Angelina Jolie has starred in over 40 films and won one of the two Academy Awards for which she was nominated. However, a well-known director who had previously worked with the star felt her appearance was holding her back.
Jolie and Eastwood worked together on the 2008 film Changeling, and while Eastwood had nothing but praise for the actress, he did say that he felt her beauty “hampered” her career. Actors and actresses frequently face discrimination based on their appearance in the entertainment industry, and Eastwood’s worries shed light on this problem.
Clint Eastwood Admired Angelina Jolie’s Talent
In 2008, Angelina Jolie starred in the riveting true-life drama Changeling. Christine Collins, a mother whose son goes missing in 1928, was the character she portrayed. Collins is sent to a mental institution because she is considered an unfit parent after it is revealed that the boy who claims to be her returned child is an imposter.
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The performance was so well received that Angelina Jolie was nominated for Best Actress at several major awards, including the Academy Awards, the British Academy Film Awards, the Golden Globes, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Clint Eastwood was concerned that Jolie’s talent was being underappreciated, despite the praise she received for her performance in Changeling.
“[Angelina Jolie] is an actress hampered by her gorgeous face, I think the most beautiful face on the planet. People sometimes can’t see past that, to her talent. She’s on all these magazine covers, so it’s easy to overlook what an amazing actress is underneath.”
Jolie’s physical attractiveness was the focus of the media, and as a result, her acting abilities were often overlooked. Clint Eastwood’s comments indicate a persistent problem in the entertainment industry: the preference for physical attractiveness over talent.
Actors and actresses who are strikingly attractive may find it difficult to establish themselves as skilled performers because of the constant focus on their looks. Because of the industry’s fixation on physical attractiveness, audiences and professionals may have trouble looking past an actor’s looks to appreciate their skill.
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Angelina Jolie Returns Her Admiration For Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood made an analogy between Jolie and Meryl Streep to demonstrate her acting prowess. He was very complimentary of both actresses, remarking on their professionalism and the variety of techniques and skills they brought to their roles.
Clint Eastwood stressed that great performances were expected of the cast without the use of lengthy rehearsals or extra takes. He was trying to emphasize Jolie’s talent and show how she can bring a character to life by comparing her to Meryl Streep.
“Actors know, with me they aren’t going to be allowed to rehearse a scene for a couple of hours and then get away with doing 25 takes before we get it right. So they come with their full bag of tricks. Angelina is a lot like Meryl Streep in that respect.”
During the Changeling press tours, Jolie and Eastwood spoke highly of each other. At the Hollywood Film Festival Gala, Jolie praised Eastwood, saying the actor is “even better” in person
“There are some people in this business that are icons, and we often wonder if, when we meet them, they’ll live up to what we imagine them to be. And Clint Eastwood in person is even better … Clint is what every great director should be. He is a great leader. And I certainly would follow him anywhere.”
Box office receipts for Changeling totaled $113 million (with $35.7 million coming from North America), and the film was nominated for three Academy Awards and eight BAFTAs. Despite both celebs praising each other for their work, neither has worked on another project together since their hit movie.
Challenging is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald
