Not speaking as the inappropriately attracted 28 year old that I am, I have to say that Amanda Bynes has got it. She’s legitimately funny, and has a very good sense of timing.
Ther’s just no telling. I mean, if you’d have told me 10 or 15 years ago that Marky Mark and Donnie Wahlberg would both be talented, well respected dramatic actors and action heros…
I feel that the term “star” includes musical performers.
So, I nominate Norah Jones.
She is the only recording artist on the charts today that I believe has a truly lasting talent.
Her voice doesn’t need electronic enhancement. Her music doesn’t need surgically enhanced boobs to be popular.
Her’s is a great talent, and possibly the voice of this generation.
Britney-Britney-can’t sing Britney- no talent Britney will be forgotten. Norah Jones will be remembered.
I don’t put her in the same catogory as the actresses in the OP, since she’s not a new actress. I don’t know about you folks, but I’ve seen her oldest movies…In my mind, I’m more inclined to compare her to Kirsten Dunst and Natalie Portman since they started very young, and have been in and out of the public eye for half their lives.
Me, I’m wondering how Mike Weinberg and Skye McCole Bartusiak’s careers will turn out once they’ve outgrown adorable.
The first name I thought of when I saw the thread title was Lindsay Lohan. Unfortunately, she’s at the age where I can’t comfortably say that she’s beautiful without my sounding all pervy, but she has clearly transitioned from cute child star (in The Parent Trap) to pretty teenager. Plus, she can dance, and Freaky Friday showed that she can do comedy – her performance was more adult and understated than Jamie Lee Curtis’s*. More importantly, whoever’s managing her career is making all the right moves. She’s attached to Disney, so she gets all the press that goes with that, but they’re not ramming her down the public’s throats like they are with their other “properties.”
Her new Drama Queen movie looks pretty cheesy, but it’s aimed at teenaged girls and is a good step for her because it’s just a showcase for what all she can do. She does a great job in everything I’ve seen her in, and she’s super-charismatic, so while she might not be Our Nation’s Up And Coming Dramatic Actress, she’s definitely got a future in comedy and pop movies. The test will be Mean Girls, a non-Disney movie with Tina Fey (you may remember her as my imaginary girlfriend). We’ll see if that turns out to be another lame SNL movie, or if it’s one of those sleeper dark comedies, and whether it does for Lohan’s street-cred what Heathers did for Winona Ryder’s.
The other Disney properties – Hillary Duff and Raven Symone – will be quickly forgotten. They’re being over-marketed as more family-friendly versions of Britney Spears and Beyonce Knowles, and they’ll probably burn out once they hit their 20’s. At best, they can look forward to the Annette Funicello syndrome.
I don’t know what to think about Scarlett Johansen. Before Lost in Translation I thought she was completely unremarkable, so I don’t know if that’s just an aberration. But she must be doing something right to get cast in so many cool movies (Ghost World, The Man Who Wasn’t There).
I haven’t seen Anna Paquin mentioned yet. She’s already got an Oscar, but she’s still kept pretty low-profile, taking parts in interesting movies instead of the big blockbusters. And then, of course, X-Men, which is a huge franchise, but she’s part of an ensemble instead of having to be “the star.” That may be the key to longevity; pick parts that are interesting and be willing to take smaller parts in ensemble casts (like Almost Famous).
- I’m still uncomfortable not writing it as Curtis’, but Strunk & White tell me always to use the 's.
How about Kanye West, Outkast, Beyonce, Coldplay and the White Stripes, all of whom have albums in this week’s top 100 chart? Jay-Z also features, though since that album is apparently his last, one could not accurately describe his talent as “lasting” (though it certainly has lasted).
If, by “this generation,” you mean “40-year-olds.”
Norah Jones is today’s Jewel or Alicia Keys or Nelly Furtado. She gets everyone all excited because she does something popular that isn’t teen pop (though is just as safe and mainstream). At least she improved on the other three by getting a follow-up album out in a reasonable amount of time. It’s surely only a matter of time, though, before she releases a collection of poetry.
My prediction for the OP: Beyonce. She’s going to be the next Madonna-style super-popstar. Great performer, good songs, produces a lot of her own stuff and able to hold her own solo as well as in a group. She also seems fairly stable (no Michael Jackson style meltdowns) and has a pretty smart head on her shoulders. And she’s extended into acting (even if Austin Powers’ Foxxy Cleopatra isn’t the most challenging role), which extends her options. If she manages to include a smash like Crazy in Love on her next album, she’s made.
Popping in to ask others’ opinions of Keira Knightly in context of this thread - sure, she was lovely and self assured for an 18-yr old in Pirates, but can she act? Anyone see her in the BBC Dr. Zhivago? How did she do?
I’d go with Natalie Portman and Keira Knightly - yeah, like they’d have me…
Seriously both are younger than 20, stunningly beautiful (and kinda even look alike), have serious acting chops and done an interesting mix of independents and blockbusters. They seem to manage their careers effectively.
[QUOTE=SolGrundy]
The first name I thought of when I saw the thread title was Lindsay Lohan.QUOTE]
In the interest of clarification, her last name is pronounced as if the h is silent…as in low-ann. I can’t provide a printed cite, but one of the entertainment shows specifically mentioned that. They didn’t just pronounce it that way, they made a point of saying that’s how her name is pronounced.
I chuckled, thinking that if people have been getting it wrong, it’s good for her to try and get people to make an effort to get it right, now, while she’s young, otherwise she’ll have to put up with hearing it wrong for decades, the way Kim Basinger (then: Bass-injure, now: Bay-singer) had to put up with it. I guess Kim figured, hey, I’m nominated for/have won an Oscar, could you please pronounce it correctly now?
Have you seen Girl With A Pearl Earring? She should have gotten nominated for that. The entire performance was through her eyes and body language.
Blah, I thought I hit Preview. Sigh.
I agree. I think people are seriously underestimating just how freaking huge Beyonce is going to be in the coming years. The total package is all right there. Ridiculously gorgeous, can actually sing (anyone know if she writes her own material?), has great business sense, some budding acting ability. But you know what her best asset is? She’s nice. Really, really nice. Probably the most down-to-earth celebrity I’ve seen since Cameron Diaz popped up on the scene. Talk about a smile that can light up a room…
I completely agree with all the people mentioning Scarlett Johannson. As she’s my future wife, I’m certainly rooting for her. But let’s not forget her Ghost World co-star Thora Birch. She was damn good in American Beauty.
And I think it’s too early to tell, but I’m curious to see what comes of Daveigh Chase, the girl who played Samara in The Ring. She might go places.
What makes you say that? Not a criticism of the comment itself (I’ve always liked that brand of music), just curious.
That would be Keisha Castle-Hughes youngest ever best actress nominee for an Academy Award.
The technical control she has over her voice.
You see, I heard her here, in Nashville, live. A small venue.
No voice enhancement. Her skills are her own.
gex gex is a little slow. The performers that he cites could never, would never dare to do an “Unplugged/all acoustic” live performance.
Lastly, Jazz tends to enshrine the greats, slightly more than other genres.
I’m not sure whether you mean those that I mentioned as current lasting talent. However, the White Stripes could easily carry an unplugged show, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they have. They’re pretty raw live, anyway. Coldplay may have also done so. The others are more hip hop orientated, and hence their music isn’t so suited to acoustic performance, although Jay-Z has done an acoustic performance which is available on CD. I’m not sure why unplugged performance is a benchmark for talent, anyway. I mean, Alanis Morisette did acoustic performances (another one of those “she’s not like other popstars” popstars.)
And if it’s my suggestion of Beyonce as a young talent who’ll last, I don’t believe Madonna was renowned for her unplugged performances, but it never held her back.
I’m not sure what your basis for saying this is.
Natalie Portman is actually 22. (No, I had to look that up, I don’t actually like her.) I don’t know if she’ll get past her performances in Star Wars, which so far have been terrible. She did earn some respect before that, but I think it’s pretty faded.
Under 20?? Nahh. NP is 2 years younger than me. I am 24. And Keira is probably older.
Someone mentioned Dakota Fanning. I agree, she seems to have talent that doesn’t match her age. (she’s a confident actress)
Three separate thoughts: Scarlett keeps getting good roles in interesting moves. That means directors like working with her, which is good for longevity - it says she’s not a diva. I think she’s pretty much done everything right so far. She’s done some arty movies, and she’s never fallen on her face in any project.
IMDb says Keira Knightley turns 19 next month.
Also, I think once you start looking at kids, it’s an absolute crapshoot.
I don’t know if she qualifies as young, but I think Kate Hudson has a shot at staying around for a very long time. Not that she’s a great actress or anything, but her performance in Almost Famous was Audrey-Hepburn-in-Breakfast-at-Tiffany’s-ish. Don’t know what she’s been up to lately, but I believe she has that true star power that hasn’t been fully realized.
Britney has some talent, yes she do. It’s just not that singing is the biggest talent she has. What she does have is a good feel for pop sensibility and a very marketable face and body. Reminds me of another vocalist in those respects – name of Madonna. Except that Britney is MUCH better looking than Madonna ever was. So I think Britney has a better chance than Norah Jones of being a long-lasting pop diva, though Nora is unmistakably the greater talent.