Curiosidades

When she was 9 years old, Joanne traveled with her mother to Atlanta for the premiere of Lo que el viento se llevó (1939). During the parade, she leapt into a limousine carrying Laurence Olivier and sat in his lap as she had a crush on him after seeing Cumbres borrascosas (1939). Years later when the two were working on Vuelve pequeña Sheba (1977), Olivier claimed to remember the incident vividly.

In 1960, she was the first actress to appear at the unveiling of her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Was briefly engaged to novelist, essayist and screenwriter Gore Vidal before breaking the engagement to pledge herself to eventual husband Paul Newman. The new couple, who remained friends with Vidal, briefly lived with him in a house in Los Angeles.

In 2017, Woodward was reported to be suffering from Alzheimer's disease. She was first diagnosed with it in 2007, just days before her husband, Paul Newman was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She moved from Westport, Connecticut to Santa Monica, California, to be near her three daughters and other family members. Woodward's mother suffered from Alzheimer's disease which is why Woodward chose to play a woman with Alzheimer's in the 1985 TV movie "Do You Remember Love.".

Woodward told a 17-year-old Melanie Griffith on the set of Con el agua al cuello (1975) that her goals were to marry a movie star (Paul Newman), have beautiful babies (she had 3), and win an Oscar (which she did in 1958). Melanie said that she adopted the same goals for herself, accomplishing only the first two, however.

Was pregnant by Paul Newman prior to their marriage but suffered a miscarriage four months later, in February 1958, a month after the two tied the knot.

Lived next door to her idol, Bette Davis, for a while.

Wore a handmade dress that cost about $100 to the 1957 Oscar ceremony (the year she won Best Actress for "The Three Faces of Eve").

Had to have her strip/dance scenes in Rosas perdidas (1963) censored and approved by her husband, Paul Newman.

During the 90th Academy Awards Ceremony in 2018, when Allison Janney won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, she thanked Ms. Woodward in her acceptance speech stating that, if not for her, she would have never even considered pursuing a career in acting.

Her favorite movies are Lo que el viento se llevó (1939), Cumbres borrascosas (1939), Historias de Filadelfia (1940) and Jezabel (1938).

Her all-time favorite actress is Bette Davis and her all-time favorite actor is Laurence Olivier. Other major favorites of hers include John Garfield, Vivien Leigh, Katharine Hepburn and Clark Gable.

In the July 21, 1975, issue of People magazine, in which she shared the cover with her husband Paul Newman, Woodward claimed that her older relatives back in a small town in rural Georgia would be upset if they knew that Newman was half Jewish.

As of 2013, she is one of six women who has received a Best Actress Oscar nomination for a performance directed by her spouse, namely for Raquel, Raquel (1968) directed by Paul Newman. The other five are Elisabeth Bergner for Mi vida para ti (1935) (directed by Paul Czinner), Jean Simmons for Con los ojos cerrados (1969) (directed by Richard Brooks), Gena Rowlands for Una mujer bajo la influencia (1974) & Gloria (1980) (both directed by John Cassavetes), Julie Andrews for ¿Víctor o Victoria? (1982) (directed by Blake Edwards), and Frances McDormand for Fargo (1996) (directed by Joel Coen). Jules Dassin also directed his future wife Melina Mercouri in a Best Actress Oscar nominated performance (Nunca en domingo (1960)), but they weren't married yet at the time of the nomination.

Is a graduate of the class of 1947 at Greenville Senior High School in Greenville, South Carolina.

Her likeness was used for the paintings of Marguerite Wyke in the Laurence Olivier/Michael Caine thriller La huella (1972).

Played mother to real-life daughter Nell Potts in El efecto de los rayos gamma sobre las margaritas (1972).

Returned to work 9 months after giving birth to her daughter Nell Potts in order to begin filming Desde la terraza (1960).

Returned to work 4½ months after giving birth to daughter Nell to begin filming Piel de serpiente (1960), opposite Marlon Brando and Anna Magnani.

Mother, with Paul Newman, of daughters Nell Potts, Melissa Newman and Claire Newman.

Was one of many actresses who did a screen test for the title role in Cleopatra (1963).

Served as artistic director, Westport Country Playhouse, near her home in Connecticut, where her late husband starred in "Our Town" in June 2002.

She didn't want to do the film 'The Shadow Box'(1981) in which she played Beverley, but her husband Paul who directed it, insisted. She didn't like the character she played in 'Marigolds (1972) but it was the only time that she took the character home with her which caused Paul to spend a lot of time away from home.

Was the 47th actress to receive an Academy Award; she won the Best Actress Oscar for Las tres caras de Eva (1957) at Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences 30th Annual Awards (1958) on March 26, 1958.

Mother of actress Melissa Newman, whose namesake was the character portrayed by Woodward in Cuenta hasta tres y reza (1955).

During her time at Louisiana State University she was in the same sorority as Betty DeGeneres. After LSU, she headed to New York. She did not attend Sarah Lawrence until much later. She graduated in 1990 alongside her youngest daughter, Claire Newman.

Grandmother of Peter and Henry Elkind, the sons of Melissa Newman and her husband, Raphael Elkind.

Made 16 movies with her husband Paul Newman. They co-starred in El largo y cálido verano (1958), Un marido en apuros (1958), Desde la terraza (1960), Un día volveré (1961), Samantha (1963), Quinientas millas (1969), Un hombre de hoy (1970), Con el agua al cuello (1975), Harry e hijo (1984), and Esperando a Mr. Bridge (1990). Newman directed or produced the following movies with Woodward starring: Empire Falls (2005), Raquel, Raquel (1968), El detective y la doctora (1971), El efecto de los rayos gamma sobre las margaritas (1972), La caja oscura (1980), and El zoo de cristal (1987).

As of 2020, she is the 3rd earliest surviving recipient of a Best Actress Oscar nomination, behind only Leslie Caron and Carroll Baker. She was nominated (and won) in 1957 for Las tres caras de Eva (1957).

Two of her daughters by Paul Newman, Nell, and Clea, were both born in New York while middle daughter Melissa was born in Los Angeles.

Maternal granddaughter of John (1858-1934) and Nancy (née Porcher) Gignilliat (1862-1946). Her grandfather was born and raised in Georgia, while her grandmother was born and raised in South Carolina.

Bought a show horse stable.

Daughter of Wade Woodward (1900-1976) and Elinor (née Gignilliat) Carter (1903-1992). Her father was born and raised in Georgia while her mother was born and raised in South Carolina.

Started writing and directing.