Thoughts We Had... THR's Annual Actress Roundtable Cover
Thursday, November 19, 2015 at 12:45PM We'll have to wait a little while for the full video, which is more fun than the cover but it's always exciting to see THR's roundtable covers nonetheless. Like Vanity Fair's "Hollywood Issue" -- less thrilling than it once was for a myriad of reasons -- it's a tradition that is both great fun for its glamour and personality and highly aggravating for its exclusions and repetitions and limited world view... just like, HEYYYY, the Oscars themselves!
By now you know the drill. First an image. Then the thoughts that come to mind without self-censorhip after the jump...
• So very blonde (we'll get to the 'so white' part later). What would we do without Charlotte Rampling and Carey Mulligan? Thanks for being... uh... non-blonde. Couldn't they find a ginger (*surveys awards season landscape -never mind*) or someone with black hair? There were at least a couple of options for black hair.
• "What would we do without Charlotte Rampling?" is actually an all purpose useful question, removed from the context of this cover and awards season entirely.
• WHERE IS LILY TOMLIN? The fact that they've revealed that they chose this group in September makes her absence especially galling since that was the peak of Grandma's popularity! Paired with the absence of Cate's onscreen love Rooney Mara this is especially heternormative of them. It's like "here are eight beautiful women touching each other - NO HOMO"
• The absence of Alicia Vikander, the year's unquestionable "it" girl, is kind of a shock.
• Brie Larson, scene aka cover stealer. Go Brie. Remember that scene in The Player where Cher shows up to a black and white party in dazzling bright red? That.
• I love Room but this is also justice for (or momentum from) Short Term 12. That said I don't quite buy the "she's going to win the Oscar" feeling that a lot of people have. I'm not there yet. Hope to be but...
• How do you gather eight spectacularly charismatic movie stars, a few of them bonafide legends at that, and make a photo this boring? Try harder THR.
• This alternate photo is slightly better just because there's more angles / poses. And Helen Mirren & Carey Mulligan's ensembles pop in a much more major way. Red heels for Dame Helen, that minx.
• It's weird that Dame Helen was included. TBH I thought she was phoning that shit in in Woman in Gold. Yikes. But maybe they included her for Trumbo, sight unseen?
• How weird would it have been to be the director of this shoot? "Kate, cuddle with Fonda a bit. Ms Fonda, drape your manicured fingers on Brie's jacket. Winslet's knee compels you -- TOUCH IT, CATE, TOUCH IT!"
• Bet you anything they had to explain to Jennifer Lawrence who Charlotte Rampling is. Oh the humanity. (Sigh)
• Have none of these women ever worked together? I'm drawing a blank if they have. Actresses don't get to work together enough since films are so male-dominant.
• OK, so the elephant in the room. Everyone's mad that this is an all white cover. THR anticipated the outrage and published this explanation. As every loyal reader knows TFE has championed many actresses of color over the years and we wish the movies were diverse. But I gotta tell you... personally, I'm sick of the messenger being shot with the public outrage each awards season. It's neither THR's fault nor The Academy's fault that actors of color aren't getting the kind of roles that generally result in Oscar buzz. It's a systemic problem in the halls of power in Hollywood, with the executives, directors, suits, producers, casting directors, agencies, and even possibly some of the stars (who have co-star approval) and so on. In fact, when actors of color get the quality roles in Oscar-accessible pictures, they tend to get nominated.
For example, I know some people are griping that Kitana Kiki Rodriguez & Mya Taylor of Tangerine weren't featured. And yes they are great great fun in Tangerine... but let's be real. They are not A listers, legends, former nominees/winners, or frontrunning contenders and you usually have to be at least one of those four things to land covers like this. Do we wish these covers would be scrappier and less A-list focused in their choices? Sure. But at least they're consistent. Oprah, Viola, Octavia fit into at least one of those categories and they were on the panels in their years. This situation is much different than the Vanity Fair Hollywood issue situations of yore where actors of color would be excluded for no particular reason (since it wasn't specifically about any type of thing like "Oscar buzz") or hidden on the back fold of the cover.
Thus we propose a scrappier indie buzz cover. If only TFE were a print magazine.
Our cover would look like this. (Fold out, natch) It would sell 10 copies max but who cares! Think of the conversation that would erupt in a room with these women. And Yes, Todd Haynes also gets to be there because a room of actresses talking deserves a genius actressexual as moderator.
Reader Comments (99)
BTW, when I interviewed Amy Adams last year I asked her about the THR roundtables and she had an EXCELLENT answer. She said, quite simply, that she does them because they ask her and because it's rare to be able to sit with other actresses and talk. She said they see each other on red carpets and the like, but rarely would she get the chance to sit with Patricia Arquette face to face and talking about gender equality, or sit with Julianne Moore and talk about what directors she enjoys working for.
We may find her bland on these gigs, but I respected that answer.
Nathaniel- has Streep ever participated in a THR Actress Roundtable?
I miss Amy Adams.
Also, I like J Lawrence plenty, but Nathaniel's comment was completely called for and hi-larious.
@Jessica Chastain: Lol!!
I guess everyone o us hav an Oscar fav who shld be on the cover. I agreed the omission o Tomlin, Mara & Vikander are glaring, but well thr's only 8 slots....the cover is also not a 100% indicative guide o Oscar nom...
When will the world come to its senses and stop with the Jennifer Lawrence-craze? - it's getting embarrassing now.
And when will the world come to its senses in regards to the overrated Kate Winslet ?
Neither of them deserve to share a photo OR a roundtable with Cate Blanchett.
I'm more than good with Brie Larson.
But Alicia Vikander and Saoirse Ronan should've been there.
Alicia Vikander and Saoirse Ronan probably find awards and everything surrounding it to be silly (which it is, of course)
TBH, I'm not upset of Vikander's absence. The young foreigner usually comes off as looking a little bit out of place/uncomfortable. Remember Felicity Jones last year? Teeny tiny quiet as a mouse, that one.
It's not a matter of an actor finding something silly. It's about them signing a contract when they agree to appear in the film to do this sort of publicity (which surely all of them do).
alicia vikander not caring about awards? doubtful...
"Next year, the Oscars will be interesting. If all goes well, I’m going to have three films in contention."
They had the nerve to call this group "The Great Eight" and not even invite Jennifer Jason Leigh, lmao
Also... why did they need to "supersize" this panel, yet invite people like Helen Mirren?? That makes absolutely no sense to me. I don't think a single soul was expecting Helen Mirren to have awards traction this season.
Overall, I think this is one of the worst groups they've chosen. So many more interesting choices could've been made.
No one here seemed to mind the absence of Blythe Danner. Is it just a tough crowd or do I really have to give up my hopes of seeing her honored on nomination day? I think I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best.
Why is Jane Fonda even in awards conversation for her 4,5 minute role in Youth, I'll never know. It's not like it's a weak year for best supporting actress
@3rt What? It's not irrational. I just don't like her very much in Dangerous Liaisons and I am not alone on that. And Close is great in Fatal Attraction, but not Cher in Moonstruck great.
I've read in other venues of a possible Mirren nomination for Trumbo. I'm surprised no one else has mentioned that. Two or three reviews, good and bad, mentioned her as a highlight of the film. Besides, if the Weinsteins can buy a Best Actress nomination for Judi Dench sleepwalking her way through the pathetic Mrs. Henderson Presents, I'm not so sure we should be discounting Mirren's chances for Woman in Gold so soon. (Remember when Joan Rivers asked Juliette Binoche on the red carpet if she was expecting to win for Chocolat and Binoche cracked up and said, merely, "No?")
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e1/4b/36/e14b36ed49bdec04594b21792ca8064f.jpg
Can anyone share with me if this came with a roundtable discussion?
Wish Tomlin, Danner and Vikander were there instead of Mirren, Lawrence...
If Blanchett's doing this, she pretty evidently cares about a 3rd Oscar.
I also think she might be a bit furious SPC decided to release Truth this year. Handling press for two big performances in films released within a month from one another is bound to be annoying. I've been watching the interviews and she's saying the same stuff about her characters, co-stars, and directors over and over again, because what more can you say, really...
I think Timlin was absent because they thought putting both the leads of Grace and Frankie in the panel might be too much.
Weren't Charlotte Rampling and Carey Mulligan both in Never Let Me Go. Don't remember if they shared a scene.
It's interesting that people were so offended by that JLaw comment. But I don't regret it. i'm genuinely curious if critics of the comment can point me to ANYTHING about Jennifer Lawrence that points to curiosity about learning more about anything. She's a talented actress and I understand that on screen that is what's most important. I get that and I give her that.. But I personally think it's also important in any industry, should one join it --especially if one unexpectedly find oneself at the top of it, whether that's medicine, florals, zookeeping, Human Resources, whatever, to actually care about knowing about it. I mean Christ, Jane Fonda has won two Oscars and is even humble enough to take more acting classes!
Call that "condescending" if you will. But i think it's just common sense and an appreciation of those who are grateful for their great fortune. I can't help that I respect people who are curious about their chosen art form more than people who aren't. "if that makes me an awful person, i guess i'm an awful person," he said with great confusion as to why this offended you.
Or saying this all much more condensed I point you to Hayden's comment which 100%. thank you Hayden
P.S. I am 100% aware that many people don't know who Charlotte Rampling is so this season could well be happy in that way. This is an excusable blindspot if unfortunate in a world that doesn't really care about film culture... least of all international film culture. but honestly I thought most readers of this site did care about those things... so it's strange that hoping you care about it is viewed as "condescending" and "too intellectual"
On this Hamlet thing, I am sure JLaw remembers Mel Gibson accurately.
My first knowledge of Rampling came with Searching for Debra Winger. I didn't immediately seek out her movies. She showed up in Basic Instinct 2 for some reason. But again I did not seek her afterwards. There is a Charlotte Rampling documentary the title escapes me which sold me on Rampling's unusual filmography. I can imagine Nicole Kidman being inspired by the bold choices Ramplinng made in material.
Cal Roth you said you were glad Glenn Close never won an Oscar for any of her 5 nominations from the 80's. And Cher was not superior to her category rivals.
sati - Because she's Jane Fonda. I haven't seen Youth, but my guess is Sorrentino wrote her a really good monologue made for a movie star doing a TV series - half of the nomination is for the monologue, and half is for her star power/legacy. I've always thought she was overrated as an actress, and she routinely pales next to her scene partners (including Tomlin in Grace and Frankie - that was one time the Emmys made the right choice). She'll end up bumping someone like Elizabeth Banks or Joan Allen (neither of whom made the cover either) for Oscar nod she really doesn't need or, I suspect, deserve.
I'm all for the Jennifer Lawrence burn! If her ubiquitousness this Award Season means that she will be a victim of such snarky remarks, then I am visiting this site every hour, every day until the day after the Oscars. People need to realize that she isn't the resurrected Jesus.
I re-remembered Charlotte Rampling when on another site someone suggested that one of the actresses in Les Revenants looked like 'a young Charlotte Rampling'. To which someone else replied 'and how does a young Charlotte rample?' ... Made me laugh.
Yes I agree, its neither THR and The Academy's fault. There really isn't any notable, awards-worthy roles for women of colour this year. I am very glad Charlotte Rampling is included and I think J.Law knows who she is...
The questions by Stephen Galloway are however, repetitive and boring. He has being asking 75% of the same questions since the first actress roundtable *yawn*
was also annoyed at the j-law burn (yes, I'm a fan, but also I don't remember a single recent post about her without one)...
regarding wanting to learn, isn't she interested in directing? I remember something she said about filming "the burning plan", and wanting to understand editing, camera work or something. also she's writing with schumer and her sister. so I'm guessing she is curious and still wants to discover new things.
(cue laughs and "oh god this dumb blond can't possibly write and direct")
"On this Hamlet thing, I am sure JLaw remembers Mel Gibson accurately."
LOL
Dear Nathaniel,
great writing as usual.
Bet you anything they had to explain to Jennifer Lawrence who Charlotte Rampling is. Oh the humanity. (Sigh)
I almost feel off my chair because I was laughing soooooooooooo hard.
JLaw is not ressurected Jesus, but she is the only movie star born in this millennium. We should cherish her.
Cal -- good point. And i think i've made clear over the years that i think she's a very good actor and an awesome celebrity. so my conclusion: people are way too touchy. There's no reason to be so touchy when she is spectacularly popular and honored in every way everywhere.
Marcelo -- here are five quite recent Jennifer Lawrence posts that are not in any way negative and are mostly complimentary unless people are extraordinarily touchy when they hear that David O. Russell likes to cast her older (a fact) or are extraordinarily touchy when people wish other actresses had some of her opportunities (a fair comment that applies to all superstars and all actors who are underutilised and which we've said about many other superstars, not just Lawrence.
http://thefilmexperience.net/blog/2015/10/22/jennifer-lawrence-the-race-to-break-oscar-records.html
http://thefilmexperience.net/blog/2015/10/21/yes-no-maybe-so-nobody-owes-joy-anything.html
http://thefilmexperience.net/blog/2015/10/15/links-jennifers-world-screenplay-competition-genas-glory.html
http://thefilmexperience.net/blog/2015/9/17/whats-next-for-jennifer-lawrence.html
http://thefilmexperience.net/blog/2015/8/20/highest-paid-actresses-2015-edition.html
I 100% co-sign Nathaniel's (rather innocuous) remarks about Jennifer Lawrence. It really worries me when someone is considered to be beyond reproach.
Truth bomb: I think she's given only one strong performance (Winter's Bone), many mediocre ones, and some that are embarassingly amateur (American Hustle, Serena). She strikes me as very ignorant (disparagingly referring to herself as a "dyke," making insensitive comments about the mentally ill), and I'm not amused by the fact that she can't get through an interview without swearing many times or referencing her bodily functions. Moreover, I'm not charmed about her whining over her celebrity when she makes $20 million per film and chose this life.
I can't recall another celebrity who has been so widely overpraised.
As a culture, I wish we would stop celebrating the loud, obnoxious types and pay more attention to thoughtful, intelligent people who have meaningful things to say.
Count me in Nathaniel's corner on the JLaw comment. Look, I get why people like her. She's got looks, charisma, and a down-to-earth, don't-give-a-damn charm that people find refreshing. But that doesn't make her immune to criticism.
Frankly, and I can't find a more tactful way of saying this, she lacks class, culture, and refinement. (I totally realize this makes me sound like a snob and in no way hurts her career or her appeal.)
Also, I for one have been totally underwhelmed by all her collaborations with David O. Russell, especially "American Hustle." Her best work was in the Hunger Games movies.
Didn't JLaw share how she recently got very drunk in order to do her love scene with Chris Pratt, who is married? I found that a little odd, since she is supposed to be an actress, not a porn star. And people need to stop being so defensive. If you can't make a joke about any actress, life will be less fun.
We know there are very few roles for women of color each year that come into play in the Oscar race, so Stephen's whitesplaining was both unnecessary and nauseating. But he showed his true non-colors with that anecdote about F. Gary Gray. Straight Outta Compton was released two months before The Martian and defied the industry's (low) critical and commercial expectations; no question he earned a spot in the round table. Stephen foolishly thinks he's part of the solution when he is a part of the problem.
NewMoonSun - I politely disagree with the first part of your statement. The fact that he penned that explanation BEFORE any controversy or complaints shows that they're actually aware of the issue (which is actually somewhat shocking, considering Hollywood's tendency to be a sheltered bubble cut off from cultural conversations) and feel that it deserves acknowledgement. That actually speaks to progress as just a few years ago they probably wouldn't have thought anything at all about having an all-white cover.
Furthermore, there are PLENTY of people who would blame THR for not featuring women of color even though there's no real contenders for the Oscar this year. There's plenty of knee-jerk reactions to things like this all over the internet - people see the cover and they make a judgement without knowing what the article is really about.
Your second point I totally agree with. His explanation is pitiful and Gray totally deserved to be there and probably would've made the roundtable much more interesting.
Sorry, NewMoonSon, for misspelling your name.
If Joy is a sizeable hit, Jennifer Lawrence will likely win her second Oscar and that is guaranteed to make this Oscar season's comment section meltdown the best since Meryl Streep's snatching Viola Davis's wig on Oscar night.
I like the look of the actresses this year on the Hollywood Reporter magazine
DJDeeJay: I don't believe in awarding white people medals because they recognize/state the obvious, and that's all Stephen did in that essay. If he wrote it to get in front of the controversy that an all-white cover would generate, it clearly didn't work. I agree that much of the criticism is misguided and dismisses or misses the cultural context, but you just can't justify an all-white cover in 2015 with a "that's the way things are" shrug. A truly responsible, progressive publication wouldn't do such a cover.
Also, Stephen acts as if THR has no power in this fight; the publication helps form and define the narrative around Oscar season, as well as bring to the industry's attention actors and film makers of note who are under or out of the Academy's radar. But when a golden opportunity presents itself (i.e., Gray), he/the staff default to white once again. A lot of good that so-called awareness is doing them...
NewMoonSon - I don't think stating that its progress is giving him a medal. I just find that these kinds of statements are issued AFTER people have started complaining and they didn't wait for that to happen. Again, for a Hollywood-based publication, that seems like a new development to me.
And I'm genuinely, honestly curious: what women of color should be on this cover? Who among them is really in the conversation? And yes, THR is partly responsible for forming the conversation, but this isn't about every cover they've done this year. For THIS cover, who should be on there?
And yes, again, I totally agree they blew it with Gray.
1. I will always support a little humour when it comes to ANY A list actress. Let's not forget that these actresses have a sense of humour about themselves as well. A joke about JLaw not knowing Charlotte Rampling - piffle. She can take it, and she makes her own jokes -both she and Cate joke about Hamlet. They all joke around about alternate careers and sex scenes - thank god. Nathaniel please don't get discouraged by this and don't stop making jokes.
2. Nathaniel since the THR roundtable is defective in terms of diversity, content, and moderator, perhaps you can use your influence to get us an alternative.
Why not try to set up an alternative with an Oscar winning actress (of a certain age) who could moderate a less stuffy alternative? Think of these actresses as Dowager Countesses who wish to do something useful. I bet you (or Katey Rich at Vanity Fair) could line up a few actresses to talk to Susan Sarandon or Kathy Bates. Set it up in a garden or by a pool and do a looser more fun version of these things. Maybe invite a comedy actress (Rose Byrne) Just an idea... I swear someone is going to do it at some point because it needs to happen.
DJDeeJay: Gotcha, but "new development" doesn't necessarily mean "progress." Progress to me would be having that staff meeting, realizing there are no women of color to include, and deciding not to feature eight white faces on the cover (which of course begs the question: are there any editorial staff of color on THR?). I would take his truly being aware seriously if THR went that route (I can name a half dozen men of color that should be in the conversation but no women, and that's the cover story they should be digging deeper into). Refusing to do yet another "whiteout" sends a clear message to the industry that more aggressive steps need to be taken. Instead, they just endorsed the status quo. Not a good look.
NewMoonSon - Yeah, that would be great. Ideal, even. Realistic? Probably not. But still, I see your point.
There's an andecdote Lawrence loves to tell about an acting teacher refusing to work with her and saying "You're so naturally gifted that acting lessons will only ruin your talent." It came up in her recent Diane Sawyer interview.
I just saw a picture of Meryl in a blue metal sheath by Stella McCartney. Genius. Heard that immediately sold out. Really too bad Emily Blunt And JuliacRoberts don't like this cover. Julia in particular is desperately seeking an Oscar nod for that dreary death revenge movie. She thought they botched her win for August: Osage County. Unbelievable ego on her. vive le France.
@TomFord Lol I concur with that Julia Roberts comment. I could still remember the critics choice awards presentation early last year when she "pleaded" with Lupita to tell her mom that she won instead of her. or something of that sort. I knew it was a joke but boy it just shows how humongous her ego is. And poor Nicole Kidman is in that movie with her which has being critically derided. I wonder when will she ever get her 4th nomination ...
I for one was very pleasantly surprised with the actresses selected for this cover.( With the exception of Helen Mirren, she is great but her movie has 0 Oscar traction this year...I rather they give it to someone like Lily Tomlin or Jennifer Jason Leigh(I hope she wins!)). The Young Stalwarts (Brie, JLaw), the Modern Geniuses (Cate and Kate), the Legends (Jane and Charlotte) and the Understated Brit (Carey).
@Glenndunks Bravo on your reply regarding Amy Adams.
My thoughts:
I can not find any record of Streep ever being on the Roundtable....find that a bit odd?
Jane Fonda is campaigning hard it seems for what amounts to very little screen time..
Is Helen Mirren really in awards conversation for Trumbo and Woman in Gold? And Meryl's Ricki completely out of the conversation?!
No Lily Tomlin!? Or even Blythe Danner?
Criticizing an actress (and a very young one at that) because she is not cultured enough is stupid. PLENTY of people her age don't know who the Ramplings of the world are. There are plenty of things to criticize her but this seems like a knee-jerk reaction/backlash to the love she receives elsewhere. There is also a double standard - if Chris Pratt said he didn't know who Rampling was, do you really think he'd be criticized for lacking "culture" and needing to be curious about respected older foreign actresses? NO! Because it has nothing to do with anything.
ANONNY -- again. Jennifer Lawrence is not "plenty of people" she is the #1 actress in Hollywood. Shouldn't a director know about directors? An actor know about actors? A costume designer know about costume designers? I would argue that her age has very little to do with it. Plenty of young people are curious or obsessed or knowledgeable about things they care about.
As for whether or not Chris Pratt would get flack for not being "cultured". I agree. OF COURSE NOT. Men aren't scrutinized as much as women anywhere... including here. But our double standard doesn't come from sexism, our is just from lack of interest in male stars because they're infinitely more boring* than female actors ;) .
*obviously there are exceptions.
JAMIE -- Streep doesn't need to do it. She does very little press compared to other actors who are pushing their product both because every interview she does gets a ton of attention so it goes far and because she can get nominated without trying. She can't win without trying (a different matter) but that's why she did so much press for Iron Lady.
NEWMOONSON -- i'm not sure what you're advocating. Are you saying that people should just stop talking about the Oscars altogether until Hollywood casts more actors of color? I can't get behind that. sorry. I'd love more diversity in the movies but I'm not willing to throw out the Oscars until the studios approach their filmmaking slates differently. That's crazy talk.
LADYEDITH -- i appreciate what you're saying but i think you overestimate my power. I WISH i had that power. Oh the actress festivities we could give the world if we were in charge instead of the people who were in charge.
<NEWMOONSON -- i'm not sure what you're advocating. Are you saying that people should just stop talking about the Oscars altogether until Hollywood casts more actors of color? I can't get behind that. sorry. I'd love more diversity in the movies but I'm not willing to throw out the Oscars until the studios approach their filmmaking slates differently. That's crazy talk.>
Of course I'm not saying that (talk about willful misreading and misinterpretation). One more time: Stephen and THR can't place this problem squarely on the shoulders of Hollywood (a machine they are very much a part of). Don't justify the unjustifiable; this "We know there are no women of color to include and we know how problematic that is, BUT WE'RE GOING TO PUT THESE EIGHT WHITE FACES ON THE COVER ANYWAY" is a copout and insulting (excuse the shouting but that's exactly what they did with that image and its corresponding essay, hence the outrage). Don't present yourself/the publication as being aware of/an advocate for diversity and do the very thing that illustrates you aren't (that's classic white liberalism). Don't be an apologist for and enabler of white hegemony. Yes, conduct the joint interview but don't place an image of eight white actresses on the cover. Be the change you claim you want to see; don't just talk the talk, walk the walk. How about, instead of doing the white thing, you do the right thing?