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Why did Judy Holliday win the Academy Award for best actress for Born Yesterday?

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Judy Holliday in Kanin's Born Yesterday — Judy Holliday Kanin wrote and directed *Born Yesterday,* his most famous play.

Judy Holliday won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Billie Dawn in the 1950 film Born Yesterday. She had previously gained fame for portraying the same character on Broadway.123

Holliday's performance was recognized for her ability to bring warmth and intelligence to the role of Billie Dawn, a character often perceived as a "dumb blonde". The film, based on Garson Kanin's play, features Billie Dawn as the mistress of a corrupt tycoon who, with the help of a newspaperman, educates herself and ultimately seeks revenge. Despite initial reluctance from Columbia Pictures to cast Holliday in the film version, her success in the stage production and a scene-stealing role in Adam's Rib convinced them. Her portrayal in Born Yesterday earned her an Oscar, though it also led to her being typecast in similar roles.31