A new study suggests that winning the famous Oscar award in the entertainment industry may help actors live longer. Researchers from the University of Toronto developed a model based on analyzing data from 2,111 actors nominated for an Oscar from 1929 to 2020, or who appeared alongside a nominated actor. The model indicated that winning actors who are alive today are expected to live until age 81.3, while unsuccessful nominees are expected to live only until 76.4, and non-nominated co-stars are likely to live until just 76.2.
The researchers wrote in their study published in PLOS ONE: "Academy Award-winning actors show a positive association between success and survival, suggesting the importance of behavioral, psychological, or other modifiable health factors unrelated to poverty." The average life expectancy of Oscar winners has been a significant debate for years, with a previous study conducted in 2005 indicating that Oscar winners live nearly four years longer. Donald Redelmeier and his team from the University of Toronto provided a more accurate estimate in the new study.
The team studied 934 actors nominated for an Oscar between 1929 and 2020, as well as actors who appeared in films with them for comparison. The researchers explained, "For each individual, we also identified another cast member who performed in the same film as the nominee, with the closest possible match in age and exact matching by gender."
No one has been able to explain the reasons behind the study's results, which the researchers attributed to the social status associated with winning an Oscar potentially contributing to the well-being of celebrities. The researchers noted: "Winners tend to eat properly, exercise regularly, sleep well, avoid substance abuse, and follow the ideals of a healthy lifestyle, which brings more benefits with commitment."
They added, "Oscar winners may be able to avoid some stress through greater control and lessen exacerbation when facing obstacles." According to experts, the award may alleviate the humiliating rejection or criticism by maintaining peace of mind and helping to fend off stress responses from the pituitary gland. The researchers hope the findings will help illuminate the factors contributing to life expectancy and emphasized that the observed longevity results should not imply that people should take acting lessons to improve their health or that awards should be prescribed by doctors.
