Are performers justified in unwillingness to talk about previous work?

[JACXR71]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 2:08pm

What performers (film/tv/music/theatre) would you say owe more credit to an early role/performance than they're willing to give? Who would you say is justified in trying to stay as far away from a particular role/image as possible?

I understand the whole not wanting to be stereotyped, pigeonholed or typecast, but when does one cross the line from trying to distance oneself from a certain character to downright shame/embarassment/arrogance to talk about where they got their start?

One example that springs to mind is Renee Zellweger saying on record (of course I can't find where - pretty sure it was post-Oscar) that she wishes she never did Empire Records because of the quality of the movie, despite the fact that it got her name out there and created an extremely large fanbase early on.

Other examples that come to mind are Idina (pre-London Wicked, that is), Justin Timberlake, Megan Mullally, among others. Again, I'm not saying these are all people who SHOULD give more credit, just people who are known for trying to shed a certain image/character.

Thoughts?

Updated On: 9/7/06 at 02:08 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 2:10pm

Bebe Neuwirth and CHEERS/FRASIER. Her tv stardom allowed her to come back to Broadway with enough of a name to do what she wanted in the theater.

But refer to Lilith in her presence, and you better be a fast runner.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 2:10pm

Susie Sarandon in Rocky Horror Picture Show. I'm surprised she hasn't bought up every copy and burned them.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 2:16pm

I think it's very much a catch-22, in the sense that... I can understand wanting to shed an image, especially if being associated so very strongly with one image might limit the ways in which people consider you and your abilities. But, at the same time, I don't think wanting to shed the image means no paying respectful dues to the things that got you where you are, or further, pretending they don't even exist.

Updated On: 9/7/06 at 02:16 PM

[Calvin]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 2:28pm

What about performers who do it despite the fact that they haven't found much success elsewhere? (ahem...Eve Plumb...)

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 2:30pm

They don't count.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 2:31pm

I was going to add Faye Dunaway for MOMMIE DEAREST, but she had major success before then and not much after. However, MOMMIE DEAREST is a cult classic and many people know her from that. She should be proud!

Updated On: 9/7/06 at 02:31 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 2:34pm

What about performers that have to address other people's work?

I think Maggie Gyllenhaal has the right to deck the next person that mentions Jake.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 2:35pm

Don't even mention "Mommie Dearest" around dear Faye Dunaway unless you want to lose an eye.

I think performers can choose to talk or not talk about whatever they want. Imagine if after you got your MBA, you prospective employer just wants to grill you about your summer job at Dairy Queen in high school where you slept with the assistant manager. I think you'd be pretty annoyed as well. Mucking around in the past isn't always fun, especially if you are future oriented and want to look at current project. Actors, like us, know that you can't change the past, so why bother placing a lot of emphasis on it.

I don't think we should hold celebs to any different standards. If they are not comfortable discussing something in a certain venue, respect the request and move on.

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 2:48pm

Rivers Cuomo and "Pinkerton" He sort just acts like they never made that album, despite it being Weezer's best.

Posted: 9/7/06 at 2:54pm

Michelle Pfeifer...Grease 2...yeaaaaaa abouuut that lol

[yodamarie78]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 2:59pm

Renée Zellweger has The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre on her resume and Empire Records is the movie she wants to disown?

[WOSQ]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 3:45pm

In the mid-70s Lauren Hutton was being interviewed on some local talk show in Boston. It was like nine in the morning and the program was done live.

She was asked what she did during the 60s in addition to modeling.

"F*cked around a lot."

It is the first known case of that particular word going out over the airwaves.

How refreshing to hear someone own up, really own up to past behavior.

Updated On: 9/7/06 at 03:45 PM

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 4:21pm

Saw Susan Sarandon on a talk show recently (can't remember which - I was flipping) and she said how she had been embarassed by Rocky Horror for a long time, but that now she was ok with it, that it was fun to do and remember.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 4:23pm

I don't understand what's embarrassing. What was her issue?

[StageManager2]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 4:26pm

Five years ago, Bebe did a TV promo for CHEERS when it was first shown on Nickelodeon, so I don't think she's all that embarrassed by it. She has also guest starred in FRASIER as the Lilith character.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 4:28pm

SM, she notoriously doesn't like people to mention it in person.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 4:31pm

Glenn Close and UP WITH PEOPLE.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 4:32pm

That was definitely her big break.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 4:33pm

I wasn't implying it was her big break, just that she won't discuss it.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 4:34pm

Would you?

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 4:36pm

If I were Glenn Close I would. It's certainly the best thing she's ever done, musically!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 4:37pm

Got me there!

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 6:37pm

"Other examples that come to mind are Idina"


....and what show does she not give credit to?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 6:44pm

Yeah, that confused me, too.