Questions One Shouldn't Answer. (Or maybe ask...)

[rhythmaning]

Yesterday evening, on a walk in the country, my partner asked who I thought should play her in a film of her life.

She didn't like the answer I gave [locked post, sorry].

I thought my answer - Audrey Hepburn - was rather fitting, albeit with only a microsecond's thought.

I should have considered more deeply. This was clearly an occasion when I should have been shouting IT'S A TRAP! [locked comment...]. It is one of those questions that couldn't possibly be answered to the questioner's satisfaction: no answer could possibly be sufficient.

Of course, Audrey Hepburn was simply the first actress I thought of, and reckoning that gut instinct is pretty good in hypothetical questions like this, went with it.

Incidentally, it is irrelevent whether an actor looks like their subject for them to portray the subject, as far as I am concerned. That is what acting is about - it is isn't immitation, it is bringing something more, the essence.

And now I shall stop diging!

Comments

[white_hart]

I agree with you. Or at least I can't think of a better choice.

[widgetfox.livejournal.com]

It is one of those questions that couldn't possibly be answered to the questioner's satisfaction: no answer could possibly be sufficient.

I don't think that's quite fair. I was expecting to be able to see some resemblance, and was (and am) extremely puzzled that I couldn't. But I'm not insulted - how could I be? And maybe we just never see ourselves as others see us.

[psychochicken.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. Perhaps the question is an exercise in learning how others see us. We will often be surprised by the results.

[widgetfox.livejournal.com]

I have to say I'm extremely surprised by the results. But I shouldn't be. I know I don't see myself clearly, so why should I expect others to see me as I see myself?

Who would play you in the movie of your life?

[psychochicken.livejournal.com]

As I say below, a couple of suggestions were Robbie Coltrane and Jimmy Nail. I dunno - how about Jason Lee? Is he available?

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005134/

I like that he can go from from being extraordinarily clever to earth shatteringly dumb and be totally believable being each. Another actor with that ability is Giovanni Ribisi. Both tend to crop up a lot in movies I like.

[widgetfox.livejournal.com]

I'm not familiar with either of the last two, but I'm not sure that either Coltrane or Nail have the right combination of solidity and the mercurial. Am wondering about Robert de Niro.

[psychochicken.livejournal.com]

I think I'm flattered by that. I presume we mean Stardust de Niro as opposed to the Godfather de Niro.

[widgetfox.livejournal.com]

Not completely familiar with Stardust but I think so.

[psychochicken.livejournal.com]

Agreed on the not needing to look like the person thing. We did this years ago with our whole social group and the suggestions were - ahem - entertaining. Possibly slightly revealing as well. I believe the best suggestions for me were Jimmy Nail and Robbie Coltrane. Bizarrely I see where they were coming from in both of those suggestions. For one person we pretty much all thought Jim Henson's creature shop was about the only option.

I don't know your partner particularly well but I'd have certainly thought Audrey Hepburn at least unlikely to offend.... But then I think no matter what you say it's open to good and bad interpretations.

[nicnac.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I suppose I just don't think of Audrey Hepburn as a woman of substance, but I do think that of your partner. Tricky one and, as you said, best avoided in a relationship ;o)