Newman tired of Oscar sweepstake

Press, 5 February 1987, Page 14

Newman tired of Oscar sweepstake

NZPA-AP London Paul Newman is expected to get his seventh Academy Award nomination on February 11 for his role in “The Colour of Money,” but after six previous losses he says he is tired of the Oscar sweepstakes. “It’s like chasing a beautiful woman for 80 years,” said Newman, aged 62. “Finally, she relents and you say, ‘l’m terribly sorry. I’m tired.’ ” The actor, in London for the film’s British debut, said he thought the Oscar “probably , was pretty important to me years ago, I don’t know how important it is now.” Last year he received an honorary Academy Award for his film career.

He accepted it via an oncamera hook-up from the Chicago set of, “The Colour of Money,” in which he replays his 1961 role as Fast Eddie Felson in “The Hustler.” If he is nominated this year, Newman is expected to face stiff opposition from Britain’s Bob Hoskins, who has won critics’ awards and this week a Golden Globe for his performance in “Mona Lisa.” Newman admitted the recent difficulty of securing good roles. “It’s terrible to work once every two years when I’m used to three or four times a year,” said Newman. He has acted in 45 movies since his debut in “The Silver Chalice” in 1954.