From Times Online
March 18, 2010

Sandra Bullock hit by the 'Oscars curse'

Louise cohen

Academy Award winner Sandra Bullock has been hit by the "Oscars curse" just days after her Best Actress predecessor, Kate Winslet, announced the end of her marriage.

Bullock, who picked up the prestigious gong less than two weeks ago, has pulled out of the UK premiere of The Blind Side, after an American magazine linked her husband with a tattoo model.

The actress said in a statement today: “Due to unforeseen personal reasons, a trip abroad to support the opening of The Blind Side has been deemed impossible at this time.”

Earlier, In Touch Weekly reported that Bullock’s husband, Jesse James, had an extra-marital relationship with Michelle McGee while Bullock was shooting her Oscar-winning performance for The Blind Side last year. In an interview, McGee said she made email contact with James's motorbike company looking for modelling work, and the pair went on to have an 11-month affair.

Bullock is the latest in a long line of actresses to be hit by the "Oscars curse", which has seen Best Actresses suffer relationship problems within a year of winning the gong.

Kate Winslet and Sam Mendes announced their separation on Monday, ten days after she appeared alone at the Oscars ceremony and a year after she took home her award. Other Best Actresses affected by the "curse" include Gwyneth Paltrow, who separated from Ben Affleck in 1999, Julia Roberts who split from Benjamin Bratt in 2000, Hilary Swank, who divorced Chad Lowe in 2006 and Reece Witherspoon, who separated from Ryan Philippe, also in 2006.

Bullock and James, the host of the Discovery Channel's Monster Garage reality programme, have been married for five years. They have no children together, but have fought a long legal battle for custody of James's daughter from a previous relationship.

Bullock won her Oscar for playing Leigh Anne Tuohy, a well-heeled mother who takes in a homeless boy. James attended the ceremony with his wife and had tears in his eyes as she made her acceptance speech.

The Blind Side's premiere was due to take place next Tuesday at the Odeon West End in London. Organisers said they will still screen the film, but there will be no red carpet reception.

Film