Irene Dunne in "The Awful Truth" 3rd Oscar Nomination

Irene Dunne received her third Oscar nomination for playing Lucy Warriner in The Awful Truth.

I am not the biggest fan of The Awful Truth, but there is no denying it a fantastic comedy. It's easy to see why the director won because it's excellently handled throughout and constantly entertaining. A divorcing couple decide to ruin each others wedding plans by degrading each others reputation. What follows is a delightful tale full of wonderment and comedy.

Irene Dunne plays the wife, Lucy. Lucy is a flighty, very charming woman who loves to have a good time. Not unexpectedly, Lucy is a very underwritten character, in my opinion. She seems to have no problems in the world, and only gets emotional when she talks about her divorce. It's up to Irene Dunne to successfully communicate all of Lucy's emotions and vulnerability to the audience. There is a ton of funny scenes for her to play, and Dunne nails them fabulously - she never looks like she is acting or having a bad time. She is making the most out of the material, and selling every witty line.

Again, there's exactly deep about the character, but when Irene Dunne does gets a dramatic moment, she does it just as well as her comedic ones. When she finally realizes that she still cares for her husband, it's a brilliant moment. She brings out a fabulous side of her character, the clothes, the style, and the charm - Irene Dunne really shines beautifully in what I consider to be a difficult part. Whether it be a deadpan line or a fabulous comic zinger, her performance constantly shines. Not to mention that naturalism! Just like in Theodora Goes Wild (although a very different kind of character) Dunne had natural talent and it shows in her role of Lucy.