# Why can't ugly people act?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-ugly-people-act/473514
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [November 19, 2008, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-ugly-people-act/473514 "2008-11-19T20:20:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Burger\_Time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burger_Time)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2008, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-ugly-people-act/473514/1 "2008-11-19T20:20:34Z")
So why can’t ugly people act and subsequently never get roles in television series’ and movies? I’ve never seen such gross underrepresentation of a group by an organization…well, maybe black people in hockey; but hockey has at least a few black people. In Hollywood, even those intended to be ugly–“Ugly” Betty–aren’t.
Certainly Hollywood producers and directors would hire the most talented candidate regardless of physical appearance.
Genetics?
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### Author:  [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2008, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-ugly-people-act/473514/2 "2008-11-19T20:24:42Z")
Who says they can’t?
> **[Vincent Schiavelli | Actor](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001704/)**
>
> Known for: Tomorrow Never Dies, Ghost, Fast Times at Ridgemont High
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### Author:  [@Sonnenstrahl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sonnenstrahl)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-ugly-people-act/473514/3 "2008-11-19T20:28:05Z")
While the young stars (the sex symbols) of British TV shows are usually just as attractive as their American counterparts, I find that the people intended to be old and ugly often really are. I think those actors usually have a lot more character.
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### Author:  [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-ugly-people-act/473514/4 "2008-11-19T20:28:32Z")
Are you seriously maintaining that ugly people can’t act and that’s why we don’t see ugly people in Hollywood productions? Really? You think that it’s more likely that there’s a genetic link between good looks and acting ability, or perhaps a genetic component that links ugliness to a lack of acting ability–and that either of those is more likely than casting directors preferring to hire pretty people?
If so, interesting\* premise.
Welcome to the Straight Dope.
Leave ignorance at the door, lest it be wrested forcefully from your brain.
\*for certain values of “interesting.”
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2008, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-ugly-people-act/473514/5 "2008-11-19T20:29:23Z")
[Steve Buscemi](http://upload.moldova.org/movie/actors/s/steven_buscemi/thumbnails/tn2_steve_buscemi_4.jpg)
Warning:may cause eyegouging.
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### Author:  [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2008, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-ugly-people-act/473514/6 "2008-11-19T20:35:39Z")
[Luis Guzmán](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0350079/) and and [John C. Reilly](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000604/) aren’t exactly matinee idols.
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### Author:  [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-ugly-people-act/473514/7 "2008-11-19T20:38:08Z")
> [@runner pat](#):
>
> [Steve Buscemi](http://upload.moldova.org/movie/actors/s/steven_buscemi/thumbnails/tn2_steve_buscemi_4.jpg)
>
> Warning:may cause eyegouging.
Good attempt at a whoosh, but I don’t think so.
> [@Darryl Lict](#):
>
> Luis Guzmán and and John C. Reilly aren’t exactly matinee idols.
These three guys may not be Brad Pitt, but they’re not ugly either (included SB).
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### Author:  [@Burger\_Time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burger_Time)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-ugly-people-act/473514/8 "2008-11-19T20:38:30Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#):
>
> Are you seriously maintaining that ugly people can’t act and that’s why we don’t see ugly people in Hollywood productions? Really? You think that it’s more likely that there’s a genetic link between good looks and acting ability, or perhaps a genetic component that links ugliness to a lack of acting ability–and that either of those is more likely than casting directors preferring to hire pretty people?
>
> If so, interesting\* premise.
No. I’m maintaining that casting directors, et. al., hire, for the most part (as shown, some ugly people **do** make it into films), pretty people even though acting is a “performance” art. My OP is mere sarcasm designed to fool certain individuals.
> [@](#):
>
> Welcome to the Straight Dope.
Thanks
> [@](#):
>
> Leave ignorance at the door, lest it be wrested forcefully from your brain.
You’ll not have my ignorance without a tenacious fight!
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### Author:  [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2008, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-ugly-people-act/473514/9 "2008-11-19T20:40:34Z")
Same reason morbidly obese women can’t model.
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### Author:  [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2008, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-ugly-people-act/473514/10 "2008-11-19T20:52:04Z")
> [@Sonnenstrahl](#):
>
> While the young stars (the sex symbols) of British TV shows are usually just as attractive as their American counterparts, I find that the people intended to be old and ugly often really are. I think those actors usually have a lot more character.
I’m going to definitely agree with you. British actors on British TV that we get here in Canada certainly do look average and even older in general.
And I dare anyone to suggest the actors in the Canadian TV series “Trailor Park Boys” are attractive.
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### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2008, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-ugly-people-act/473514/11 "2008-11-19T21:02:39Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#):
>
> And I dare anyone to suggest the actors in the Canadian TV series “Trailor Park Boys” are attractive.
I dare you to prove to me they’re actors. I mean, bad acting is one thing, but those guys were, I think, picked BECAUSE they were ugly, not because they could act. The guys who play Julian and Bubbles are third-grade-Christmas-pageant bad.
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### Author:  [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2008, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-ugly-people-act/473514/12 "2008-11-19T21:07:40Z")
You don’t get a role, even a minor one, in a TV show or a movie without working your way up through the industry. Before every big role there are years of high school and college drama, off-broadway theater, theme park gigs, voice-overs, talent shows, and commercial spots. Each one of things is a gate and how you look has an effect on how easy it is to advance professionally.
There’s natural selection at work, but not on the genetic level … .
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### Author:  [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-ugly-people-act/473514/13 "2008-11-19T21:17:43Z")
There’s always:
[Clint Howard](http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/universal_pictures/cinderella_man/clint_howard/manpre.jpg)
[Wallace Shawn](http://www.mightymcpilgrim.com/words/archives/wallace_shawn.jpg)
and
[Danny Trejo](http://www.thesoapdispenser.com/files/danny-trejo.jpg)
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### Author:  [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2008, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-ugly-people-act/473514/14 "2008-11-19T21:22:56Z")
> [@RickJay](#):
>
> I dare you to prove to me they’re actors. I mean, bad acting is one thing, but those guys were, I think, picked BECAUSE they were ugly, not because they could act. The guys who play Julian and Bubbles are third-grade-Christmas-pageant bad.
You may be right, but the star of the show, Ricky, is acting the part very well. He reminds me of several people I’ve known. I wouldn’t suggest however that he could play a different part.
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### Author:  [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2008, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-ugly-people-act/473514/15 "2008-11-19T21:27:47Z")
[QUOTE=Pochacco]
You don’t get a role, even a minor one, in a TV show or a movie without working your way up through the industry. Before every big role there are years of high school and college drama, off-broadway theater, theme park gigs, voice-overs, talent shows, and commercial spots. Each one of things is a gate and how you look has an effect on how easy it is to advance professionally.
There’s natural selection at work, but not on the genetic level … .
[/QUOTE]
I give you Margaret “Peg” Phillips. Best known in her roles on Northern Exposure.
[Ruth Ann Miller](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0680697/)
I’m not necessarily disagreeing with you, but there are some anomalies.
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### Author:  [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2008, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-ugly-people-act/473514/16 "2008-11-19T21:36:23Z")
[Robert Duvall](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000380/bio).
I think he’s a hell of an actor and I don’t recall him making the top ten of any hotie list.
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### Author:  [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2008, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-ugly-people-act/473514/17 "2008-11-19T21:47:44Z")
One reason attractive actors are often cast as “ugly” characters is so they can have the “good heavens, you’re beautiful!” moment. Sometimes all this requires is taking off a pair of glasses and letting one’s hair down. In extreme cases, a workout montage accompanied by “Let’s Get Physical” may be required.
I understand that in at least one version of “Ugly Betty” the protagonist sheds her glasses and braces, changes her hairstyle, and dresses more glamorously as the series progresses. I don’t watch the U.S. version so I don’t know if this transformation is planned or already underway.
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2008, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-ugly-people-act/473514/18 "2008-11-19T21:59:08Z")
Do a search for **Karl Malden, Orson Welles, Walter Brennan, Jack Elam, Harry Morgan, Lee Marvin, Juliette Lewis, John Huston, Walter Huston, Angelica Huston** and many more who are not the typical movie star images.
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### Author:  [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2008, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-ugly-people-act/473514/19 "2008-11-19T22:08:09Z")
> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> Do a search for **Karl Malden, Orson Welles, Walter Brennan, Jack Elam, Harry Morgan, Lee Marvin, Juliette Lewis, John Huston, Walter Huston, Angelica Huston** and many more who are not the typical movie star images.
Most of these actors were, in fact, very attractive when they were young. You’re talking about aging, not ugliness.
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### Author:  [@Cider\_Depot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cider_Depot)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2008, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-ugly-people-act/473514/20 "2008-11-19T22:51:29Z")
> [@Enola\_Gay](#):
>
> Same reason morbidly obese women can’t model.
Ding ding ding.
I’ve been similarly amazed at how even bad attractive singers are preferable to ugly good ones.
The notable ugly actors notwithstanding, the entertainment industry definitely prefers its stars to be on the beautiful end of the scale. And they are probably just giving the public what the public wants.
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