As well-respected and awards-laden as Schindler’s List, we need to talk about Helen Hirsch. Or rather, today’s birthday girl, Embeth Davidtz, who played the troubled maid in the seminal film. As good as the male actors in the movie are (and while we’re at it, Ben Kingsley should also have been nominated alongside Ralph Fiennes and Liam Neeson!), she is terrific and should have been nominated as well.

This article is part of a special year-long series of anecdotes, reflections and thoughts about the Academy Awards.