In Search of a Leading Lady
Has the female acting landscape changed that much?
Photo: Universal
Back in September of last year I asked "Who's the Next Big Male Movie Star?" and since it was around the time Twilight mania was ruining the online landscape the comments were filled with Robert Pattinson love, but a few people kept level heads and some mentioned I should do one for leading ladies. In that article I was essentially asking "Who would be the next Will Smith?" and I can only assume we are still looking for the next Julia Roberts, perhaps that may be the reason we are getting the lackluster chick flicks we have seen lately such as Bride Wars and He's Just Not That Into You… we don't have a bonafide female lead on the horizon, at least not one like Roberts used to be when she was making films such as Notting Hill, Runaway Bride and Erin Brockovich.
Taking all that into consideration, in March I will be running a companion piece to my earlier "Male Movie Star" article and ask "Who's the Next Big Female Movie Star?" However, Michael Cieply at the New York Times got a head start on me with his new article talking about Roberts and her upcoming film with Clive Owen, Duplicity (3/20) saying, "Next month, [Roberts] turns up in what has become a surprisingly unfamiliar role for an actress who was the biggest female box office star in Hollywood for a decade: leading lady."
Cieply posts comments from an unnamed female producer who when asked who would replace Roberts as the next big female box-office lead and she said, "Nobody has stepped into the vacuum… Right now, people are desperate for the heir apparent to be Katherine Heigl." Other names tossed around include Reese Witherspoon, Amy Adams and Scarlett Johansson.
What is it about Roberts that has allowed her to last in the eyes of the general public? Donna Langley, Universal's production president, tells Cieply, "Julia has a unique ability to be steely, but winsome and lovable all at the same time."
I will take a closer look at the next big female star at the beginning of March, but for now check out the article at the "New York Times," it's worth a glance at least. Also, here's the trailer for Duplicity.
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My wife and I have had this conversation before and what I have always believed is that it is ten times harder to find a dominant leading lady than a leading man because the sex appeal factor. It seems like the movie industry has a constant balancing act with sex appeal with women and doesn't seem as evident with male characters. Don't get me wrong, I like the actor, but if the industry marketed men's looks like they did women, would Toby Jones have any work whatsoever. They worry too much about finding women who can sell looks over acting ability; case of point, Jessica Alba having any work.
Well said, Jon! Well said.