4. BLESSING: Meryl Streep
In 1979, Meryl Streep was just a young actress beginning her career when she took the role of Linda in the multiple Oscar winning Vietnam drama 'The Deer Hunter'. Her boyfriend at the time, John Cazale who was also cast in the film, was dying of cancer. In working on 'The Deer Hunter', Streep was able to be closer everyday with Cazale, and only took the role for that purpose. Ultimately, John Cazale passed away soon after completion of 'The Deer Hunter', and Meryl Streep received the 1st of her record setting 17 acting Oscar nominations for her work in the film. She subsequently picked up the Best Supporting Actress Oscar the following year for 'Kramer vs Kramer', solidified herself as the best American actress working in film and then won two more Oscars for Best Actress in 1983 and 2012. A bittersweet beginning to a unparalleled career.
4. CURSE: Roberto Benigni
In 1999, Roberto Benigni, the Italian writer, director and star of 'Life Is Beautiful' became an overnight sensation with his much loved holocaust dramadey, winning both the Best Foreign Language film and Best Actor Oscar. His exuberant acceptance speeches were embraced by Hollywood, and he became a larger than life figure in America. But 4 years later his pet project 'Pinocchio' (which he also wrote, directed and starred in) was a horrible failure both financially and critically (The only award garnered was a Worst Actor award at the annual Razzies). Since then Benigini has only gone on to appear in 3 other lackluster films, and maintains an unusually low profile in his native Italy.