Working Mother magazine announced its “Working Mom Oscars” in the February 2007 issue, and I thought the following press release about these unusual awards would be of interest to ReelTalk visitors:   

It's awards season in Hollywood, and while film critics everywhere debate the merits of leadings actors, another set of critics has made some judgments of their own.  With working moms taking center stage in the world of hot young celebrities, Working Mother magazine decided it was time to ask the experts—the working mothers of America—to weigh in with their votes on Tinseltown’s hottest actress mothers. 

“We here at Working Mother are delighted to celebrate all of Hollywood’s working mothers,” said Editor-in-Chief Suzanne Riss.  “These women are such an inspiration to all of us, and they really show that it is possible to have both a successful career and a successful family.”

Readers picked their favorite moms in 12 categories:

Icon Mom      

Winner—Meryl Streep

The two-time Academy Award winner scored 42% of the votes, edging out Annette Bening (36%) and Isabella Rosellini (22%).

Reality Mom

Winner—Heidi Klum

Juggling Project Runway and project diaper, this mom of three had 53% of the votes, winning out over Sharon Osbourne (34%) and Fantasia Barrino (13%).

Off-Ramping Mom

Winner—Julia Roberts

Absence has made 58% of voters’ hearts grow fonder of this Pretty Woman, who beat out Tea Leoni (23%) and Catherine Zeta-Jones (19%).

Mother-and-Daughter Team

Winners—Goldie Hawn and Kate Hudson

These golden girls garnered 66% of the votes, outshining Blythe and Gwyneth (28%) and Diana and Tracee Ross (6%).

New Mom

Winner—Maggie Gyllenhaal

Fiancé and actor Peter Sarsgaard and baby Ramona helped clinch a 50% win, over Gillian Anderson (26%) and Sofia Coppola (24%).

Funniest Mom

Winner—Debra Messing

She makes even pratfalls sexy, winning 42% of readers’ votes, over Reese Witherspoon (35%) and Sarah Jessica Parker (23%).

Activist Mom

Winner—Susan Sarandon

Fighting the good fight helped this mom of three pull in 70% of readers’ votes, trouncing Rosie O’Donnell (19%) and Sharon Stone (11%).

Over-Exposed Mom (And We Don’t Care)

Winner—Britney Spears

Most readers don’t mind see Britney everywhere (64%), while some want to see even more of Angelina Jolie (24%) and Katie Holmes (12%).

Single Mom

Winner—Teri Hatcher

Readers’ 58% of votes put this mom of Emerson Rose on the A-list, over Mary-Louise Parker (29%) and Edie Falco (13%).

Fashionable Mom

Winner—Jada Pinkett Smith

Mom’s fashion savvy sure rubbed off on Willow and Jaden, with Mrs. Smith earning 50% of votes, over Courtney Cox (31%) and Heather Locklear (19%).

Adoptive Mom

Winner—Meg Ryan

Daisy True would surely agree with readers voting for her mom (52%) over Calista Flockhart (26%) and Madonna (22%).

Someday Mom

Winner—Jennifer Aniston

Most readers (57%) are crossing their fingers that this Friend will be in a family way soon, over Halle Berry (24%) and Salma Hayek (19%).

Founded in 1979, Working Mother magazine reaches nearly 3 million readers and is the only national magazine for career-committed mothers.  Its 21-year signature initiative, Working Mother 100 Best Companies, is the most important benchmark for work/life practices in corporate America. The publication also releases the annual list of the Best Companies for Women of Color in the June issue.  Working Mother is published by Working Mother Media (WMM), which also owns the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE), NAFE Magazine, the annual 100 Best Companies WorkLife Congress, as well as the Best Companies for Women of Color Multicultural Conference and regional Town Halls.  In 2006, WMM acquired Diversity Best Practices and the Business Women’s Network, making Working Mother Media the largest media company in the country focused on diversity and the advancement of women.

Thanks to Kate Fleming of The Rosen Group for sharing the information above with ReelTalk Movie Reviews.

(Photo of Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada. © 2006 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved.)