# Is "lookism" the last acceptable prejudice in movies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [December 23, 2022, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lookism-the-last-acceptable-prejudice-in-movies/977005 "2022-12-23T14:17:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2022, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lookism-the-last-acceptable-prejudice-in-movies/977005/101 "2022-12-25T13:49:21Z")
He did seduce Keri Russell in real life, though. ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2022, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lookism-the-last-acceptable-prejudice-in-movies/977005/102 "2022-12-25T13:57:55Z")
The biggest difference is how svelte/ toned/ shapely/ skinny that Hollywood actor is likely to be compared to me. ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2022, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lookism-the-last-acceptable-prejudice-in-movies/977005/103 "2022-12-25T15:21:27Z")
> [@Toxylon](#): > > He did seduce Keri Russell in real life And for that, he will remain an inspiration for short, skinny, nerdy-looking homely guys everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2022, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lookism-the-last-acceptable-prejudice-in-movies/977005/104 "2022-12-25T15:27:20Z")
Sometimes I’ve been guilty of reverse prejudice with regard to actors, feeling the really beautiful actors can’t really be great actors. I’ve been wrong on that account multiple times. The first time I saw Brad Pitt (in **A River Runs Through It** ), I thought, _oh, boy, another Hollywood pretty-boy…this will be a dull movie._ But, as the film progressed, Pitt demonstrated he had great acting chops as well as great looks. _Maybe this kid’s got a future in Hollywood._ For years I put off watching movies starring Elizabeth Taylor, long hyped as _“the most beautiful woman in the world.”_ No thanks. I want to see convincing acting, not eye candy. Then I watched **Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf**. I was intrigued when I saw that Elizabeth purposely made herself look older and less attractive to fit the role. Then, as the film progressed, I witnessed (IMHO) one of the greatest acting performances of all time (her husband and co-stars weren’t too shabby either). Taylor immediately elevated to my “favorite female actor” list, along with Bette Davis. Liz, did a better _“what a dump”_ line than Davis, too. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2022, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lookism-the-last-acceptable-prejudice-in-movies/977005/105 "2022-12-26T01:27:12Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > The first time I saw Brad Pitt (in **A River Runs Through It** ), I thought, _oh, boy, another Hollywood pretty-boy…this will be a dull movie._ But, as the film progressed, Pitt demonstrated he had great acting chops as well as great looks. _Maybe this kid’s got a future in Hollywood._ I also dismissed Brad Pitt because many consider him attractive (I do not), but now he is one of my favorite actors, due to his talent and the types of roles he plays. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2022, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lookism-the-last-acceptable-prejudice-in-movies/977005/106 "2022-12-26T01:31:48Z")
I had a similar reaction to Scarlett Johanssen. I had thought at first that I was just appreciating her because she was hot, but some of her scenes in the MCU movies showed real talent. ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2022, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lookism-the-last-acceptable-prejudice-in-movies/977005/107 "2022-12-26T02:57:37Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > It seems music and some advertising has made more advances in accepting different body types and appearances. They have? I can think of many movie stars who have had wonderful careers despite not being what society deems beautiful. But when’s the last time you’ve seen a pop music star who wasn’t attractive? Ever since the advent of MTV, the industry decided that it was more important how an artist looked than how they sounded. They’ll autocorrect your vocal pitch until the cows come home, but if you don’t have the look, you don’t have the career. Mama Cass, Janis Joplin, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan - no, we’ll never see stars like that again, no matter how much talent they may have. It is simply unacceptable to have a career in popular music unless you look like a model. We lose out on a lot of great talent that way. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2022, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lookism-the-last-acceptable-prejudice-in-movies/977005/108 "2022-12-26T03:00:04Z")
> [@Disinfectus](#): > > But when’s the last time you’ve seen a pop music star who wasn’t attractive? Adele? Lady Gaga? Neither of them strike me as conventionally attractive. But I do agree it’s not common. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2022, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lookism-the-last-acceptable-prejudice-in-movies/977005/109 "2022-12-26T03:57:17Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Adele? Lady Gaga? > > Neither of them strike me as conventionally attractive. I’d say they’re both very good looking. Lady Gaga less conventionally so, but still very good looking. Ed Sheeran is mocked for his looks, but it doesn’t seem to have hurt him. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2022, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lookism-the-last-acceptable-prejudice-in-movies/977005/110 "2022-12-26T13:32:49Z")
Not sure about what qualifies as pop music, but Lizzo doesn’t impress me as conventionally attractive. And many male hiphop stars have appearances that differ from the Hollywood standard. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2022, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lookism-the-last-acceptable-prejudice-in-movies/977005/111 "2022-12-26T14:26:10Z")
Yes I’d say there’s definitely ageism in music, but lookism? Not so much. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2022, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lookism-the-last-acceptable-prejudice-in-movies/977005/112 "2022-12-26T14:29:13Z")
Yeah, Lady Gaga is a hideous… [![](https://people.com/thmb/OO55-obqUx3mlNryqJ8wQYKkPD4=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(429x209:431x211):format(webp)/lady-gaga-1-a1457d8b1ab54a8c9a1107226cf964c6.jpg) ](https://people.com/thmb/OO55-obqUx3mlNryqJ8wQYKkPD4=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(429x209:431x211):format(webp)/lady-gaga-1-a1457d8b1ab54a8c9a1107226cf964c6.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2022, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lookism-the-last-acceptable-prejudice-in-movies/977005/113 "2022-12-26T14:39:26Z")
She’s not hideous, she’s just pretty average in terms of looks. Which is not some big slight against her, it’s just the proposition that she was selected for looks is dubious. Get a random sample of women of her age, give them all the makeover and clothes that she had for that film premiere and I just don’t think she’d stand out. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2022, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lookism-the-last-acceptable-prejudice-in-movies/977005/114 "2022-12-26T14:40:39Z")
Maybe not in general, but that picture of her certainly is. Though it probably took a lot of deliberate effort by makeup artists, stylists, etc. to make her look that bad. But then again, this is Lady Gaga we’re talking about. She doesn’t care if she looks very good or very bad, just so long as she looks very. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2022, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lookism-the-last-acceptable-prejudice-in-movies/977005/115 "2022-12-26T14:42:26Z")
I keep forgetting what message board I’m on. Where’s that face-palm emoji when I need it? ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2022, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lookism-the-last-acceptable-prejudice-in-movies/977005/116 "2022-12-26T14:55:42Z")
A board where people are allowed to disagree? LGG is fine…if she floats your boat, great. I don’t want to diss her; she’s definitely a better-looking woman than my looks for a man. But no, I don’t think most men would consider her to be a standout for looks. Her figure also is generic slim rather than the more popular hourglass type ratio. (Sorry to leer over someone’s appearance like this). I don’t think her looks had much of an impact in her success in the music industry. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2022, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lookism-the-last-acceptable-prejudice-in-movies/977005/117 "2022-12-26T15:07:04Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Well, not to mention, if you see any actor or actress out doing whatever, without hair professionally styled, or make-up by a Hollywood artist who get 4 figures an hour, not to mention, in sweats, and no foundation garments, they are going to look a lot like you and me. Maybe still a little better, but not much. Anyone who has spent time in a casting director’s waiting room know that this isn’t true. My experience has been in New York, but I doubt LA is any different. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2022, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lookism-the-last-acceptable-prejudice-in-movies/977005/118 "2022-12-26T15:23:51Z")
LGG is totally a posterchild for the heavily plastic-surgeried glam look. Fake lips, fake cheeks, fake butt, fake eyes, etc. It’s not the Western conventional form of female beauty, in fact it’s almost a caricature of it. But in a time and place where nothing exceeds like excess, she’s exceeding excessively for the win. Whether any one of us individually prefers that look in a mate or in oneself is immaterial. As a show-biz personality she’s meant to be eye-catching to the general crowd, and apparently she succeeds in that. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2022, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lookism-the-last-acceptable-prejudice-in-movies/977005/119 "2022-12-26T16:02:04Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Maybe not in general, but that picture of her certainly is. Though it probably took a lot of deliberate effort by makeup artists, stylists, etc. to make her look that bad. > [@Mijin](#): > > I don’t think most men would consider her to be a standout for looks. Her figure also is generic slim rather than the more popular hourglass type ratio. (Sorry to leer over someone’s appearance like this). I don’t think her looks had much of an impact in her success in the music industry. Oh, good grief. If that’s the standard for ‘not conventionally attractive’, that’s an example of the problem; not an example against it. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2022, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lookism-the-last-acceptable-prejudice-in-movies/977005/120 "2022-12-26T16:24:46Z")
Two black eyes and anaphylactic lips have never been “conventionally attractive”. And it’s really easy to avoid both of those things. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lookism-the-last-acceptable-prejudice-in-movies/977005.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lookism-the-last-acceptable-prejudice-in-movies/977005.md?page=7)