20 with live telecast over Cinema One at 9 p.m.