Kathy Bates

I watched About Schmidt with Jack Nicholson tonight. I usually shy away from movies with "redeeming social value", much preferring cop shows, thrillers, mysteries or legal dramas. But the premise was timely for me - a newly retired mid-level insurance executive comes to the realization that although seemingly successful in career, marriage and parenthood, he is actually a total washout. His most important life accomplishment is sponsoring a child in Tanzania for $22. a month.

But the biggest (pardon the pun) message of this movie comes from Kathy Bates, who, at 62 or 63, bared her plus-size authentic body to the world with a saucy "yep I'm beautiful" swagger. You go girl!