The difference may be that, in the older days, actors (of all genders) tended to have their own niches. Typecasting, if you want to be less pleasant about it.
But I can't really think of many big old-time actresses who made a career out of playing weak women. Early Olivia de Havilland, maybe, when her primary job was co-starring for Errol Flynn.
But I can't really think of many big old-time actresses who made a career out of playing weak women. Early Olivia de Havilland, maybe, when her primary job was co-starring for Errol Flynn.
No, but I can think of actresses who made a career out of playing ditzes.
Early Olivia de Havilland, maybe, when her primary job was co-starring for Errol Flynn.
That was before she was ready for her close-up.
I can think of actresses who made a career out of playing ditzes.
Ah, where have you gone, Billie Burke?
So, I guess I should re-state to strong, smart women?
Jonathan Brandis committed suicide a couple years ago?! I completely missed this.
But I can't really think of many big old-time actresses who made a career out of playing weak women. Early Olivia de Havilland, maybe, when her primary job was co-starring for Errol Flynn.
Of course, in the third film she worked on (A Midsummer Night's Dream in 1935) she played the fiercest character in the whole movie.
I can't express how disappointed I was in Callista Flockhart's whiny, petulant "poppet" rant by Hermia in comparison to de Havilland's. You could see the simmering rage about to go volcanic in her scene, with the other characters stepping back unconsciously(?) as her voice kept getting louder.
Of course, in the third film she worked on (A Midsummer Night's Dream in 1935) she played the fiercest character in the whole movie.
Haven't seen that version. Liked the recent version because of (1) Kevin Kline, (2) Rupert Everett not fully clothed, (3) Calista Flockhart beating herself up.
Stanley Tucci's Puck was fun, Michelle Pfeiffer's Titania was luminous, and Christian Bale waking naked in a field played a definite part in me staying til the end, but the 1935 version is just incredibly good all the way around.