comment #1

D.Z. says ...

I don't think any of them were ever that big in the first place; although Danes came close. She was always fairly average, which made me wonder why people liked "My So-Called Life" in the first place.
"South Central" was the better show.

comment #2

Dublin101 says ...

I think Danes is an example of unfulfilled promise. She was something special in MSCL but she never really delivered on that promise. Now don't get me wrong, she's a decent actress and she has a very nice little career. Consider the examples of Katie Holmes and Sarah Michelle Gellar, by comparison Danes has had a successful transition from TV to movies. But I don't feel that she's delivered on the screen promise/charisma that she displayed as a kid. Natalie Portman is another example of a child actress who promised great things but never really followed through when she grew up. Of course the real problem is the scarcity of decent roles for young actresses. Or middle aged actresses. And older actress’s. Good old institutional Hollywood misogyny and all that jazz.

comment #3

austin111 says ...

Danes is interesting. In my opinion she hit her zenith with Luhrman's Romeo and Juliet because she clicked so well with DiCaprio and she just had something that worked for that. Still, she has a warmth and sophistication that makes her a bit odd to cast. Maybe someday she'll get the right role and director. Portman is talented and beautiful. She's still waiting for that big break-out and I think she'll get there.

comment #4

dixiedugan says ...

Chloe Sevigny is doing a fine job on HBO's Big Love, thank you very much. As far as the other two...they seem to have done alright. Who said that you have be in blockbuster after blockbuster to have been a success?

comment #5

Rich S. says ...

It's difficult to lump Chloe in with the other two for one simple reason: Brown Bunny. Her career arc was going to be forever changed (and more-or-less unique) by "the scene," one way or the other. You have to look at her in that context.

comment #6

jbf81 says ...

To compare Clare Danes to Natalie Portman is just wrong; Natalie already was part of a huge movie franchise that gave her worldwide fame, IS a Oscar nominee and have several projects line up for the future. And she is just 25, Clare already passed 30.
Also don’t forget that Natalie almost stopped her career for 4 years to go college, doing very little things besides Star Wars.

comment #7

jesse says ...

Yeah, I like Danes as an actress -- she's really good in Shopgirl -- but I can see the aspect of "unfulfilled potential" whereas I can't, really, for Portman. Let's see: apart from the nerd-icon aspect of Star Wars (and that she brings a core of sweetness to those movies), she was terrific in both Garden State and Closer. She's also decent in V for Vendetta. All told, I think she's one of the best actors in that age group (20-30). I'm a little worried about the number of period pieces she's got coming up -- what is it about really strong actors that makes them want to do two or three of those in a row? (Or do nothing but; Jeremy Irons, I'm looking in your direction.)

Oh, and Portman is also amazing in Anywhere But Here, but the movie isn't very good so her performance didn't get the attention it deserved. That's a lot of good performances before hitting 30. Maybe not quite Kate Winslet quality, but she could get there.

comment #8

Rob says ...

People keep commenting on this thread without reading this article - it's more about Sevigny and Posey evolving from East Village scenesters to gainfully employed character actresses. It's not advocating career rehab or arguing that these ladies were ever huge stars.

comment #9

jesse says ...

The article may not be (and I did read it, quickly), but that certainly is something that will come up when you're discussing three non-A-list actors and how they've adapted over the years. It's only natural to discuss their careers.

And I do find it odd to see Danes linked with them in that she never struck me as "indie" or representative of any kind of scene the way those two did (and I like all three actresses, especially Posey).

comment #10

Krazy Eyes says ...

Could they have had a less flattering illustration created?

comment #11

Dublin101 says ...

Portman may be a success on the surface but I'm not particularly impressed. She was just terrible in Star Wars, practically catatonic. You could argue that she was screwed with George Lucas in charge but she still stunk up the show with her glassy eyed acting and droning monotone. The appeal of Garden State was a personal mystery and she was stranded in yet another Sci-Fi turkey in V for Vendetta.

That leaves Closer. Now she was decent in this but she let her distracting beauty do about 70% of her acting in that one. Yes she bagged an Oscar nom but is that really a sign of quality? Jennifer Hudson has an Oscar for Gods sake and that was more for her singing and her personal back story. And Kate Hudson bagged a nom in that category. I wouldn't call her a fine actress.

Portman has a successful career but I personally don't feel that she's delivered on the promise of Leon or Beautiful Girls. But maybe she will, she has plenty of time.

comment #12

VedaPierce says ...

Parker has star quality in spades. She's got the cheekbones, voice, carriage, and a recognizable persona that she's been able to carry through each of her films. 60 years ago, Jack Warner and Louis B. Mayer would be creating showcases for her talent.

Claire is a drip, without any discernable appeal or charisma, and Chloe, if nothing else, has great taste in vintage clothing.

comment #13

T. S. Idiot says ...

On stage in Hurlyburly, Parker conveyed a sexiness and maturity she's never had in a film.

comment #14

Geoff says ...

Why did Chloe feel the need to suck his dick on screen? I've seen that film and understand the importance of that specific action...but it was porn, plain and simple.

comment #15

Krazy Eyes says ...

Why did Chloe feel the need to suck his dick on screen?

Wasn't there some belated back-pedaling a while back that it was actually prothetic sucking going on and not the real deal? Looked authentic to me.

comment #16

rr3333 says ...

Claire Danes is not movie star pretty whatsoever.

Parker Posey was/is too Indie ...

Chloe's hot, but that Brown Bunny director screwed her career.

Natalie Portman ... its just a matter of time till she becomes A-List. Very talented and beautiful.

Why Nicole Kidman still is A-List is a mystery to me(she was so beautiful 15 years ago ... now she looks like a wax figure).

comment #17

Arizona Joe says ...

Parker Posey has an intelligence and sexiness and subtle verve that is hard to define. She is great, particularly in those Chris Guest movies.

Claire Danes is a wonderful talent and truly beautiful.

Chloe Sevigny has invented an entirely new type of character actor, the courtesan to mediocrity or worse. When she shows up, something degrading will happen. By the way, Big Love has to be the most fallacious television series ever. Polygamists don't live that way out West. Those were twisted scenarios born out fatuous, solipsistic writers and producers.

comment #18

Joshua Mooney says ...

Chloe in "The Last Days of Disco" is the only pure portrait I've seen of a certain kind of girl in the actual "last days of disco," which I lived. Oh no, she was PERFECT. She's part of the reason I've never yet let go of my youth. I know Whit Stillman had a lot to do with that, obviously. But much of it is all Chloe.

comment #19

Joshua Mooney says ...

Chloe in "The Last Days of Disco" is the only pure portrait I've seen of a certain kind of girl in the actual "last days of disco," which I lived. Oh no, she was PERFECT. She's part of the reason I've never yet let go of my youth. I know Whit Stillman had a lot to do with that, obviously. But much of it is all Chloe.

comment #20

christian says ...

natalie portman can't act and the proof is every film she's appeared in. beautiful yes. actress, no.

comment #21

D.Z. says ...

Portman's overrated, but not awful. I think the fact that she doesn't try to play a camera-hog, like the other actresses, is what makes her so appealing.