Luise Rainer Trivia

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As of 2008, she is only one of six actors who have a 2-0 winning record when nominated for an acting Oscar. The others are Vivien Leigh for Gone with the Wind (1939) and A Streetcar Named Desire (1951); Helen Hayes for The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931) and Airport (1970); Sally Field for Norma Rae (1979) and Places in the Heart (1984); Kevin Spacey for The Usual Suspects (1995) and American Beauty (1999); and Hilary Swank for Boys Don`t Cry (1999) and Million Dollar Baby (2004).

Born to Heinrich Rainer and his wife Emilie Königsberger.

Became a US citizen in the 1940s.

She is mentioned in the novel `Breakfast at Tiffany`s by Truman Capote . When discussing Holly Golightly`s chances of making it the Hollywood agent O.J. Berman says, "If you mean future, you`re wrong again. Now a couple of years back, out on the Coast, there was a time it could`ve been different. She had something working for her, she had them interested, she could`ve really rolled. But when you walk out on a thing like that, you don`t walk back. Ask Luise Rainer. And Rainer was a star. Sure, Holly was no star; she never got out of the still department. But that was before The Story of Dr. Wassell. Then she could`ve really rolled. I know, see, cause I`m the guy was giving her the push.".

The first actress to win an Academy Award for portraying a real-life person (The Great Ziegfeld (1936))

First (and as of 2005) the only German actress to win an Academy Award.

She shares the honor of having several firsts with the Academy Awards. She was the first actor to achieve the perfect Oscar track record (two nominations-two wins). She was the first actor to receive double Oscars consecutively. She was the first to obtain two Oscars and was the first to achieve double Oscars before turning 30.

Of all the living winners of a competitive Oscar she has had hers the longest (as of 2005) - 68 years. She last won in 1937 for The Good Earth (1937).

When the Academy decided to bring back past Oscar winners in 1997 and 2002 for their "Oscar Family Album", despite frail health Ms. Rainer happily agreed to attend both ceremonies both times remarking "If I don`t show up they`ll think I`m dead".

Federico Fellini offered her a part in his 1960 film Dolce vita, La (1960), and a scene was written specifically for her. She was not happy with the character, however, and asked for rewrites to be done. Ultimately Fellini abandoned the idea due to these demands, much to her chagrin.

Was the most senior member of the Oscar Tribute sequence at the The 75th Annual Academy Awards (2003) (TV).

Attended the 75th Academy Awards and appeared in the Oscar winner tribute sequence introduced by Olivia de Havilland.

Was the first actor/actress to win back-to-back Acadamy Awards for her performances in The Great Ziegfeld (1936) and The Good Earth (1937). She was also the first actor/actress to win two Academy Awards. The following year (1938), Spencer Tracy, Bette Davis and Walter Brennan also became double Oscar winners.

Named "The Viennese Teardrop".

Her second husband, Robert Knittel, was a New York publisher whom she married in 1945. They had one child, Francesca.

Was forced to attend the Oscar ceremony by Louis B. Mayer to receive her Oscar. In the early Academy Awards ceremonies the winners were announced beforehand in the newspapers. A team of MGM staff arrived at her house and made her dress in appropriate evening wear, and rushed her to the show - just in time.

Her non-conformist style of behavior cost Ms. Rainer her contract with MGM in the late `30s.

A non-conformist to the MGM star-system, she used to parade around Hollywood untidily dressed, usually with no make-up and wearing pants.

Was coaxed out of a 20-year retirement to appear on "Combat!" (1962).