As SarahMC said yesterday, we are all of us Harpies, a bit pressed for time and energy lately. Some of us are juggling other writing gigs; some of us are juggling other, uh, life gigs. Some of us are applying to liberating graduate school programs! (Like, um, me! More on that some other time.) Some of us are doing all of the above. At any rate I think I speak for the others and say we will try to be back in better form next week and not leave all the work to SarahMC and Becks, who have been shouldering a lot of the burden here. And the Natalie Merchant song’s been playing in my head every time I guiltily consult the Harpy daily email threads about what we’re posting.
In the meantime, how about, since we sort of know you only in text and by screenname, tell us who would play you in a movie of your life – and justify your choice? Don’t be overly dependent on physical characteristics – Hollywood is so good with the prosthetics and makeup these days – but try to capture your general demeanour, if you can, in stable of sadly-uniform film and television actors. Also, to keep the game from being a total wash: Amy Poehler, Tina Fey and Janeane Garofalo are totally unavailable, you guys.
I always get told I bear a passing resemblance to Rose McGowan (blech) but, having done what I am told is an excellent portrayal of Lady Bracknell in high school (the teacher-director said, “You put so much of yourself in the role!” uh, thanks), and being sort of a master of the over-the-eyeglass-rim sneer, I’m gonna go more with Judi Dench. We both appear sort of harmless initially, but could kick your ass six ways from Sunday.
Have at it!
I’ve been told I look like Parker Posey, which is cool, but I haven’t paid enough attention to her career to say if that would be a good call for me or not. Say what you want about her various acting gigs, but I’d be happy with Eliza Dushku playing me. I really identified with her character on Buffy and I think she’d really nail the vulnerable, damaged, defensive, angry, kinda crazy clusterfuck that is me.
Out comes the lurker, and of course I choose a post that really is nothing more than an act of self-indulgence to respond to. But, so be it.
In the movie of my life, I’d have to go with Minnie Driver. She’s tall and GASP… has curves… and is brunette with masses of frizzy curly hair to contend with (all like me), but beyond the looks department she also just seems to play silly but strong, self-possessed women with a heart planted very firmly on her sleeve (I cant help but relate to her roles in both Circle of Friends and Grosse Pointe Blank… oh, and Good Will Hunting). And she seems like someone who can drink the boys under the table and still kick their ass at darts or snooker or what have you. Which is all a pretty close amalgam of my sappy, snarky, silly self.
Claudia Cardinale
http://alsolikelife.com/shooting/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/claudia-cardinale-con-piume1.jpg
(note I’m not saying I look exactly like her, but I do have brown hair/eyes/big boobs)
I also pink boas while I’m…bathing? well who doesn’t?
In my dream world, Keira Knightly, but with boobs and glasses. I do have the brown hair and eyes and expressive eyebrows (and a little bit of the cheekbones if I flatter myself). But I suspect that she’s not really dorky enough. How about this: Keira Knightly if she acted like a combination between Sam from Stargate SG-1 (in the early seasons) and Ziva from NCIS.
Actually, having thought of that, Cote de Pablo, who plays Ziva, would perhaps be a good choice. I do really like that character, what with all the ass-kicking, name-taking, and problem-solving she does while still being snarky and silly sometimes.
I had to go to IMDB to figure this one out and it turns out the person I was thinking of is actually two different people. I was like, who is that skinny, quirky, geeky girl who often plays the sad sack best friend? Because I need an awkward, funny, sometimes-too-loud, smart girl to play me in the movie of my life. She’s going to have to trip on things and put her foot in her mouth a LOT. Here are the two I was apparently thinking are the same girl: Julie Ann Emery and Judy Greer. I think that if I was going to be really outrageous, I’d say Natalie Portman or Kiera Knightley.
so she’s not an actress and bares a significant physical resemblance, but also an significant sympathy in attitude: beth ditto.
The only actresses I was ever compared to looks-wise was Rebecca DeMornay (from back in her “Risky Business” days) and Sarah Michelle Geller. I don’t really see either.
But if I think the best fit would probably be for me to be portrayed by Natasha Richardson, a”h, if she could be resurrectd for the occasion.
I LOVE doing this. I may or may not have cast my entire family, roommate and love interests as well (I have predicted that later in life I will be fought over by guys who embody the essence of Hugh Jackman, Ewan McGregor AND Daniel Craig, if you can believe it)….I think for her ability to play smart and funny I’d like to be played by Sandra Bullock.
How funny. I made a class of mine write a response paper to this question (among others) recently…yes, there was pedagogical value. Fully half the girls in the class were sure they were Jennifer Aniston. One said Minnie Driver, one said Kathy Bates, but otherwise: starlets, all.
I’m terrible at this game, though. Can’t come up with names (and I suck at 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon). I don’t resemble anyone but my mother and random strangers’ Aunt Carol or jr. high choir teacher, but energy/personality wise? Maybe the pointy smart iciness of Glenn Close? Mixed with a little of the goofy vulnerability/warmth of Maggie Gyllenhaal. Sure, let’s go with that. (Good topic, PS!)
Though I look NOTHING like her, Glenn Close. She can scare the pants off of everyone in the room. Not afraid to be a total Bonerkiller. Apparently, people can find me intimidating. It’s not particularly intentional on my part. I mean, I’m not nefarious or anything like that, but it’s true, I don’t suffer fools lightly.
Claire “Crumpleface” Danes is the only actress who makes as many ridiculous faces as I do. Cranky teenage Imogen would have to be played by Clea Duvall. Don’t know who would play the older me, yet, though while we’re dreaming, I’d like to live a life worthy of being portrayed by Tilda Swinton.
Katee Sackhoff! Though this is aspirational casting–I wish I was bad ass enough to require Katee Sackhoff. Maybe Maggie Gyllenhaal. I wouldn’t kick Rachel Weisz or Amanda Seyfried off the casting couch either.
As P.Soul has herself suggested, my on screen alter ego is clearly Franka Potente, the German actress from Run Lola Run and the Bourne Identity. I look like her but she also gives off a somewhat similar energy to me (I imagine) — a bit wacky, unpredictable or even erratic, but ultimately strong, grounded, and will fight to the death for my people/side/cause.
Maggie Gyllenhaal has the messy curly hair and the ability to be a complete, clumsy nerd, so she’d probably be my first choice. I wouldn’t mind Rachel McAdams either, but that’s probably wishful thinking on my part.
Jenna Fischer from The Office. She’d have to put a few pounds on, but it might earn her an Oscar!
Some weird amalgam of Catherine Keener and Judy Greer. Catherine for smart, poised, and under the radar. Judy for awkward, and quirky. Physically, I can’t think of a single famous person I’ve been told I look like. What I do get A LOT is “I saw someone who looks just like you at [such and such a place] the other day!” Apparently I look generic!
I am frequently told that I look like a younger, blonder version of Catherine Keener. I don’t see it, but she does look a lot like an aunt of mine whom I am widely thought to resemble. And she’s had some fairly cool roles. I’m also often compared to Laura Dern, and I don’t know what to say about that.
When I was younger people often compared me to Mary Stuart Masterson, but I think the resemblance was less physical than based on the fact that she had a number of very tomboyish roles. If the shoe fits, I guess.
I also have been told I should be played by Judi Dench-I think it’s the short salt and pepper hair. But event though I’m the shortest person in my family, I’m not as short as Judi.
I wouldn’t care who plays me but I want either Viggo Mortensen or Daniel Day-Lewis to play my husband, and yes, there will be a casting couch.
Yay, there’s two of us Catherine Keener’s here!
I think I would be played by Claire Danes- both in vague physical resemblance (in the face, at least, though I’ve got a bit more in the bosoms department), and also in terms of her typically quiet, contemplative roles. The leading man would be played by Ron Livingston, since his appearance as well as his deadpan humor make him a ringer for his real-life character. Though I suppose he’s a bit old to play opposite Claire. The soundtrack would be all Elliott Smith, no question there.
oooh………Katee Sackoff! YES! I would love her to play me. She’s such a badass (and I’m so not).
I’ve been told I look like Tina Fey and on the (cruel) flipside, Sarah Palin as well.
Though I don’t look like her at all, I think I’d want Lauren Ambrose to play me. I think of myself as a mash up of her characters in Can’t Hardly Wait and Six Feet Under. I would also be happy if Maggie Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, or Winona Ryder would play me.
In terms of aspirational casting, I’d love to be cool/accomplished/audacious enough to be played either by Katherine Hepburn or Milla Jovovich. (Assuming we can both raise the dead and teach Milla better English.) I also love the ideas of Franka Potente or Parker Posey.
However, realistically? Hmmm… that’s tough. I’m pretty ordinary.
Ummm . . . I don’t know who I look like, but I’d really like to be played by Eddie Izzard. I think it would doubly amazing if he could affect a North Texas drawl.
I’ve been told Calista Flockhart could play me — if she grew 6 inches and put on about 40 pounds. Hmm. Is that an insult or a compliment?
I never imagined Izzard could pull off a north Texas drawl, but after running forty marathons in fifty days, who knows what he’s capable of.
Multiple people have told me I look like Oliver Martinez, so I’m not going to argue with that.
In my ideal world I’d love to be played by Christina Hendricks… but realistically I think it’s going to be Carol Burnett circa Miss Hannigan. I’m kind of a drunk. I sing inappropriately. I wear underwear as outerwear. I have a little curly redhead permanently attached to my hip.
Maybe Lauren Ambrose could swing it in a pinch.
If you want to know what I actually look like, Google yourself a picture of Kim Clijsters winning the US Open. I look exactly.like.that. (ok, she’s three inches taller and about 10 pounds thinner- but still! Shame she can’t act).
Several years ago, this was not just hypothetical, as one of my sisters had an “autobiographical” book that was made into a movie.
I decided that Brad Pitt would be best for me. (I look like Woody Allen.) In fact, I became a composite of two people and was played by some nameless local actor where the movie was shot, near Toronto. I had no real objections to the actresses who played my sisters who were in the movie, or to the actors who played everybody else. But me, I should have been played by Brad Pitt. I would have settled for George Clooney.
Of course, as the sibling who did not write the book, I had substantial issues with the versions of truth that were reflected in it, but that happens to all siblings.
I vaguely resemble Reese Witherspoon and Drew Barrymore, and either one would be awesome. Which would look better with Clive Owen? *laughs*
awww @bluebears I wanted to go there!! Claudia Cardinale ftw.
Depending on who ends up the better dancer, either Warren Sapp or Tom DeLay. I want to be depicted gracefully.
A friend recently compared me to Maura Tierney which was very flattering. Then she made me sad by telling me that Ms Tierney is currently battling cancer. I also look a little like Catherine Keener – same hairline and blue eyes.
For demeanour… am I allowed to delude myself (and you) and say Emma Thompson? I like to think I’m fun but I also often end up counting the pile of notes in restaurants, to make sure the tip is adequate.
Also, P.Soul, Judi Dench walks around London with serious bitch-face – I have seen this numerous times. She does not look harmless, she looks like 5ft of barely contained rage. (I know, now you love her even more.)
Apparently I should be played by Helena Bonham Carter according to many Americans i know but my dress sense is less er eccentric than it once was so maybe the supposed resemblence has faded over time.
Personally I would like to be played by Bette Davis in All About Eve or Lauren Bacall circa The Big Sleep so really not Lauren Bacall or Bette Davis but Vivien Sternwood Regan and Margo Channing if that makes sense. I look like neither of these women i’d just like to be played by them.
Oh man, like someone else said above, I’m no good at remembering names of actresses, roles, movies, and the like, and really suck at movie trivia and 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon games. I’ve been told I look a lot like Renee Zellweger, and the earnestness and earthiness common to many of her characters fits me well, at times. I’d also go with Claire Danes, as I can be an introverted and intense person, but with an inner strength people don’t always see at first.
But really, I think the perfect match would be Kyra Sedgwick’s character in Singles. When the movie came out in my early 20s, I admired her independence, freedom, and devotion to up and take off to Alaska to make a difference in the world, and wanted to be that character. Looking back, I’ve spent much of my adult life doing exactly that – traveling around the world trying to make a difference.
I usually lurk, but I guess this brought me out of the woodwork! Anyway, I think I’d pick Keke Palmer(from Akeelah and the Bee) to be me. I’m pretty young, and Keke is around my age now(she’s 15-16). The only other person I can think of is casting the older black lady from Touched by an Angel to be my grandma.
hm. The only actress I can think of that has the slightest resemblance to me would be Eliza Dushku, which is totally flattering myself-plus I like her. Basically I’d need someone cute, NOT stunningly beautiful as they all seem to be, but with the potential to be scary, as I am, apparently, intimidating. And I can’t think of anyone else.
The two celebrities I get compared to most often are Drew Barrymore and Kate Winslet. So it will be one of those two, depending on whether my life ends up as a comedy or a drama!
I’d want my Mr. to be played by a young Kevin Spacey (there is a picture out there of Kevin Spacey with a black lab that looks eerily like Mr. Kithkin with our pup), and I’d trust Jennifer Connelly to faithfully project my green-eyed, thick-eyebrowed, uptight, far too chatty, emotional wreck of a self on screen.
The Dude would be played by John Cusack (a little Lloyd Dobbler, a little David Shayne, a little Rob Gordon), with some Jeff Goldblumian Jew flava thrown in. The Dude is not Jewish, but everyone thinks he is. Rawr.
Oh, and the boyf would be played by Dave Grohl. Hoagie would be played by Snoopy.
I always get “you look like Dawn French” because we are both big with dark hair (we must be twins!!). But I would really like Alan Rickman to play me. Gender boundaries aside, I think he would get my motivation. And I love his voice. And I would love to see him capturing my years as a support worker.
Hmm, I actually find it harder to think about who would play my husband – the nearest I can come up with is a very out of shape Clive Owen that is Owen if he was an inch or two shorter and somewhat larger with Irish builder’s hands.