Monday, February 01, 2010

Vanity Fair "Dolls"

It's that time of year again. Vanity Fair refers to these nine actresses as "dolls" and we're certainly not here to dispute their smooth porcelain loveliness (the median age here is 23 and they're all lily white). But when I hear "dolls" now I think of only the Dollhouse, and I'm wondering just what "imprints" we're dealing with here. Which one of these girls is actually a savage killer? Or skilled in all positions of the kama sutra? Or a hostage negotiator? Or a genius computer programmer?


But more importantly, which of them will seem like a big "duh" for the cover treatment seven or eight years from now and which will be like a, "who...what now?". If you click on the Vanity Fair label below you can see past investigations of this Hollywood Issue's covergirls (and boys).

Abbie Cornish. Kristen Stewart. Carey Mulligan. Amanda Seyfried. Rebecca Hall. Mia Wasikowska. Emma Stone. Evan Rachel Wood. Anna Kendrick. Where will they be in 2020: The A-List? In the land of obscurity? headlining a TV series? at the Kodak Theater? Uninsurable has-been? Box Office Queen?

I know I ask too many questions but which doll do you want for your own? And which invisible doll (in this age range) are you angry you can't see on this magazine cover?

57 comments:

Marsha Mason said...

Zoe Saldana comes to mind. Maybe too old, though she's only about 3 yrs older than Hall or Cornish.

And maybe Marsha Mason. Only a few older than Zoe, right?

magicub said...

for now i'm going with evan rachel wood,Kirten stewart still looks like the boy from the panic room (oh she was that kid)

francisco said...

wheres gabby seriously

im pretty sure she deserves to be on it more than evan rachel wood

magicub said...

Amanda Seyfried!!!!, Could she be the next America's Sweetheart? there's an actual america's sweetheart?

Anonymous said...

Gabby! It's not fair!

NoNo said...

This is exactly why I wasn't upset in the slightest that Obama was on the cover last year. ::yawn:: next

Jorge Rodrigues said...

Curse Shia La Boeuf for dating Carey Mulligan.


She's so adorable I just want to turn her into a Japanese pillow and sleep with her every night :D


If we are not going for looks ('doll' reminds me of beauty, not hotness) and looking for hotness, I'm going with Evan Rachel Wood. I mean, that girl must be w-i-l-d.


I also dig a lot that quirky look of Emma Stone.

Clover said...

I do think we'll keep hearing about Evan Rachel Wood, and that's ok. The same with Abbie Cornish. And we're destined to hear a lot about Kristen Stewart even if we/her don't want to. I don't know why but I don't think Emma Stone or Anna Kendrick we'll be stars, and Rebecca Hall and Carey Mulligan seem like the type to always be there, even if they will never be as famous. Maybe they'll keep doing solid work in indies.

I don't miss anyone particularly. Maybe Emma Watson?

Michael Parsons said...

What a nice WHITE cover

Steven said...

Gabby should have been there.

Amir said...

abbie cornish and carey mulligan should be my personal dolls.

Jorge Rodrigues said...

If I were to say which kind of career these ladies will have in 10 years' time I'd say (I've decided to think of someone in their 30s/40s to whom I can compare the kind of sucess I'd expect from each one):


- Evan Rachel Wood - Juliette Lewis (capable of the best and of the worst)

- Rebecca Hall - Marisa Tomei (always loved, never fully considered a star, always considered an asset to her films)

- Abbie Cornish - Catherine Keener (very well regarded, never fully embraced)

- Amanda Seyfried - Sandra Bullock (I really do think she's more Bullock than Witherspoon or Roberts)

- Emma Stone - Anna Faris (I'd love that, wouldn't you?)

- Mia Wasikowska - ? (to me she's almost a total stranger so I don't know who to compare her to)

- Carey Mulligan - Keira Knightley - Kate Winslet (I think both will follow the latter's career type)

- Kristen Stewart - Kate Beckinsale?(it's the most paradigmatic case: it's not that she does not have the talent, it's not that she does not have the looks, it's just she LOVES to look plain boring and BORED and confused and indifferent and stiff) - I can't decide if she's serious about her craft...

CT said...

Mia Wasikowska is AMAZING. I watched In Treatment, season 1, solely for her. Cannot wait for Alice, and I really do think she has staying power---if she wants it.

Erich Kuersten said...

I've been on a feminist kick so this whole cover is offensive, but now that that's out of the way, no doll collection can be complete without Evan Rachel Wood, and KRISTEN STEWART ROCKS, though she DOES look a pouty boy on the cover.

Speaking of why not put pouty pretty boy John Robinson (ELEPHANT, DOGTOWN & Z-BOYS)in the shuffle, just to see if anyone notices?

Yeah, Vanity F, you guys are really subversive... I can't even tell these girls apart thanks to all that airbrushing.

Jorge Rodrigues said...

Keira Knightley is 24, Michelle Williams is 29, Emily Blunt is 26, Zooey Deschanel is 30 (turned 30 the 17th so I cheated and added her in this list anyway), Gabourey Sidibe is 26, Kirsten Dunst is 27, Natalie Portman is 29, Anne Hathaway is 27, Scarlett Johansson is 25.


I don't know how can we talk about New Generation in Hollywood without the girls I mentioned above. I don't think anyone of those has already completely proven their worth, some have Oscar nominations but they're all under 30 and will be names to remember in 10 years' time.

Anonymous said...

Mia Wasakowski is excellent in That Evening Sun, a gem of a film worth seeing if you get the chance.

Anonymous said...

They could really use a few more white women.

Andrea said...

WHERE IS EMILY BLUNT.

It really throws me off that Rebecca Hall is in there. She has the screen maturity of a thirty-four year old, and I'm always surprised when I remember how young she actually is. The most talented in the group, fo sho. Versatile and engaging without stunning looks to rely on, she'll have the longest career of them all.

Thais Afonso said...

I can't read Dolls and not think about Dollhouse either. It's just impossible.

Evan Rachel Wood has been in that issue for at least once before, and so has Seyfired. I think they are running out of actresses.

OtherRobert said...

What a thin, pretty, lily white grouping of actresses they pulled together for this...

Hate.

FrenchGirl said...

it's too vanilla,this pix with all these WHITE girls!!
is there no BLACK/HISPANIC/IDIAN/ASIATIC talented young actress in Hollywood?

The Pretentious Know it All said...

Being all but assured an Oscar nomination wasn't even enough to get Gabourey Sidibe a spot. Not even on the inside fold. I know there are a lot of factors here. I know she's not movie star beautiful.

I'm not one to play the race card, but it's so disheartening the way minorities of any kind are made to feel invisible.

Cinesnatch said...

I would like to put 200 on Emma Stone. I see good things for Carey Mulligan and Amanda Sygfried, for obvious reasons. I do not see much of a future for Evan Rachel Wood (did you see her on True Blood? Awful) or Kirsten Stewart. Abbie Cornish ... yawn ... or maybe there's an Alex Forrest lurking in her. She went pretty crazy IMO in "Bright Star."

Marsha Mason is funny. And Francisco never spoke truer words. Black list on the blackies anyone? And I don't care if Gabby is overweight. If she can work a red carpet, she can work a vanity fair cover.

Jorge, I think most of the girls you've mentioned have been on VF Hollywood covers of year's past. And I think KiKi has already crested.

Juno101 said...

Umm....no wonder Precious imagined a skinny, white girl in the mirror.

alex said...

Evan seems already too much of a household name to be here, right ?

jess said...

To all the cry babies on this site :

"Gabby" only has one great perf to her name. Evan Rachel Wood also has one (Thirteen), but she also had good perfs in great (The Wrestler) and well-received (Whatever Works, Across the Universe) films.

Comissão FMUC 2008-14 said...

vatz,

I know, I was just saying that this title, «2010 - New Generation Hollywwod» is not perfectly suited as most of the actresses I mentioned ARE the New Generation, along with these ones.

Hmm I like to think there's much more to come from Kirsten Dunst so I prefer to say she has not yet proven her value.

Jorge Rodrigues said...

This last comment was me, Jorge Rodrigues x)

Deus Ex Machina said...

The absence of Gabourey Sidibe is so obvious that feels as if those cool white girls gave her the wrong address to the party on purpose. So wrong.

Jorge Rodrigues said...

Yeah but I totally see why Gabby Sidibe is not on this cover.

- Only one job
- She's 26
- She's a bit overweight
- Everyone doubts she'll be highly castable for the future


So no VF cover ;)

Jude said...

You just reminded me how much I love Carey Mulligan and Anna Kendrick!

A.A. said...

The Gabourey Sidibe absence case is wrong on so many levels! Ok, no overweight black girls on the cover? Fine, then where's Freida Pinto? She's definitely frail enough for this cover. She's no acting genius, for sure, but are Kristen Stewart and Amanda Seyfried more deserving? Really? Where's Zoe Saldana? Where's Mélanie Laurent? It's not about being politically correct, or representing diversity, it's about who will be part of the New Hollywood. Lame.

Chris Na Taraja said...

You know, all week I've run into minority actors, male and female, who were complaining about how they are not recognized and the types of roles that are out there. Each time, I thought to myself "I know it's hard, but it's not about race."

Today seeing all the "dolls" in Vanity Fair, i have to agree that it seems racists. There is not one minority actres out there that can be considered a "doll"?!!

That's really astounding. To those minority actors who i poo pooed this week. i was wrong!

DN said...

I´m specially missing Mélanie Laurent, Saoirse Ronan and Gabby, and if Rebecca Hall is there ( a decission I really love)I think they coud have put Charlotte Gainsbourg too. Emily Blunt was in last year cover and I think so was Zoe Saldana. Dakota/Elle Fanning or maybe even Abigail Bresling would have been good choices too.

On the other hand I LOVE looking at Abbie Cornish, Anna Kendrick, Rebecca Hall, Evan Rachel Wood and Amanda Seyfried. But Kirsten!? I can understand it but I just hate her. And Emma Stone? I don´t get it. Mia was GREAT in In treatment.

And answering who is the kamasutra doll, looking at the cover I would say Kendrick, just watch that look and their... Looking at the other photo I´d say Emma Stone: what´s she doing with her hands?? Girl, wait, they´re taking you a photo!

mrripley said...

Abbie cornish over before she has begun,what was all the fuss about her in bright star no precusor love etc etc,I ThOUGHT SHE WAS THE 1 - MY 2009 BEST ACTRESS,I watched the film and found her to be unconvincing in her crying scenes and totally unperiod,too much tan and modern hair,truly overrated and I NOW SEE WHY SHE HAS BEEN SHUT OUT THERE WAS NOTHING IN THAT PERFROMANCE.

DN said...

And Abbie Cornish is really sexy, I just love her, specially in the second picture, what a nice dress! Also love Rebecca´s. But please...look at that photo carefully: don´t you think Amanda and Mia are really scary? It´s like Village of the Dammned meets Cube or something like that. Somebody please kill Mia´s hairdresser! and don´t you think Evan Rachel Wood has something of Bettie/Betty Page/Boop in both photos? And why Carey Mulligan looks like the everybody´s grandma?

Cocoa poof said...

I feel so proud to be black right now.

Well, Anna kendrick looks out-of-place. I really don't she wants to be a "doll".

Anonymous said...

It doesn't matter if Gabby has had only one role. She does have another project lined up, she's assured an Oscar nom. She should've been there. What about Frieda Pinto?? if Emma Stone is there she surely can be there too. And I don't know why every thinks that these spreads are only for people under 30. Amy Adams was on the cover two years ago and she's older than Winslet.

How was Mia in the Kids are All Right???

Nate said...

She's 26

Not sure what that means!!! Cornish is 27. Amy Adams was 33 when she was on the cover.
__________
This is exactly why I wasn't upset in the slightest that Obama was on the cover last year. ::yawn:: next
______________
Co-sign, seriously this is what everyone was mad about last year!!!

Anonymous said...

well, I don't think they were being racist. Granted, there's no diversity in the cover, but who would you put? we can only come up with names of other young white actresses.

Anonymous said...

Gabourey Sidibe
Frieda Pinto
Shareeka Epps
Emmanualle Chirqui

NoNo said...

And so what if they used Zoe two years ago. She wasn't on the cover and they did this practically same cover two years ago anyway...

http://www.ivstatic.com/files/et/imagecache/636/files/blog_articles/etvanity-fair-b.jpg

Mony said...

Evan rachel has been acting a while, so she isn't new. Kristen and Amanda have been on the cover of one already in 2008, so they don't need to be there this time. Emma Stone is not great so no to her also. These four could have been ommitted and they find other peeps.

Ronan could have been there. Blunt also.

What happen to the non white actresses, don't tell me they couldn't find any!!!!

The main one to look out for this year is Mia Wasikowska. Kendrick and Mulligan have a few projects also. Seyfried too but she has already been on a Hollywood Next Wave Issue.

Danny King said...

K Stew.

NATHANIEL R said...

anon 9:15. Read my review. I talk about Mia in it.

Anonymous said...

I predict:

-Rebecca Hall will end up with the most Oscar nominations.
-Amanda Seyfried will be the rom-com queen (just seems like that's where she's headed)
-Evan Rachel Wood will be the critical darling who avoids mainstream stuff and who never really "arrives"
-Kristen Stewart will fade into obscurity
-Anna Kendrick will never get another Oscar nomination

Chris Na Taraja said...

Erica Hubbard
Keke Palmer
Vanessa Hudgens
Devon Aoki
Kim Hildago
Jamie Chung
Demi Lavato
Any of the young women in the movie PRECIOUS

Pf_Iggy said...

I don't know why - because in the end all VF covers look pretty much the same- but I find this one particularly creepy. It's not only the über-whiteness of it (as an exaggerated version of Hollywood where translucent skin seems to be a value by itself as well as youth), but the homogeneity. How can such different actress look so much the same?
If I were a VF editor, I'd go unashamedly with the doll thing and would have them all dressed in Barbie outfits and would make them pose as such. At least, it'd show some sense of humor.
Covers like this one make it look as if there was someone at VF who uses the covers as wallpaper so s/he requires that all covers should use the same colors so they can all fit together. But, probably they prefer to call it "trademark" look. :)

Unknown said...

God forbid they put ANYBODY OF COLOR on the cover. Geesh. What America are they living in?

NATHANIEL R said...

troy hooper -- the America in which The Blind Side gets nominated for Best Picture.

Criticlasm said...

I love Anna Kendrick, but somehow I see a little Margaret Hamilton or Agnes Moorehead when I look at her - accomplished strong supporters. I think she'll work.

Forgive me, but Mia who?

I saw Rebecca Hall on stage as Rosalind, and she was fab. And I loved her in Vicky, Christina, Barcelona. She'll work, no question, whether in film or on stage.

Like Carey Mulligan and she seems to have her head on straight.

Kristin Stewart - holding any idea until after The Runaways pic, but she definitely would need to outgrow the teen angst thing. Can't see her doing work on par with Mulligan, Hall, Seyfried. Like Wood, and she's done some solid stuff.

Boy, looking at this, you can see how tough it is for actresses.

True, there could have been Saldan, or Epps, or anyone, really. They're all super-thin, too. With the pastels they all look like Necco wafers.

Karen said...

The three on the cover are fine by me. I still haven't seen Bright Star yet! Emma Stone would have been a nice addition.

Mental Meanderings said...

Jena Malone should be on the list.

Ashley said...

I know she was on the 2008 cover, but Ellen Page is an important member of this "young Hollywood starlet group". It would have made the cover a lot better. :)

Krystian said...

Jena Malone has a doll look but does not entirely fit in the atmosphere of the shots. Jena as a star is also not "new" enough.

Anonymous said...

me and my friend were talking about this last night and she mentioned that this so called 'list' is by no means prestigious, but more of a database of generic, interchangeable women that can be chewed out of the industry at any second, to be honest.

where is the diversity that hollywood is struggling to represent?

bad omission of Zoe Saldana there. bad, bad omission. she was in freaking star trek - which is embedded into american pop culture way more than anything emma stone, anna kendrick, kirsten stewart or any of those girls was in.

IzzyBizzy said...

Anybody who doesn't think race was a part of the decision making is in serious denial. Denying there's a problem IS THE PROBLEM. Vanity Fair definitely definitely stands by teir title.