'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYH/8QAHhAAAgICAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDEQASBBMhMcH/xAAVAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADBP/EABgRAAIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAiEx/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwDD+LJBtw4p4u52ejYAUhbyceR921oC/A9/MYwY2UPD/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Filmmaker and actor Kevin Smith talked about the real reason why Linda Fiorentino was disqualified from the much-deserved and anticipated Oscar win for her work in the 1994 erotic thriller The Last Seduction.
The former actor delivered one of the most promising performances of the 1990s. But despite Linda Fiorentino's incredible work, it was due to a technical reason that the film was not qualified to be nominated for the Oscars.
While in a recent conversation on The Rich Eisen Show, Kevin Smith, who had worked with her in his film Dogma (1999), shed light on the reason behind the Oscar snub by mentioning:
"But, if you remember, Showtime aired it once at like midnight before it ever hit theaters and that disqualified it from Oscar competition."
Let us dive deeper into what Kevin Smith said about Linda Fiorentino's Oscar disqualification.
Kevin Smith talks about Linda Fiorentino in Dogma
While speaking on The Rich Eisen Show, Kevin Smith spoke about Linda Fiorentino while talking about his directorial, Dogma. In that film, she played Bethany Sloane. While he was talking about the cast of the film, he began talking about Fiorentino as he spoke:
"I missed Linda Fiorentino. Linda Fiorentino was our lead and she played Bethany. And she was coming off of at that moment from Men In Black. At the end of the movie, she's standing next to Will Smith, and she's like the next Men In Black. But I was a massive fan of Gotcha! Back in the 80s when I was a kid, as well as Vision Quest."
Kevin Smith then proceeded to talk about what actually prevented Linda Fiorentino from receiving the Oscar for her most revered performance in Last Seduction, as he reveals:
"So, she was coming off Last Seduction... Fantastic John Dahl picture that she should have been nominated for an Academy Award because she would have won. But, if you remember, Showtime aired it once at like midnight before it ever hit theaters and that disqualified it from Oscar competition. So, we were lucky to get Linda. Man, I was a huge Last Seduction fan."
As per Collider, the initial production company of the film was ITC. But it was facing financial troubles, and soon, Showtime (which is HBO) bought the film and telecast it on TV before it was shown in the theaters. So, as per the rule at the Academy, a film with no theatrical release debut shall not be qualified to be nominated.
So, unfortunately, since the film debuted on television, due to these technical reasons, Linda Fiorentino did not receive an Oscar. The film, upon its release in theaters, garnered a global collection of $5,842,603. Fiorentino's performance and her role as Bridget Gregory was groundbreaking in the neo-noir film. Helmed by John Dahl, The Last Seduction follows the plot of a sinister, sharp, and notorious woman who is striving to escape her marriage with her abusive husband.
Bridget Gregory's portrayal was a benchmark as it broke the conventional portrayal of women back in the day. Rather, Bridget is someone who thoroughly enjoys and accepts her notoriety. Therefore, it turned out to be one of the most unconventional portrayals of femme fatales in films.
In the interview, Kevin Smith proceeded to talk about Linda Fiorentino's performance, where he showers praise on the former actor, as he mentions:
"I watch her performance like every night on tour, and I appreciate in ways that I never did as a kid. It's so damn subtle and you need that. Everyone else is larger than life cause they're playing characters from heaven and hell and dead people. But she's the audience's way in. She's the Marilyn in this monstrous bunch. So, as I've been watching it for the last month and I'm like, God, she really honored our film with this performance. She's amazing."
25 years since the release of Kevin Smith's Dogma, it returned to theaters on June 5, 2025. It is only in Canada and the United States. So in this film, people can witness the magic of Linda Fiorentino on the big screen once again. Along with her, the film stars Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, George Carlin, Chris Rock, Salma Hayek, Alan Rickman, and many others.
Trending
Stay tuned for more such stories at Soap Central!
Also read: 9 Most vicious female villains we see in TV shows
Love movies? Try our Box Office Game and Movie Grid Game to test your film knowledge and have some fun!
Reply
