Entertainment | Oscars 10 Surefire Routes to Oscar Glory Hint: Those comedy roles aren't gonna do it for you By Evann Gastaldo Posted Mar 1, 2010 9:00 AM CST Copied Gay/transgendered: “If you're a famously straight guy like Sean Penn, nothing says you've stretched your boundaries" like "a big onscreen kiss with James Franco.” See: Hilary Swank, Boys Don’t Cry. (AP Photo/Focus Features, Phil Bray) See 2 more photos Been in the biz for a while but still lacking an Oscar for the mantel? Pay heed to the Daily Beast’s list of 10 roles—complete with a plethora of examples for each—sure to land you that Academy Award: Someone with an accent: “What says range better than being able to take on an accent (or speaking mannerism) not your own?” See: Frances McDormand, Fargo. Piano player: “Popular American musical tastes may veer more towards Britney Spears than Mozart, but the academy loves a thespian who can play the keys.” See: Jamie Foxx, Ray. Someone fat or ugly: If you’re a woman, play a prostitute or a nun; if you’re a man, “pile on the pounds, get your face smashed up like Mike Tyson, and get a really, really bad haircut.” See: George Clooney, Syriana. A true villain: “Playing a serial killer or an otherwise deplorable human being with sociopathic tendencies has long been a way to get in the good graces of Academy voters.” See: Charlize Theron, Monster. Civil War or Holocaust survivor: “While most Americans hate Nazis in real life, we love them onscreen.” See: Kate Winslet, The Reader. Click here for more paths to Oscar. Read These Next Mark Zuckerberg's 'list' has Silicon Valley buzzing. IAEA chief downplays damage to Iran nuclear sites. Hall of Famer Dave Parker dies Tillis, who opposes Trump bill, won't seek reelection. See 2 more photos Report an error