When a bit of ham can lead to a big, golden raspberry
Iwas watching a soap opera I’d better not say which one – but it was set in a Yorkshire village! – when I said to my better half that some of the actors were really hamming it up. Then I realised that pigs are not really know for their ability as thespians, so why do we go on about ham actors? – J. It’s a phrase that may go back to Shakespearean times. According to one theory, in the past, not all actors could afford to buy cold cream to remove their make-up after a performance. The ones who struggled to make a living – inevitably, the worst at their profession – often had to use of pig fat or “ham fat” for this purpose. This practice led to actors being called “hamfatters” and it was later shortened to “a ham or “a ham actor”. Another theory is that the word comes from the title of Shakespeare’s play Hamlet as many of the actors who played the hero were often very overly theatrical. However, it’s not all bad for ham actors today, as they have their own version of the Academy Awards – The Golden Raspberries. Known as the Razzies, they are awarded for “failure in cinematic achievements”. At the latest ceremony, Tom Cruise won the award for worst actor for The Mummy, following in the footsteps of Adam Sandler, Kevin Costner and even President George W. Bush, who appeared in Michael Moore’s documentary Fahrenheit 9/11. Oscar-winner Sylvester Stallone has been nominated for a Razzie 14 times!