Riley Keough is our queen!
Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at 10:30AM ;)
Nepotism is alive and thriving in modern Hollywood. Just look at the enviable careers of Margaret Qualley, Maya Hawke, Emma Roberts, Dakota Johnson, and more. Another name to add to that list would be Riley Keough, daughter of Lisa Marie Presley and Dany Keough. Naturally, she's also the granddaughter of none other than "The King of Rock 'n' Roll" himself, Elvis Presley.
Keough, like many current rising stars, was already born with a foot in the door and the benefit of her celebrity lineage in an otherwise tough business to break into. However, she has more than proven herself once inside. We'd go so far as to say that she's one of her generation's brightest rising stars, having shown excellence in a variety of tones, genres and acting styles across an already enviable young filmography...
Riley Keough made the jump to the big screen in 2010, appearing alongside Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart in The Runaways. In that music biopic, she played the sister of Cherrie Curry, stealing a couple of scenes despite the small size of her role. She'd keep this status as a prime scene-stealer, mostly doing supporting work and only very rarely getting a chance to lead a film. It was in a supporting role that she got her big break in 2015, as one of Immortan Joe's Wives in the bombastic Mad Max: Fury Road.
George Miller's action epic helped make Keough a recognizable face for many cinephiles. Still, it was the efforts of Andrea Arnold and the marvelous American Honey that truly revealed Keough's sterling capabilities as an actress. In the role of Krystall, the leader of a group of misfit youths, she exudes authoritative power shaded by indolent spitefulness. She dazzles and sneers, absolutely naturalistic while exuding the charisma of a consummate star. When she's onscreen, it's impossible to take your eyes away from her callous character.
Since 2016, she's never stopped surprising us with daring new performances, both on TV and the big screen. Steven Soderbergh has been particularly good at exploring Keough's tonal flexibility. He produced The Girlfriend Experience series, where Keough had a leading role and knocked it out of the park. Then he directed her in Logan Lucky, allowing the actress to have fun in a comedic role. She does that and more, slyly stealing the movie from the hands of her more famous costars with startling ease.
Nothing as of yet has been too big a challenge for Riley Keough, neither the psychological nightmares of It Comes at Night, the romance of Lovesong, or the deliberate vacuity of Under the Silver Lake. Keough was even able to inject searing humanity into the grotesque spectacle of The House That Jack Built. This year, she dazzled Sundance with her performance in Janicza Bravo's Zola and showed us all she has the chops to be a great scream queen with her work in The Lodge. In that horror flick, she carries the perverse plot of writer/directors Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz to its tragic extremes, fleshing out its despair and helplessness with visceral impact.
Whether making us laugh or falling apart in convulsions of religious fanaticism, Riley Keough is a fascinating screen presence. Nepotism or no nepotism, Riley Keough deserves to be celebrated.
What's your favorite performance of this rising star and why?
Reader Comments (15)
Truly one of the most exciting young actresses today. Her performance in the first season of "The Girlfriend Experience" is so layered and fearless, it's a shame it got so little recognition when it first came out (despite that Globe nod). She has been extremely consistant since and has yet to disappoint. I'm really looking forward to what's coming next - and "The Lodge" sounds very promising.
She "dazzles" is right. Which may be why, though she can certainly carry a lead role, it's more supporting roles (like in Under the Silver Lake or Logan Lucky) where to me she is most memorable - she just hones and elevates the parts, fills that person out entirely, even when not the center of attention. I too am very much looking forward to seeing The Lodge.
I thought she was truly sensational in American Honey, that performance alone would make me interested in whatever she chooses to do. She would have absolutely been on my 2016 supporting actress ballot.
She was fascinating in a tricky role in The Girlfriend Experience. Disturbing and memorable.
I will also remember her screaming in It Comes At Night for a long time.
Margaret Qualley, Maya Hawke, Emma Roberts, Dakota Johnson,Riley Keough
I don't think any of them have really wowed us yet,how much is talent and how much is who you know I'm not sure,a lot of the latter and not much of the former would be most peoples guess,Qualley might be the daughter of Andie M but most would say Andie is not a great actress,Dakota's mother was on fire in the 80's but has wasted so many chances Dakota is fine but editing helps a lot of these actresses/actors.
I did not know her status as Presley kin. I think, in the roles I have seen.
Seen her in, she has potential.
Margaret Qualley, Maya Hawke, Emma Roberts, Dakota Johnson, Riley Keough, Lily Rose Depp and the dozens of their ilk, with plenty equivalents on the boys' side too
All of them - every single one of them - is inferior to approximately 7804 girls that can't get an audition cause mommy and daddy aren't famous. Just think of all the superior performances we're all missing out on because of nepotism....
(Though okay, I'll def admit Keough is actually leagues and leagues above these other names - she was fantastic in American Honey - so I'll grant that yes, maybe she would've got through on talent alone)
On a related note: I finally caught Waves just yesterday - and though the film has massive massive problems - it also has Taylor Russell. I bet *she* doesn't have a famous mommy or daddy. That performance could only be achieved when casting directors are forced to think well outside the nepotism box and actually start considering actors based on talent and merit.
If only more filmmakers and casting directors were willing to champion the Taylor Russells of the world over the Margaret Qualleys (she's adequate. I'm sorry. No more than that. With direction and editing, a million girls can deliver the base level that she does)
Thank you vigo for seeing that Margaret Qualley's purely adequate. She was good in Fosse/Verdon, which meant people over hyped her as great, a revelation, etc.
Vigo very well said.
Her work alone in "The Girlfriend Experience" makes her one of the best of her generation. A titanic performance.
Just loved Riley in Earthquake Birds. She was wonderful. It was a suspenseful movie that I watched twice. Riley is the most memorable actor in that movie. Something about her and I look forward to seeing her again. Really do see big things happening for Riley.
Her performance in The Girlfriend Experience is a tour de force. I rarely say this, but holy shit that series took a damn turn.
Wow I had no idea she was related to Elvis! I think she’s more than proven her self with Girlfriend and Honey. I can’t wait see what’s next for this rising star.
Regarding Qualley : I thought she was adequate in Novitiate but she wowed me in Fosse/Verdon and OUATIH.
Vigo, I totally agree with you. I've never been wowed by Emma Roberts or Dakota Johnson. Margaret Qualley has been fine but not amazing in everything I've seen her in. But these actresses wouldn't be anywhere near where they are without their parent(s). But in a way, this has always been the case with nepotism in Hollywood (Liza, Jamie Lee Curtis, Anjelica Huston, Joaquin Phoenix, Laura Dern, etc.).
Riley Keough is definitely the cream of the crop of those you mentioned. I have admired her choices and she is definitely thinking outside the box and slaying all her roles. I also thought Maya Hawke was quite charming and natural in the latest season of Stranger Things, so I'm optimistic about her future as well (also, I truly love both her parents, so I'm a bit biased).