Cornish and Foster win WFCC awards

NEW YORK, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Abbie Cornish and Ben Foster were named the best actress and actor of 2009 by the Women Film Critics Circle in New York Wednesday.

Cornish won the award for her work in the film "Bright Star," while Foster picked up the prize for his performance in "The Messenger."

Sidibe Gabourey was declared 2009's best young actress for her debut in "Precious" and Meryl Streep garnered the title of best comedic actress for her portrayal of culinary icon Julia Child in Nora Ephron's "Julie & Julia," a comedy that was also recognized by the WFCC for showing the best equality of the sexes and for being the best movie by a woman.

Tying for the distinction of being the year's best movie about women were "Coco Before Chanel" and "My One and Only."

"Sunshine Cleaning" screenwriter Megan Holley won the honor of being named best woman storyteller, "Seraphine" was declared the best foreign film by or about women and "Up" earned the gong for best family film.

The WFCC's list of 2009 films that showed the best female images included "American Violet," "Amreeka," "The Baader Meinhof Complex," "Inglourious Basterds," "Lemon Tree," "The Messenger," "My Sister's Keeper" and "Sweet Crude."

The TV movie "Grey Gardens" was named the best theatrically unreleased movie by or about women and Anika Noni Rose's portrayal of the character Tiana in "The Princess and the Frog" won the award for best animated female.