# Perfectly cast beauties **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 27, 2010, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfectly-cast-beauties/530692 "2010-02-27T22:03:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfectly-cast-beauties/530692/21 "2010-02-28T05:31:38Z")
Right: Tilda Swinton as Jadis the White Witch in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (ok, not exactly a conventional beauty) How about Naomi Watts in King Kong? Brian ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfectly-cast-beauties/530692/22 "2010-02-28T05:56:56Z")
> [@ianzin](#): > > Totally, utterly, dead dead wrong: Liv Tyler as Tatyana in ‘Onegin’ > > Perfect: Linda Fiorentino as Bridget, ‘The Last Seduction’ > > Perfect: Mena Suvari as Angela, ‘American Beauty’ > > Perfect: Katharine Ross as Etta, ‘Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid’ > > Perfect: Marilyn Monroe as The Girl, ‘The Seven Year Itch’ > > Perfect: Scarlett Johansson as Charlotte, ‘Lost In Translation’ > > Perfect: Barbara Stanwyck as Phyliss, ‘Double Indemnity’ _and_ as Eugenia, ‘The Lady Eve’ > > Famously hopelessly wrong: Nanette Newman as Carol, ‘The Stepford Wives’ (1975) I slightly disagree with you about Liv Tyler but the reason I posted is to emphasize that, in addition to being attractive, an actress’ performance and presence in a role greatly affect things. The fact a hot-looking character is played by a hot-looking actress won’t matter much if the particular hot-looking actress has the acting ability and personality of a box of Kleenex. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfectly-cast-beauties/530692/23 "2010-02-28T06:06:45Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Nobody, though I disagree with you regarding the adorable, even hot, but ultimately plain-faced Uma Thurman, which shows the fault with comparing the Grecian ideal with the really hot girl from Geometry Class. I don’t think Uma’s face is very pretty either, but it fits Venus very well. She looks very Roman. The resemblance is remarkable to the [goddess’s face](http://www.integral.soton.ac.uk/~sguera/pictures/botticelli_birth_venus_2.jpg) in [Botticelli’s _The Birth of Venus_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Birth_of_Venus_(Botticelli)). Based on the still provided above, I’d say that’s the Venus they were trying to emulate. I think this typifies how you have to do this. You can’t find someone who will be everyone’s ideal beauty. What you have to do is figure out the type that your characters and setting would regard as beautiful, and find the prettiest version of that. Or maybe they were just lucky they had a very famous painting of Venus that fits modern sensibilities about attractiveness. Most of the ones of Helen of Troy are quite [pudgy](http://preraphaelitesisterhood.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/sandys-helen-of-troy.jpg) and/or [masculine](http://preraphaelitesisterhood.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/helen-of-troy.jpg). The best I can source is [this one](http://www.practicalpainting.com/Articles/PreRaphael/DeMorgan_HelenofTroy.htm), which is really rather late, while there is [this one](http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/00156/images/helenoftroy.jpg), which actually seems to feminize her. Ms. Cruger doesn’t look too far off, IMHO. They just should have prettied up her hair and makeup a bit, and made her more obviously different from every other woman in the film. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfectly-cast-beauties/530692/24 "2010-02-28T06:51:45Z")
I remember that an early choice for the role of Helen was French-Corsican model Laetita Casta, who I think would have been a much better choice than Kruger. I mean, I don’t know much about her acting skills, but her features are much more [classical](http://utopia.duth.gr/~panagiot1/Laetitia%20Casta6.jpg), and her figure more… Mediterranean. ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfectly-cast-beauties/530692/25 "2010-02-28T07:10:43Z")
I would submit Catherine Zeta-Jones in _Chicago_. And, since I think males should count, Christian Bale in _American Psycho_. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfectly-cast-beauties/530692/26 "2010-02-28T07:17:26Z")
How about Jill in _Brazil_? You need someone who’s believable as a tough [truck driver](http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1143116288/ch0004617), and as Sam’s [dream girl](http://www.monstersandcritics.de/downloads/downloads/articles2/83340/article_images/image3_1211620124.jpg). I’ve seen a list of actesses who were considered, but that book is packed away at the moment. I like Kim Greist in the role, but if I remember correctly, Terry Gilliam wasn’t happy with her performance. ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfectly-cast-beauties/530692/27 "2010-02-28T08:46:31Z")
I would completely agree with Tilda Swinton as Jadis and Cate Blanchett as Galadriel - perfect. I also loved Kate Winslet in Titanic. Catherine Zeta Jones in Zorro was also pretty inspired. Sorry, can’t agree with Emily Deschanel dressed up as WW. Every time I watch Bones, I spend a lot of time thinking, wow, that chick has a weird face (beautifully colored eyes, though). But tastes do differ, I still think that the first time I saw Uma Thurman rise up as Venus (I had never seen her before) I thought she was spectacularly beautiful. Now, when I see candid shots of her in magazines, I don’t think she’s nearly as gorgeous. That scene, though, wow. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfectly-cast-beauties/530692/28 "2010-02-28T09:16:31Z")
Surely top of the list for superb casting has to go to Elizabeth Berkley in Paul Verhoeven’s _Showgirls_. Brain dead actress, brain dead part. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfectly-cast-beauties/530692/29 "2010-02-28T10:54:52Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > I always thought Carter looked like she had a **hair lip** repaired. You mean a _hare lip_. As in rabbit. Not as in moustache. I think Michelle Pfeiffer was perfectly cast as Isabeau, the hawk in _Ladyhawke_. I also liked her as Catwoman in _Batman Returns_, but my unfamiliarity with the comics makes me unsure if that was perfect casting, or just a nice feline performance. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfectly-cast-beauties/530692/30 "2010-02-28T12:41:38Z")
Nicole Kidman as Satine in _Moulin Rouge!_ ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfectly-cast-beauties/530692/31 "2010-02-28T13:03:05Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I remember that an early choice for the role of Helen was French-Corsican model Laetita Casta, who I think would have been a much better choice than Kruger. I mean, I don’t know much about her acting skills, but her features are much more [classical](http://utopia.duth.gr/~panagiot1/Laetitia%20Casta6.jpg), and her figure more… Mediterranean. Wow - yes, yes, yes! Fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Violaceous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Miss\_Violaceous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Violaceous)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfectly-cast-beauties/530692/32 "2010-02-28T13:17:43Z")
Uma Thurman in _Beautiful Girls._ ---
**Author:** ![CutterJohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@CutterJohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CutterJohn)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfectly-cast-beauties/530692/33 "2010-02-28T13:26:13Z")
Kate Beckinsale in Underworld. Absolutely sublime. And, jsut my 2c… Liv Tyler in most everything I’ve seen is just wrong. Pretty girl, but I’m not a fan of her acting or voice at all. Ruined the scenes she had in LOTR. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfectly-cast-beauties/530692/34 "2010-02-28T14:01:45Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > ETA, but too late: Lynda Carter isn’t the “really hot…” woman described above. Agreed. I saw her at my company picnic last summer, and she’s still fantastically hot. For a woman who is almost sixty, she’s got incredible legs. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfectly-cast-beauties/530692/35 "2010-02-28T14:59:21Z")
> [@Waenara](#): > > There was an episode of _Bones_ where Brennan (Emily Deschanel) dressed up as Wonder Woman for Halloween, and [she looked](http://www.daemonstv.com/2007/10/29/bones-photos-mummy-in-the-maze/bones-eric-millegan-brennan-emily-deschanel-as-wonder-woman-tj-thyne-and-booth-david-boreanaz-as-a-squint-in-mummy-in-the-maze/) [pretty good](http://www.daemonstv.com/2007/10/29/bones-photos-mummy-in-the-maze/bones-brennan-emily-deschanel-and-booth-david-boreanaz-in-mummy-in-the-maze-2/). I’d have to disagree, if you’re suggesting Emily Deschanel could play Wonder Woman. It’s not that she isn’t a lovely young woman; she’s very pretty. But she is not the right **look** for the part; she’s a small, thin actress with little muscle definition. She can play lots of roles well, but Wonder Woman, specifically, is supposed to be a beautiful but tall, very muscular, athletic woman. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfectly-cast-beauties/530692/36 "2010-02-28T15:19:20Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Even aside from that being such a high standard, she doesn’t really look Mediterranean. Helen was supposed to be blond. Are there a lot of blond beauties in the Mediterranean these days? ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfectly-cast-beauties/530692/37 "2010-02-28T15:47:03Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > In the “good” category, I’ll name Robin Wright in _The Princess Bride_ I’ve alway thought this was just so-so casting. Buttercup was supposed to be the \* most beautiful woman in the world \*. Robin Wright was (is?) very attractive but you could put her in a number of Hollywood rooms where she won’t even make the podium. At the time they were doing the movie, Darryl Hannah was at the top of her ethereal otherworldly beauty fame from Splash. Physically, I think she would have been the perfect Buttercup. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfectly-cast-beauties/530692/38 "2010-02-28T16:12:52Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > I’ve alway thought this was just so-so casting. Buttercup was supposed to be the \* most beautiful woman in the world \*. Well, they did leave that bit out of the movie. She rises up through the ranks to become the most beautiful woman in the world during the course of the _book_, but in the movie she’s presented as a very beautiful woman but never dubbed the MOST beautiful. She’s also the only young woman in the entire movie, so from what we see she might well be the most beautiful woman in that world – her only on-screen competition is a couple of hags. To follow **Maiira** ’s lead in nominating men, I think Cary Elwes was perfect as Westley. Handsome and dashing. I’ve never understood why he didn’t become a bigger star. He’s been working steadily since _TPB_, but mostly in supporting roles. ---
**Author:** ![wintertime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c68b51/32.png) [@wintertime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wintertime)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfectly-cast-beauties/530692/39 "2010-02-28T16:16:16Z")
**Brigitte Bardot** in _Et Dieu… créa la femme_ **Claudia Cardinale** in _Cartouche_ (she was even more beautiful in _C’era una volta il West_, but other beauties could have played the role as well). **Gina Lollobrigida** in _Fanfan la Tulipe_ und _Notre Dame de Paris_. **Audrey Tautou** in L_e fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain_ **Faye Dunaway** in _The Thomas Crown Affair_ **Marilyn Monroe** in _Some Like It Hot_ **Rita Hayworth** in _Gilda_. ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfectly-cast-beauties/530692/40 "2010-02-28T16:35:24Z")
**Anita Ekberg** as Sylvia in _La Dolce Vita_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfectly-cast-beauties/530692.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfectly-cast-beauties/530692.md?page=3)