New York Post �V Online Edition
THE UNLIKELIEST HOPEFULS
By JOANNA WALTERS
February 29, 2004 -- Several of tonight's Oscar nominees have one unlikely thing in common: they have overcome unbelievable hardship and near-impossible odds to wind up as not just movie stars but as among the most honored actors of their generation.
Best Supporting Actor nominee Ken Watanabe completely upstaged Tom Cruise in "The Last Samurai" with his killer combo of charm and nobility.
But this emerging international Japanese actor - who is a massive star in his native country - was crushed when he was diagnosed with leukemia right after scoring his big break back when he was 24.
He went into remission, but the disease recurred in 1994. He beat it and went on to cop an Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for "The Last Samurai."
Even if he loses out to favorite Tim Robbins, the Japanese manifestation of cool should surely get a special award for admitting that the first time he met Cruise, he did not recognize the toothy American megastar.
Now, the 40-something Watanabe is an international sex symbol who is the subject of numerous fan sites.
One popular Watanabe-Samurai joke mocks his Zen-master work in "Samurai": "You know you are obsessed with Ken Watanabe," it goes, "when your waiter says to you 'What do you want for dinner?' and you reply (in noble tones). 'What do you want for yourself?' "
