Actors vs Actresses?

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If I were to spout out my favorite performances it would definitely be a male majority, but I don't find it difficult naming a lot of my favorite actresses. Most of the actresses I list have some kind of personal appeal to me I'm sure. I'm not claiming that these are the best actresses EVAR or anything like that. Anyway, in particular order

Laura Linney (The Squid and the Whale, Savages)
Julianne Moore (Magnolia, Boogie Nights)
Nicole Kidman (Eyes Wide Shut, Margot at the Wedding)
Kate Winslet (Eternal Sunshine, Little Children)
Rachel McAdams (guilty pleasure type stuff)
Scarlett Johansson (Lost in Translation)
Natalie Portman (Garden State, Leon)
Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married)
Naomi Watts (Mulholland Dr)
Laura Harring (Mulholland Dr)
Audrey Hepburn (Breakfast at Tiffanys)
Francis McDormand (Fargo)
Gwyneth Paltrow (The Royal Tenenbaums, Hard Eight)
Rachel Weisz (The Fountain)
Cate Blanchett (The Aviator)
Helen Mirren (The Queen)
Angelina Jolie (Girl, Interupted)
Sharon Stone (Casino)
Katharine Hepburn (The Philly Story)
Angelica Houston (The Royal Tenenbaums)
Wynonna Ryder (Girl, Interrupted)
Kim Basinger (L.A Confidential)
Kate Hudson (Almost Famous)
Bette Davis (All About Eve)
Sigourney Weaver (Alien, Aliens)
Susan Sarandon (Dead Man Walking)
Emily Watson (Punch-Drunk Love)
Jodie Foster (The Silence of the Lambs, Taxi Driver)
Meryl Streep (Adaptation)
Zooey Deschanel (All the Real Girls, (500) Days of Summer)


Now, there are several threads were mofo's list their favorite *fill in the blank here*, so be sure to use the search function.

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If I had a dollar for every existential crisis I've ever had, does money really even matter?

I assume from your list your idea of iconic means just strong actors, not also major stars. Therei is some there that are borderline in my opinion and there are many omissions. As for great great female actresses, I would add:

Katherine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Greta Garbo, Barbara Stanwyck, Meryl Streep, Vivien Leigh, Ann Bancroft, Anna Magnani, Glenda Jackson, Vanessa Redgrave, Glenn Close, Maggie Smith, Shirley MacClaine, Shelley Winters, Wendy Hiller, Deborah Kerr, Cicely Tyson, and Joanne Woodward. But I can't get up to 30.

My list is more like, oh I have seen a good (in some cases amazing) performance or two from this chick. Although some of them would be iconic or whatever. Obviously Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Rachel McAdams, etc I just think are really hot and have been in some good films (In Scarlett's case, one of my favorite films). FWIW, I agree with the OP, it would be easier for me to name iconic male actors over female actors.

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whoa whoa WHOA! Too many rules. I'm out.

lol ok. But I think you made some interesting observations, would have been good to see you add some examples to your list

Also, maybe add some male stars alongside too, for comparison.

I'd also like to see Best Actor and Best Actress changed at the Oscars, and changed to simply, Best Performance. But I guess that's a whole other topic..

I think this is a very tricky question.
When you start to use words like 'Iconic' and 'Legends' in regards to actors/actresses you seem to name many Hollywood people who have been around for decades, and in my opinion (while I agree they fit both those words) they were in Hollywood in a time when really great roles for women were a lot harder to come by. Right up until even in the 60's women were treated as lesser beings in comparison to men, and that shows in the movies made in that time.

I would say there have been some down right amazing performances from women in cinema, but for some it has been their ability to be understated, that has made them great. Then there has been some outright brilliant roles that blew me away. Thankfully I think we now live in a time where women have the opportunity to blow cinema out of the water.

Unfortunately I don't have time right now to make a list for you, but I will most certainly come back to this topic when I get back from work. I just wanted to give you something to think about in the meantime.

(Side note: love being back on the forums. yay!)

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Why should we do something you didn't do? You didn't list individual performances. With the criteria of an outstanding performance maybe a few of mine would go off, but most have it easy.
You changed it, You didn't have those movies on there before. Joan Crawford Queen Bee? You gotta be kidding. Mildred Pierce is the obvious choice. Faye Dunaway Mommie Dearest? That was practically a parody. Silly me would have gone with Bonnie and Clyde or Network or Chinatown.

alright dude, I updated the girls with some favorite films. As I mentioned earlier, there are plently of threads consisting of favorite actors and such and I am too lazy to type out male actors.

It has to do with "time" Not saying I agree, but there it is. My favorite actors are women, my favorite top 4 actors are all female. BTW, actor is not a gender specific word. Women can be actors too.

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“The gladdest moment in human life, methinks, is a departure into unknown lands.” – Sir Richard Burton

What a terrific topic. The "answer" to your question, I would venture to guess lays in describing how gender roles are perceived in terms of dramatic content. Just look at the lead roles that you mentioned for your favorite performances. They all seem specifically tailored for a masculine identity. Why is it so much harder to imagine a gender-reversed version of Dances With Wolves or American History X. Do these films even make sense with women in these roles? In other words... what is it about the role of the male in society that lends itself (or at least seems to lend itself) to a dramatic narrative?

Hmmm...

EDIT: Fiscal's post is freaking trick despite its "relevance". I agree with basically all his choices, and it's very eye-opening to see how the nature of female roles differ from those of male roles. Taking both the OP's and Fiscal's posts ALONE and finding the common strains and differences between them is a task I dearly want to attempt.

All in all, I've said pretty much nothing... carry on, thread.

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"Loves them? They need them, like they need the air."

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Hi I'm EricAshCad, a new member here. In my spare time I like to accuse people of being feminists, or of atleast enjoying Women Studes.

Making these lists are subjective, it is still going to be a matter of opinion when you ask someone to type out THE BEST EVAR type lists. There isn't a uniform answer, as I think you know, so lay off of the elitist sh*t, no one wants to read or participate in a thread like this if the original poster is a d*ck.

I mentioned above that this list consisted of a lot of average performances. I needed those to complete a list of 30 actresses, because I would agree that it is much more difficult to garner a list of iconic women performances than it is men.

I was honestly looking forward to posting a list here. I'd been thinking about it all evening while I was at work. I thought this was going to a very interesting discussion about the role of men vs. women in cinema.

Then I come back to these responses. I became so furious, that I had to walk away for a moment. I was going to start responding to every little thing you said in your response to me, but I realised that regardless of what I said, I'm going to get a negative response.

You will think it's "politically correct/feminist drivel", or that I'm just trying to impress someone so I can get laid.

You're possibly now going to respond saying I'm copping out because I don't have an argument against you or some other random reason. Which couldn't be farther from the truth.

Honestly, I come to these forms to enjoy myself, and I may get my first ever sub down for this, but it will be worth it:

You Sir, are sucking the fun out of it.

Regards,

zen.

Oh and one last thing, because I just can't help myself.

What the smeg man? Are you trying to get us to do your homework or something? Geez.

Men=actors, women=actresses. And please address the OP properly. Or simply don't participate at all. It's not much to ask, no?



Your taking my reply out of context. Actually, I was responding to this post by Will.15:

His post was initially hostile, so my rebuttal was just in its tone and content.

Plus, he didn't address the OP, which says he cannot objectively deny its worth and so goes on the defensive. Given the subject matter, only a feminist or white knight would genuinely take offence.

To be honest, you yourself even admitted you'd be hard pressed to find 30 iconic actresses and actually agreed with my OP.

Also, I would hazard a guess that if anyone was to name 30 iconic performances from both actors and actresses, they would find far more actors in their lists (if they are being honest and not trying to make a point against this OP) than they would actresses.

It's an interesting topic, that hasn't changed. I'm still waiting for your complete answer to this.

Are you serious?

Have you ever had a debate/discussion before?

You really 'walked away'?

You're either overly sensitive/irrational or are squirming out of the debate on false grounds. Let's hear what you have to say in regards to the OP please.

You'll get an honest response. This thread is about honesty and what you (as a viewer) really feel about actors and actresses.

Generally, anyone who won't objectively look at a topic such as this and immediately goes on the defensive is, as a rule of thumb, feminist and/or white knighting to impress females. It may not be what you want to hear, but that's the way it tends to go.

Well then, stop making excuses and answer this thread.

Btw, I have spent time answering everyone here and have backed-up my arguments, so I expect the same in return.

Waits with baited breath for a tangible answer

No. It wasn't at all. No one has been hostile towards you, what are you talking about?

Yes, I did. What's your point?

Still agree, and I don't believe many people are disputing that?

What are you on about? I genuinely don't know what this means.