This is a list of actors and actresses who, throughout their careers,
suffered some serious typecasting, meaning, they very often played same
characters, more or less, and some of them were quite displeased about
it. Here are our thoughts, but the blog is always opened for suggestions and discussion.
Episode 1 featuring the Golden Era of Hollywood
Marilyn Monroe
The queen of typecasting... She, herself, desired more serious roles, but
the studio, unfortunately, saw her only as a blond sex goddess, with quite
limited brain capacity. The image she created, with the help of the
studio, unabled her to take her talent to its limits... And she did have
quite a talent.
Greta Garbo
The divine Garbo always played women with cold looks, yet quite warm
hearts, often torn between desires and duties... The first Anna Karenina.
Mae West
"When I'm good, I'm very good. But when I'm bad, I'm better." Mae West will always be perceived as a witty blond maneater.
Errol Flynn
The best Robin Hood ever in the history of cinematography did not drift in his career too much from what he was like in real life- adventure loving, handsome to die for, witty Don Juan... Thank God. This is probably one of the rare typecasting we approve. :)
Rita Hayworth
Similar to Mae West, Rita, thanks to her roles, created the image of extraordinary seductress, but slightly more feminine, we would say. "The Love Goddess" once said that men went to bed with Gilda and woke up with Rita.
Shirley Temple
Typecasting that ruined a career. She was never as successful as when she was a golden-hair moppet tap-dancing. Though, she is considered one of the most popular child stars in history
Olivia de Havilland
The good girl of Hollywood and Errol Flynn' s onscreen girlfriend. Olivia did get 2 Oscars, but she will always be known as the other half of the most famous love pair in the early cinematography. She herself admitted that they had an amazing chemistry, although nothing ever happened between them. "He never tried his wicked ways with me."
Simone Signoret
Not exactly a Hollwood star, but acknowledged French actress was considered Monroe for men with brains and often played women with suspicious morality
and quite interesting lives. Ironically, her husband cheated on her with
M.M, but they did stay together.
The idea for this entry came from Marron's own list made on Listal earlier this year.
Stay tuned for more!
Peace and love,
Marron & Margarite
I completely agree with the list, especially with Marilyn. Some critics even say she was a really bad actress and I always thought they just say that because the only image that people like to sell about her is the one of the sex symbol, a little too dumb and a little too sad. And she was not dumb at all, I think she had A LOT to say for herself, and it's a pity she didn't had the time to say no and try another things (although, who knows, maybe directors would have refused to cast her in another way... :S) In this century, it's easiest for actors to escape from the ghost of typecasting and even so, they won't get to delete that shadow completely. But nowadays, actors can stand up for themselves a bit more than back then.. I'm positive that if Rita, Greta, Marilyn and all the actors from this post had started on this century instead, we would have had the chance to see them in different registers.
ОдговориИзбришиGreat post for a great blog. Keep it up! :=)