Thoughts on actresses who played Ava
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Ava Gardner
Eurasiana — 10 years ago(November 15, 2015 02:01 PM)
To date, AG has been played by 6 actresses: Marcia Gay Hardin in "Sinatra"; Jon Mack in "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge"; Christine Andreas in "Love and Betrayal: The Mia Farrow Story"; Kara Lee Unger in "The Rat Pack"; Kate Beckinsale in "The Aviator"; and "Anna Drujver in "Walter Chiari".
Bar none, Hardin was the best. It didn't hurt the role being the largest and meatiest of the lot, but had she been mediocre it wouldn't have mattered. While Hardin lacked AG's great beauty, she had the kind of look Ava hadwomanly, earthy and sultry. She absolutely nailed the performance, perfectly captured AG's tough yet wounded, independent and volatile qualities. Very impressed by her portrayal. Although one can't help but to wonder why Gina Gershon was cast as Nancy Sr. and not AG, given that she had a similar persona and was/is Ava's physical type.
Jon Mack hardly bears mentioning as the part was just a bit part, there to just name and face drop Ava. Sultry looking but otherwise no resemblance at all.
Andreas, like Mack, was only a bit part and she too bore no resemblance nor was the same physical type. With what little part she had, was okay, comme ci comme ca.
Unger made an excellent Ava even though she didn't have much screen time. She bore a remarkable likeness with her similar bone structure, feline eyes and sultry tigress looks, and she convincingly exuded AG's tempestuous, unstable, restless persona.
Beckinsale (more apt would be Boringdull) was the worst. I was extremely disappointed and underwhelmed. While she's the most beautiful to play AG, it doesn't matter as she's so uncharismatic. And in looks she's the total opposite of AG (KB is too demure and delicate) nor was she able to exhibit any of the requisite intensity, fire and magnetism. It's a pity Angelina Jolie wasn't cast instead; she truly is AG's contemporary embodiment in looks, persona and larger-than-life, force of nature charisma.
Anna Drijver I cannot comment on as I've not seen the film; however the stills I've seen, she looks a satisfactory AG with her robust, earthy features. A bit too coarse and mannish, but still fine. -
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rahrah14 — 10 years ago(April 06, 2016 09:32 AM)
It's okayI've always thought they looked alike but I'm not a big enough fan of either of them to register a really informed opinion. I can't picture Martha Gay Harden as Ava but she's an excellent actress so I would bet she was convincing either way.
Sweet merciful crap!
It's just tea! sips Needs more gin. -
LiteraryLegend — 10 years ago(April 05, 2016 02:25 PM)
Marcia Gay Hardin did the best job portraying Ava IMO. She also looked the most like her. I don't think Gershon looks like Ava. I think she looks like Nancy. Nancy was an attractive woman then. I think people forget that. No, she was no Ava, but she also was far from the frumpy housewives men tend to dump for younger, sexier models. Frank even admitted later on he made a mistake leaving his family for Ava. I'm a big Ava fan, but I think it's sad what Frank did to his family to be with her.
Actors are useless without the power of a good writer's imagination