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Natalie Portman just wants one good role

by
Dorothy Snarker

I’ve always admired Natalie Portman. Besides being this generation’s go-to gamine and heir apparent to Audrey Hepburn, her public persona has been one of a smart, responsible, civically minded and non-panty-flashing young star. At 26, she already has a Golden Globe, an Academy Award nomination and a Harvard degree. So if even Natalie is having a hard time getting good scripts, you know something is rotten in the state of Hollywood.

While doing press with co-star Scarlett Johansson for their new film The Other Boleyn Girl, Natalie bemoaned the lack of good roles for women.

“I’ve recently been getting frustrated. [turns to Scarlett] I don’t know if you’ve had this experience, but we’re probably seeing a lot of the same variety of what’s out there, but I mean the number of roles for strippers or prostitutes — or the opposite — which, is like, 'She’s the moral center of the film! She’s the pure one. She’s the one that makes the man realize who he should be,’ you know? That sort of dichotomy exists so strongly, it’s like the virgin/whore thing evident to the greatest extent. So that’s really been bothering me.”

Ahh, the old Madonna/whore complex. Not sure what to do with that pesky female character, script writers? Make her a virginal maternal figure. Oh, you want to get teenage boys into the seats? Then totally make her a slut. Heck, this stuff practically writes itself. While Natalie has managed to avoid most of the stereotypical traps many actresses fall into early in their careers, she has had a couple roles that fell roughly along those old battle lines.

So what’s a young actress looking for a long career to do? Well, besides working with a foundation that finances women-owned businesses in developing nations and starting your own vegan shoe line? She just has to keep looking.

“Sort of finding a character who is complicated, like the women in (The Other Boleyn Girl), is very, very exciting. Also, I love comedies so much, but any kind of comedy the girl’s like ‘in fashion’ or she’s really into clothes, or like, she just wants to get married. Those are not values that I care to jump on the bandwagon of. I’d love to do a comedy. I’d love to do a romantic comedy, but you don’t find something where the woman has, like, a real job.... so yeah, it is frustrating, but I also don’t want to bitch about it.”

No, please, keep bitching. It’s not good to repress. I’ll happily wait.

Up next for Natalie is My Blueberry Nights, which has already opened overseas and will start screening in the States in April. The film, which also stars Rachel Weisz and Norah Jones, centers on a cross-country road trip. But plot, schmot: Any movie that puts Norah and Natalie in the same bed is A-OK in my book.

After that, Natalie stars in the war drama Brothers, about a man (played by Tobey Maguire) who leaves to fight in Afghanistan and asks his brother (Jake Gyllenhaal ) to look after his wife (Natalie) and child. While the role sounds interesting, as does the love triangle that develops, it’s called Brothers and not Wife, so one could infer that the men’s roles are at the film’s core.

So, do you agree with Natalie’s assessment of female roles in Hollywood? And, judging by Natalie’s hilarious skills in that now infamous SNL digital short, who else thinks we’re being cheated out of a great comedic performance? Let’s relive the magic, for old times' sake.



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    • Submitted by
    Dorothy Snarker
    on February 13, 2008 - 6:08pm.
    TAGS :: 
    TheWeyrd1's picture

    OMG....that's so unexpected...

    Submitted by
    TheWeyrd1 (432 posts)
    on February 13, 2008 - 6:16pm.
    which is the point I'm sure... And very funny!
    shecallsherselfgarbo's picture

    UGH!

    Submitted by
    shecallsherselfgarbo (54 posts)
    on February 13, 2008 - 6:25pm.

    >>So, do you agree with Natalie’s assessment of female roles in Hollywood?

     YES. YES. YES!!!!

    lushbliss's picture

    i agree, and she is so

    Submitted by
    lushbliss (94 posts)
    on February 13, 2008 - 6:40pm.

    i agree, and she is so intelligent and beautiful and opinionated.

     

    *melts* haha

    chrisalex's picture

    Brothers

    Submitted by
    chrisalex (4 posts)
    on February 13, 2008 - 6:40pm.

    Chris In Canada

    Brothers is a remake of an excellent Danish film by Susanne Bier starring Connie Nielsen.  The female role is central so hopefully it hasn't been watered down.  Cross your fingers.

    Roots's picture

    Completely agree...

    Submitted by
    Roots (7 posts)
    on February 13, 2008 - 6:55pm.

    I have to agree with Natalie's assessment if only because I just heard that Ellen Page (who is the second coming of Natalie for the way she conducts herself in the press and is so totally, utterly smart and cool) has signed on for a HORROR film. Seriously? If Ellen Page can't find a role that doesn't have her screaming for her life as some person (probably a dude) is trying to kill her, what hope does anyone have!? I know she's also doing Drew Barrymore's new flick which will be awesome, I'm sure, but even that script sounds an awful lot like Juno 2.0. The lack of good roles for 20-something young actresses is astounding. 

    I love Natalie, Scarlett and Ellen and I hope the few good scripts do find their way to these beautiful, awesome actresses. 

    2bwritten's picture

    She's doing to the horror

    Submitted by
    2bwritten (7 posts)
    on February 14, 2008 - 9:36am.
    She's doing to the horror film, a lesbian vampire movie...because Diablo Cody...the woman who wrote Juno wrote it. Given how well Juno was written, I have pretty high hopes for this horror film even though I don't usually like vampire movies.
    alexc9's picture

    ellen page + scary movies

    Submitted by
    alex (144 posts)
    on February 13, 2008 - 7:34pm.
    im imdb-ing that ellen page accusation as i type, in the hopes that youre referring to jack and diane, the wonderfully gay werewolf movie she's supposed to make with olivia thirby!
    alexc9's picture

    crap, youre right

    Submitted by
    alex (144 posts)
    on February 13, 2008 - 7:37pm.

    imdb isnt even listing jack and diane anymore!

    on the upside, the horror movie is being directed by sam raimi. could be worse.

    not a southpaw's picture

    Definitely

    Submitted by
    not a southpaw (50 posts)
    on February 13, 2008 - 7:38pm.

    It always tickles me a bit to hear older actresses bemoan the fact that the "young'uns" have all the luck but would they seriously touch some of the swill that gets troughed at the younger actresses? No bloody way. As you get older no doubt the number of offers decrease and Hollywood can't sustain a large pool of actresses on the wrong side of a certain age but it's in their twenties that even the core group has trouble finding decent work.

    (Don't ask and Marlene won't tell)

    baarlijan_xen's picture

    she wants a challeging role??

    Submitted by
    baarlijan_xen (381 posts)
    on February 13, 2008 - 8:08pm.

    She should have taken Jesse's/Jenny's role in Lez Girls instead of that Nikki Stevens girl!!! Shame on you for turning that once in a lifetime opportunity down!!!

    ahahaaaahahaaa!!!

    no, seriously I ADORE Natalie Portman... stop giving the good roles to that taller younger dumber evil anorexic british clone of hers (Ms. Knightley)!!! .... XD

    yeah Keira... just stick to the pirates!!!

     

    chloe121212's picture

    LOL

    Submitted by
    chloe121212 (242 posts)
    on February 14, 2008 - 8:06am.

     yeah she have totally taken that Jesse role.

    I love that SNL short and Natalie's totally right about women in Hollywood.  Unless ypur name is Angelina Jolie (and I'm not hating on her), there's slim pickings.

    "I don't kiss girls who wear doilies"

     

    L.RollingStar's picture

    Yeah

    Submitted by
    SecretSmile (62 posts)
    on February 13, 2008 - 8:11pm.

    I'd have to agree with Natalie on this one. It's a shame since she really is among the best actors of our day. I'm glad that her and Scarlett are doing a movie though. They are both amazing.

     

    "Even in his heart the devil has to know the water level."

    Amylin's picture

    Don't even get me started

    Submitted by
    Amylin (195 posts)
    on February 13, 2008 - 9:08pm.

    Don't even get me started with Natalie... i've been following her career since I was 13 when her debut movie Leon came out in France. She was so tiny at the premiere...
    I can perfectly understand how frustrated she might be because she deserves a truly powerful woman role! She had this great part in V For Vendetta, and i was happy to see her playing that. But in the end i'm as frustrated as she is! Her debut was so stunning that i want more of that! And I also think she'd be great in comedy!

    She's an amazing woman, very opinionated and so clever. I want her to play a wonderful character which will make everyone notice that she's not only gorgeous but also a genius actress... my all time favorite (with Audrey Hepburn, what are the odds).

     

    Na's picture

    I could say something clever

    Submitted by
    Na (137 posts)
    on February 13, 2008 - 10:58pm.
    if only I could focus on something else than this picture... Natalie Portman, Norah Jones... what was I saying?
    notshane's picture

    Increasing profile of women screenwriters...

    Submitted by
    notshane (236 posts)
    on February 13, 2008 - 11:06pm.

    I'm hoping that the increasing success of women screenwriters will end up with better and more interesting and rounded roles for actresses. Its good news that the Oscar noms this season for original screenplays has 3 women of 5: Diablo Cody (Juno, of course), Tamara Jenkins (Savages), Nancy Oliver (Lars and the Real Girl). And Sarah Polley was nominated for Adapted Screenplay (Away from Her).

    And I'm hoping more women directors will get decent funding for their movies. Sarah Polley and Tamara Jenkins also directed their screenplays. And its heartening to see that someone like Ellen Page has shown interest in writing and directing in the future.

    Crimson013's picture

    Good luck with that...

    Submitted by
    Crimson013 (118 posts)
    on February 14, 2008 - 1:47am.

    finding a good role I mean, sometimes I watch award shows like the academy awards out of sheer boredom and I often end up feeling that they should change the title from best actress and best supporting actress to best prop and best supporting prop, just a thought based on the fact that the roles for women just plain suck.

    ~kisses are a better fate than wisdom~

    danidanidani's picture

    i agree but

    Submitted by
    danidanidani (4 posts)
    on February 14, 2008 - 3:40am.
    can she write?
    nyxme's picture

    I remember reading that her

    Submitted by
    nyxme (23 posts)
    on February 15, 2008 - 12:56am.
    I remember reading that her ultimate goal is to direct and make movies, so writing.. I wouldn't be surprised if she did. She also talked about her film company called Handsome Charlie Productions (i think) which is named after her dog who recently passed away.
    Charlottery's picture

    "Up next for Natalie is My

    Submitted by
    Cassandra (127 posts)
    on February 14, 2008 - 7:57am.

    "Up next for Natalie is My Blueberry Nights, which has already opened overseas and will start screening in the States in April. The film, which also stars Rachel Weisz and Norah Jones, centers on a cross-country road trip."

     

    Awwwww yes! How excited?

    Slym's picture

    Honestly

    Submitted by
    Slym (1615 posts)
    on February 14, 2008 - 8:26am.

    I was doing a good job of following this blog right up until Portman, Weisz and Norah Jones got mentioned, then there's the pic in the bed and well.. I'm right where Na is: can't seem to comprehend anything right now.. :)

    I think I at least deserve some credit for trying.

    2bwritten's picture

    I totally agree so we women

    Submitted by
    2bwritten (7 posts)
    on February 14, 2008 - 9:30am.
    I totally agree so we women have to write it, produce it, direct it, all of that...so that we can see the kinds of stories we want to see.
    Maritza624's picture

    Jodie Takes charge

    Submitted by
    Maritza (63 posts)
    on February 14, 2008 - 9:35am.

    Jodie Foster has found a few scripts that she likes then took the main roles and changed the gender to female (Flightplan, The Brave One, Indise man). Maybe Natalie Portman could do the same soon.

    megsaintg's picture

    SO FUNNY

    Submitted by
    megsaintg (15 posts)
    on February 14, 2008 - 5:10pm.

    I had not seen that SNL skit - so funny!!!! Thanks for posting. 

     

    Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there

    probablytripping's picture

    Brothers

    Submitted by
    probablytripping (17 posts)
    on February 14, 2008 - 2:27pm.
    This is a bit off topic, but I'm really glad that Jake Gyllenhaal and Tobey McGuire are finally playing brothers, or related characters in a film together. I've always thought they look similar...
    probablytripping's picture

    Brothers

    Submitted by
    probablytripping (17 posts)
    on February 14, 2008 - 2:28pm.
    This is a bit off topic, but I'm really glad that Jake Gyllenhaal and Tobey McGuire are finally playing brothers, or related characters in a film together. I've always thought they look similar...
    gypsywee's picture

    Yes...

    Submitted by
    gypsywee (1007 posts)
    on February 14, 2008 - 3:46pm.
    we need more women writing and directing, but what we really need to do is take over the studios! Women need to grab the purse strings. Until we can finance the films we want to see, they will rarely be made. And, forget about big-budget films.

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