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I love Julia, but I've never thought of her in that context. To me she's more of an Everywoman. Elegance and sophistication require some measure of hauteur (think Catherine Deneuve, whom I can't believe I haven't thought of until now); I don't think this comes naturally to her; she played an enormously wealthy power broker in Charlie Wilson's War, but in my opinion was out of her element in the role.
I love Julia, but I've never thought of her in that context. To me she's more of an Everywoman.
I agree. She's very pretty, a good actress & cleans up nicely for the Oscars, but I don't think of her as sophisticated or elegant. For example, she doesn't walk gracefully in heels. She's more down home, girl next door to me.
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Re: Your earlier post...Claire Forlani is exquisite.
Yes, Claire is gorgeous. I've just never seen her in anything since Basquiat (one of my guilty pleasure, left-of-mainstream flicks) so I left her out... wasn't sure anyone knew her, tbh.
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Originally Posted by A.Typical.Girl
Yes, Claire is gorgeous. I've just never seen her in anything since Basquiat (one of my guilty pleasure, left-of-mainstream flicks) so I left her out... wasn't sure anyone knew her, tbh.
I couldn't take my eyes off of her in Meet Joe Black, and could fully understand Brad Pitt coming back from the dead for her.
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Originally Posted by doffer
I really don't think we need to look much further.
Yes, shall we break it down?
Gosford Park
The English Patient
Four Weddings and a Funeral Darkest Hour (playing Churchill's wife, for Heaven's sake) The Other Boleyn Girl
Arsene Lupin (playing a countess, no less)
I mean, she must hold the record for playing the most characters with an honorific in front of their name. She is the go-to for this kind of role because exuding elegance is like breathing to her.
There are no elegant leading ladies in today's DEI Hollywood. There is no Myrna Loy, Ingrid Bergman, or Grace Kelly. It is not a priority for Hollywood today. It is more about women as warriors and super heroes and such.
Jessica Chastain for example, could be an elegant leading lady if they wanted her to be but that is not the roles today.
I always thought that Debra Messing would be perfect for it, but again no roles, really. It is not an image they want to project.
Every once in a while, Angelina Jolie would come close.
I automatically think of pre-World War II, hence Myrna Loy and Ingrid Bergman.
It made me wonder when the type of the elegant leading lady went away. 1970s? 1990s? When?
I mentioned Grace Kelly. She was 1950s and 1960s. How about Audrey Hepburn and Maureen O'Hara. Julie Christie and Jaqueline Bisset.
The 1970s get more earthy. The above actresses were aging but you have Faye Dunnaway and Anne Bancroft. Suzanne Pleshette. Katharine Ross. Jane Seymour.
1980s. Again, elegance was not particularly a big thing but you have Michelle Pfieffer, Rebecca De Mornay, Brooke Shields. I think even maybe Ellen Barkin and Demi Moore.
Also, mature does not equal elegance. Elegance has to do with a certain projection of sophistication and charm. It is not something that just comes with age. It is not a look, it is a personality trait. It is how a person carries themselves. For example, Katherine Hepburn had that while Amy Adams does not, she is earthy. I love Amy Adams and she is a great girl-next-door type and has that cute charm, but doesn't pull off "elegant".
I don't think women are raised that way anymore and probably not since before the 1970s.
Times change. But then I am an old fart, so there is that.
There are no elegant leading ladies in today's DEI Hollywood. There is no Myrna Loy, Ingrid Bergman, or Grace Kelly. It is not a priority for Hollywood today. It is more about women as warriors and super heroes and such.
Jessica Chastain for example, could be an elegant leading lady if they wanted her to be but that is not the roles today.
I always thought that Debra Messing would be perfect for it, but again no roles, really. It is not an image they want to project.
Every once in a while, Angelina Jolie would come close.
Keep in mind that Hollywood controlled the actors and actresses many mention very closely. They were told what to do when the studio wanted them to do it. Today, actors control their lives and are no longer beholden to one studio for decades or unceremoniously dumped when the studio was done with them.
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