Why do they get pretty girls to play ugly roles?
 

I was watching Little Nicky the other day and I couldn't help but notice that the "ugly" plain girl was played by the very attractive Patricia Arquette. When I mentioned this to my friends, they brought up how there was some controversy over giving the beautiful Charlize Theron the main role of an ugly bitch in Monster.
Now, I can understand that pretty girls get more acting roles than ugly ones because we're talking about entertainment here and who wants to look at ugly girls? But we're not talking about ugly duckling roles, here. It's not enough that they get all the good roles, they must also get the ugly ones too? Is there simply no place in hollywood for ugly girls?

Hmm who's an ugly hollywood actress? (Being old and fat, or a comedian probably shouldn't count eh?)

Asta!!

yeah...I haven't seen many great character actresses known first for their skill and second for their looks (if any looks existed..). They do exist but their aren't as many as I wish.

Some of them are just good actors, and therefore deserve even the "ugly" roles.

I agree. Charlize Theron did quite a number in Monster. That movie is still on my all-time greatest list mainly because of the great job she did in it.

On a unrelated note, how do casting directors go about casting the "ugly friend/sister?" Isn't it kind of insulting to say "attractive people need not apply." I bet there are some actors who specialize in that sort of role. It sure would suck to be reminded at your job every day that you were given a sound beating with the ugly stick. Meh, it's a living I guess.

Heh, I always wondered that myself, especially with those parts where a character is being made fun of for being fat. I can see the auditions now. "Nope, not fat enough. Sorry, nope. No. No. Next next next...YOU! You would be PERFECT for the role of Bride of King Kong!"

The worst part about this trend is when the movie has to reiterate how ugly this girl is over and over. i first noticed this with minnie driver in "circle of friends" they put 20lbs on her and spent the whole movie making people tell us just how ugly she is. it's ridiculous and frankly, insulting.

Ever seen the girl who played Velma in the Scooby Doo movie? That girl is smokin' but in the movie she looks just like ugly old velma.

Martha Plimpton and Kyra Sedgewick come to mind.

actually this is probably a huge part of the problem -- hollywood needs to figure out that there are a lot of talented women who do not fit the standard beauty ideal who would not only be more appropriate and believable choices for these roles but could also kick the asses of half the pretty girls in hollywood when it comes to acting chops.

But the problem is that Hollywood generally doesn't want more out of female roles than to be eye-candy. Me and a couple of people were discussing this awhile ago, and it seems that there has been no really good actress in the past 20 years or so. There are few who's acting ablility seems to draw people to movies.

you have to remember that "ALOT" of current hollywood actress's do not look as good as thay do in film do to in life. If thay did not have the makeup artist's, digital editors, etc etc. thay would not be where thay are any more.

Heres a nice little collection
Stars out of makeup

edit: yes i know some of the pick are old and some may be in makeup for other movies, but a lot of them are not

of all the tv shows and movies i saw, i can only see one that was "ugly": mimi on the drew cary show. most of the others are decent or too old to seem pretty for me. but for guys, it doesnt seem to be a problem. theres a ton of bald, fat, or just plain ugly guys in movies! let's see some ugly chicks too!

I don't think Kyra is all THAT ugly...eh what about Helena Bonham Carter?

Asta!!

Juliette Lewis, Amanda Plumber...Julia Roberts and Sara Jessica Parker (now THOSE are DOGS! Sara looks like an Irish Setter)

She's on ER. I forget her name, but she actually is quite attractive. Even as Velma. I'd love to get under that skirt.

Don't blame Hollywood for this trend. This trend is brought to you by your dollars spent at the box office.

Beautiful women are drooled over and fantasized about by men and women who either want them or want to be them... This creates popularity and celebrity.

These celebrities are cast in films because it pays off. People like to go to films with celebrities in them.

Very rarely are there *truly* unattractive celebs (i.e. the few names metioned above are not all that ugly when it really comes down to it).

Viscious cycle.

I'd make sweet love to all of those women (cept I dunno know who Plumber is)...they all have sumfin about em.

Asta!!

Maybe they just want to add hype to the movie by having another famous name on the playbill.

Her name's Amanda Plummer, daughter of actor Christopher Plummer from the movie The Sound of Music, among other things.
She played the would-be robber named Honey Bunny in the restaurant in Pulp Fiction.
:thumbsup:

Oh okay her I know...Yeah I wouldn't do her. Ya know she's a good actress but she's not an A-List celebrity I bet...not really fair.

Asta!!

There's a simple reason for this trend. When a glamorous (male or female) actor gets fame they next want an Oscar. Playing a handicapped, drug-addicted or "ugly" character is usually just a shameless pitch for getting the Oscar nomination:
Remember these?
Mel Gibson in "The Man Without a Face"
Harrison Ford in "Regarding Henry"
Farrah Fawcett in "The Burning Bed"
Paul Newman in "The Verdict"
Tom Hanks in "Forest Gump"
and the list goes on...