Natalie Portman Just Wants One Good Role

-- Dorothy Snarker from AfterEllen.com

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.

Comments

[nathanielr]

actually, unless they've altered it greatly from the original Danish film (of the same name starring Connie Nielsen) then Natalie will have the biggest role.

it's very much about the wife.

[nathanielr]

actually, unless they've altered it greatly from the original Danish film (of the same name starring Connie Nielsen) then Natalie will have the biggest role.

it's very much about the wife.