Failed Leading Ladies

Sarah Jessica Parker.

Julia Ormond

OP, good choices because I never heard of any of them.

Nomi Malone. Forgot the actresses name.

How many, like poor Gretchen Mol, were blacklisted by HW for not putting out.

Heather Graham

Madonna

Franciska Gaal

Sigrid Gurie

Marta Toren

R8 Another group I never heard of. I am so out of the loop.

Susan Anton - Golden Girl

Megan Fox

Elizabeth Berkley (even in Ver-sayce)

Alicia Silverstone

Liv Tyler

Naomi Watts, unfortunately

Liv was everywhere for awhile. Didnt she quit to raise babies?

Alicia Vikander

[quote]Nomi Malone. Forgot the actresses name

You don't Nomi?

Melissa Leo

Bonnie Hunt

Anne Heche - in the movies, at least.

Margot Kidder - poised for superstardom, then drug use, alcoholism, mental illness and bad career choices did her in.

Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio

Madeline Stowe

Elizabeth McGovern

Joan Allen

Eva Mendes

Piper Perabo

Estella Warren

Jamie King

Linda Fiorentino

Sean Young

Katherine Heigl

Shelley Hack

Elizabeth McGovern married a Brit and lives in the UK and seems to be doing okay. Joan Allen was already too old when she got mainstream success and doesn't have the right look.

Tea Leoni

Rose Byrne

Interesting how many of the above were decent actresses but just didn't have that something extra vs. some really talented actresses who blew up their careers by being totally cray-cray.

I love Shannyn Sossamon! I think she has one of the most interesting faces in film. I think she's crazy so, that may be the problem with her. Her kids are named Audio Science and Mortimer...

Carla Gugino

Eva Green

Maria Bello

Elizabeth Shue

Diane Kruger

Glenn Close

MIss Kay Lenz

Melania.

Nancy Davis

R33 would’ve been funnier if signed Jane Wyman.

I always loved Claire Forlani and never knew why she wasn’t a bigger star.

Jennifer Connelly

The answers here are so fast and great. How many times has this thread been on DL?

I really liked Madeline Stowe and Forlani, Eva Mendez, Elizabeth Shue, Maria Bello, Elizabeth McGovern and a few of the others. Some of the not great actresses were still wonderful to watch.

I wouldn't call Rose Byrne, Naomi Watts, Heather Graham or Anne Heche failures though. Lots of credits in some good and some very popular films.

I don't think Joan Allen, Sean Young or Margot Kidder belong on a list of failures either. They had other issues.

Rosario Dawson. Alfre Woodard.

Come on. Who ever tried to make Alfre Woodard a leading lady? A star actress in a leading role yes. Made for TV or John Sayles. But she was not pretty enough to get the parts she deserved. Alfre Woodard should have played TINA TURNER. She is a far superior actress, more musical and a much more fiery presence than that Drag Queen Angela Bassett. Alfre looked more like Tina too. They made a big mistake in that casting. Yes I know it was a hit movie and Bassett was "nominated." She was terrible. Trinity K Bonet looks more like a woman that Bassett. And does a much better Tina.

Marisa Tomei

Helen Reddy (circa 1974)

Mira Sorvino

Hillary Swank

R13 Liv had a major role in one of the largest movie moneymaker, the LoTR trilogy. She became very rich at a young age and did not have to keep making movies just to make a living.

I like her in the quiet gem Onegin.

Many of these responses are ridiculous.

Cody Horn owns this thread.

And also Liv Tyler is pulling in hundreds of thousands per episode starring on 911 Lone Star.

So? She's not making that money as a leading lady in films. I didn't even know there was such a thing as 911 Lone Star

Sarah Michelle Gellar

Jennifer Love Hewitt

Rachael Leigh Cook

Julia Stiles

Jessica Alba

Hilary Swank has 2 Best Actress Oscars. I’d say that makes her a successful leading lady. Naomi Watts, SJP and Jennifer Connelly as well.

[quote]Shannyn Sossamon

Shannyn Sossamon was so beautiful in A KNIGHT'S TALE. I was hoping for a comeback for her when she was cast in the upcoming Fox series The Cleaning Lady but she was replaced.

R46 The term leading lady doesn't apply to movies only. There is much more money to be made on TV.

Sofia Coppola (much success but not as an actress)

Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon have made more money from TV the last couple years than from movies.

Leelee Sobieski (or however you spell it)

Anna Sten.

Kate Bosworth

Susanna Foster

Jude Law

Kate Bosworth is a good one

The She's All That chick

She's really pretty. Who is it R59? I'm not being facetious. I don't think she is a failed leading lady because I have never seen her face before in my life. And I see film.

Margot Kidder personally told me that she turned down ALIEN. Yes, actresses lie and exaggerate all the time. She said she met Ridley Scott, disliked him and turned down the role because she disliked him. Who knows if it's really true. But if it is Margot was indeed poised to be a superstar anchored by lead characters in running franchises.

R60 Rachael Leigh Cook

I think she looks even prettier now. The picture from my post was from 1998 / 1999

[quote] How many, like poor Gretchen Mol, were blacklisted by HW for not putting out.

Last year I bought a online subscription to Vanity Fair magazine because they have digitized every issue. You can tell that harvey was in good with graydon carter because every year they would "push" an actress as the next best thing. There would be a little article about them or they might appear in a photoshoot (with a group of people). They were actresses who were out of nowhere. Some went on to become well known actresses, but a lot of them faded away. They had a big article on Estella Warren. And while I don't think she was in one of Harvey's movies, she was lined up to be on the cover of Talk Magazine, but then her article was pulled right before the issue went to print and replaced with Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane. tina brown said she saw them in a play (The Producers) and thought it was so fabulous she just had to have them on the cover. Sure Tina

R46 Liv made over $20 million from LoTR. She was under no pressure to pursue "leading lady" roles. She had the ability to chose to do what she wanted. As I mentioned above, Onegin was a beautiful indie film she made, not because she needed the money.

So what? She's still not a leading lady

Was Estella Warren in a movie? I remember her being a synchronized swimmer and then model.

R9 My favorite Shannyn Sossaman role is in "The Rules Of Attraction".

I'm going to add Annabella Sciora to this list. She's had success in television & even played the role in a few films, but it didn't stick.

Jordana Brewster

*R67 Here. I meant "Sciorra". Apologies.

[quote] Was Estella Warren in a movie? I remember her being a synchronized swimmer and then model.

She was in a bunch of movies. She was in Planet of the Apes and Drive (with Sylvester Stallone and DataLounge's very own Kip Pardue)

Nothing that would warrant her getting a big article in Vanity Fair. I think she won a Razzie Award or Planet of the Apes

[quote] Kate Bosworth is a good one

I never understood how she has gotten so many roles. She's so bland. There are so many more interesting actresses

Carrie Snodgress, who got a big build-up when she starred in "Diary of a Mad Housewife."

Any Irving

R73 *Amy

Crazy thread... some of these responses listing actresses with multiple Oscars and big box office successes.

I'll go for the "was the recipient of a big studio push, was going to be the next big, and two or three bombs later just disappeared...":

So, Lisa Eichhorn. Was given a huge publicity campaign, Schlesinger's Yanks... a couple films later she was fired from a film because Streisand wanted it.

Janeane Garofalo

Lisa Kudrow

R75 is correct. Folks are listing actresses who have made a ton of money and who have won Oscars or other awards.

Amy Irving got $100 million from Speilberg in the 1980's (So like $500 million in todays dollars) and didn't give a shit about making movies. She moved to Brazil and married a hot Brazilian.

"Folks are listing actresses who have made a ton of money and who have won Oscars or other awards."

Hillary Swank won two Oscars......but everything she did outside of the roles she won for bombed

Gabrielle Anwar

R77 but she still failed to be a BO success

Vera Ralston

Jessica Chastain

I guess you're right about Amy Irving, but she has always been a wonderful actress.

"Crossing Delancey" is one of the most charming romances of its era. Her stage work is always excellent. I don't care if she the biggest movie star, I've just always loved her work.

Kristen Stewart

R83 I love her in The Fury

Carrie Sondgress couldn’t handle the spotlight and had a nervous breakdown.

Estella warren has had legal issues over the years and her career pretty much came to a halt after 2003.

Taylor Lautner

Penelope Ann Miller.

Julie Warner.

Zacquisha Efron

Stockard Channing

Brittany Murphy. She really only had one box office hit as a leading lady - Uptown Girls. ( I don't count Just Married because she was supporting to Ashton Kutcher). Her subsequent leading roles in Little Black Book, Love and Other Disasters and The Ramen Girl were bombs. Then she dropped into TV and direct-to-DVD stuff.

Vera Hruba Ralston, mentioned above, is a unique case. She became a star/leading lady with her second or third film in the early 1940s and she retained that status until she chose to retire in the late 1950s. Despite the fact she couldn't act. Despite that in her early films she couldn't speak English and had to learn her lines phonetically. Despite nearly every single one of her films losing money. She never lost her leading lady status in the close to 30 films she made.

You see, it helps when the head of the studio (Herbert Yates at Republic) falls madly in love with you, leaves his wife and children for you, marries you and then personally supervises your career.

Mira Sorvino. Because of that criminal Weinstein. Hope he gets maggot infested in jail.

Mena Suvari

G.

Leelee Sobieski

Bette Midler after 1997

At one point, Republic's stockholders sued Herbert Yates for wasting Republic's money and assets on the money losing Ralston but I don't remember how the case was settled.

I don’t have time to read this, but has Julia Ormond been mentioned? I still love that cover article that declared her the next great actress, lol.

Shailene Woodley. That Divergent franchise she starred in bombed at the BO so badly that they never even bothered filming the last installment.

Leelee Sobieski's problem was that she couldn't act. When she realized this, she gracefully exited from the acting world. She only got into Hollywood films via her mother, a producer and screenwriter.

Her Wiki bio notes that she retired from acting for focus on "her art". I am sure her art is as good as her acting.

Dakota Johnson

Pia Zadora

Halle Berry

There are a lot of actresses that they've pushed over the years, but only a handful that really should have been big or bigger, had auspicious starts, demonstrated some acting ability, then tanked.

Greta Scacchi, Sean Young, Mena Suvari, Gretchen Mol

Milla Jovovich (though a successful B movie leading lady), Grace Jones, Lauren Hutton, Marisa Berenson (despite her presence in iconic movies), Cara Delevingne, Andie MacDowell, Brooke Shields, Famke Janssen, Amber Valletta

Diana Ross

Sienna Miller

Billy Porter, RuPaul

Mariah Carey (seems like she couldn't be bothered, not a lack of talent)

[Quote] Her Wiki bio notes that she retired from acting for focus on "her art". I am sure her art is as good as her acting.

Isn't she a dominatrix??

Elizabeth Shue married Davis Guggenheim whose net worth is $2.5 BILLION.

Kate Hudson

What detonates a failed career vs. just having run their course? Not everyone’s going to be a Fonda or Roberts? To me Kate Hudson was successful, but ran her course, where as a Bridget Fonda failed.

[R114] As I see someone like Julia Ormond failed because she was given a big buildup and starring roles on the basis of people inside the industry believing she had what it takes, as a opposed to a breakout star who seems to come out of nowhere and the public falls in love with her. Cameron Diaz is a good example.

Diana Ross is failed because she should have had 5 great films and made at least 10 big box office movies.

Halle Berry failed because she never became a leading lady in a string of big big movies. Not a great actress.

On my list of models / actresses, take someone like Brooke Shields. She lead a few movies when young, then nothing. They tried many ways with Andie MacDowell but it only stuck a few times.

Does Brooke really count, she was a child actress, never a leading lady, someone who didn’t transition into Adult roles, but headed to TV.

A lot of these names are ones who never were considered leading lady material, except they got cast for a certain genre or a one-off movie. When I think of failed leading ladies I’m thinking women who were given lead roles many times snd never lived up to the promotion or hype.

Liv Tyler jumps out here. She was being promoted as the next big star, very similar trajectory and with studio heads behind her like the case with Julia Roberts. Liv was supposed to be a slightly younger Angelina Jolie and she was given good roles as leading lady and as part of prestigious ensemble cast. But her acting and screen presence were always lacking.

R117: She never recovered after Catwoman.

The studio system doesn’t really produce leading men and leading women anymore.

R122 The studio system was an historic period and doesn’t exist anymore, so no they aren’t creating leading ladies.

Suzy Parker Ella Raines

Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio or however it's spelled :/

Sally Forrest Joan Leslie (not really a flop but not the big star WB tried to make her).

R122 R123 I think you can substitute media buzz, agency promotion, and industry expectation for "studio system creating stars"....

Movie stars are over.

Rachel Leigh Cook was meh, she has the same trailer trash look as Jamie Lynn Spears.

"To me Kate Hudson was successful, but ran her course, where as a Bridget Fonda failed."

Hudson only had one hit, how is she less of a failure than Fonda?

R128 Kate Hudson is listed as having 11 leading actress role, Bridget Fonda by comparison 3. To me anything over ten is a successful career.

Yeah, but only one of the 11 was a hit.

Florence Rice

Ally Sheedy (1980s), Lucille Bremer (1940s), Barbara Parkins (1960s).

Winona Ryder

If you say Winona Ryder you could also say Molly Ringwald or Meg Ryan or others who were successful for a while, then weren't. Demi Moore, too.

Bridget Fonda didn't fail so much as she walked away from acting. I admit I was kind of hoping Jane Fonda would talk her into at least a guest spot on Grace & Frankie, but I guess no such luck.

Bridget Fonda seemed to have been damaged by something in Hollywood, what were the reasons she said she walked away since this would have been before Weinstein right?

The one movie that Winona Ryder starred in that was supposed to launch her leading lady career as an adult, Girl Interrupted, was an utter failure. She was overshadowed by Angelina Jolie instead. Ryder could not carry a movie and that is one of the criteria for a good leading lady. With Winona, you get a narrow range of acting ability. She acts same way in scenes where the character is supposed to be angry, frustrated, accusatory, etc.... her acting was always very one-note.

Farrah Fawcett-Majors, who tried to parlay one season on a successful tv show into a big film career.

Christine Baranski

Jamie Gertz

Elizabeth McGovern

Penelope Ann Miller

Justine Bateman

Jennifer Jason Leigh

Madonna.

She never understood it’s hard to be a lead when you can’t act in the first place.

Quvenzhané Wallis

Carey Mulligan

Diana Ross.

[quote]Christine Baranski

A strong supporting actress. Never a leading ladt, certainly not in movies.

^^ leading lady ^^

Anna Kendrick

When Farrah was contemplating quitting Charlie’s angels Leonard Goldberg offered her 8% profits on Charlie’s Angels merchandise (i think she was getting 3%) and Goldberg offered her the lead in foul play which he was producing, but she turned it down to do 3 shitty movies and foul play became a big hit and put Goldie hawn back on the map.

[R152] Farrah's was a case of naive hubris for sure. It's not as if she created a sensation with her acting talent. She wouldn't have been nearly as good in FOUL PLAY as Goldie, a smart actress and a highly skilled comedian.

Cybill Shepherd - at least in the movies, but she made a TV comeback for sure.

Diane Varsi, Hope Lange, Paula Prentiss (unfortunately), Yvette Mimieux.

"Broadway doesn't go for booooze and dope!"

^^ Sorry, wrong thread. ^^

Barbara Payton

Love Pink Ranger! She was on Felicity and had a story line where she was date raped by Angela's next door neighbor from My So Called Life, Brian Krakow, the fugly boy with the blond afro.

Lucille Bremer is right. She never invested in being a Triple Threat. She could sing, but barely act - Not to mention, Dance! She was a Pisces, thought about other people a lot, too bad. A good little dancer with a voice. I got voice lessons to survive. Some women learned to type, and it saved their lives. I knew how to dance, and learned how to sing! You gotta adapt.

Lucille Bremer was Arthur Freed's mistress for years. She should have studied Vera Hruba Ralston to learn how to make that work for you.

Lucille Bremer was Arthur Freed's mistress for years. She should have studied Vera Hruba Ralston to learn how to make that work for you.

Bella Darvi was another mistress who became a failed leading lady

Hey R154 I watched Peyton Place yesterday. The young ladies were lovely.

I might watch The Best of Everything tonight. Campy perfection. Boyd is dishy.

I'm sorry but how did Halle Berry, Glenn Close, Cybill Shepard, Diana Ross etc fail as leading ladies?

Define leading ladies.

Neely O'Hara

HELLen Lawson

R136 Bridget Fonda survived a terrible car accident in 2003 and is suspected to be not quite the same, since. Not sure if Elfman doesn't let her out of the house for her own good or what the deal is.

[R169] I seriously don't think it was the car accident. Make of the story in the link what you think. Maybe Bridget's seclusion is related to the fact that she's married to the ugliest man in Hollywood? He's quite repulsive.

Fonda definitely had something happen. Maybe one too many producers trying to coerce sexual favors from her. Could have been Weinstein.

[R171] What your basis for that assertion?

Whoopi Goldberg

Bridget Fonda is not a failed leading lady. She was quite appealing and her films were mostly good and successful. Not a blazing talent, but there are a lot worse. She definitely wanted out. Very few leave the way she did. She's never coming back.

Whoopi Goldberg failed Hollywood, the movies didn't fail her. She had a great film career.

Elizabeth Hurley and Beyonce are failed leading ladies - as are many others already mentioned.

Beyonce isn't a failed leading lady. She's a singer who does the occasional film.

R174 Whoopi did make some great films but she failed in that she couldn’t maintain her box office. She was the highest paid actress in the world for Sister Act 2 and then had a long string of huge failures: Bogus, Eddie, The Associate, Sarafina!, Boys on the Side, Theodore Rex and Corona, Corrina. She was only commercially viable and had hits with the 1st Sister Act (a gimmicky movie) and Made in America (a horrendous movie). After the failure of The Associate (actually a great film) in 1996 she never headlined again. So in my opinion Whoopi is the biggest failed leading lady of all time.

Failure is about more than box office receipts. Or you should call Julianne Moore and Jennifer Lawrence failures too.

Whoopi had a very successful film career and she's well liked and a welcome presence in even her less popular films. It doesn't always translate to people buying tickets. She ruined her film career in ways that are well known to her. The end.

OP, could we get a clarification on “failed”?

R176, The Associate should've been a hit at the box office. It's one of Whoopi's last great film comedies. (Dianne Wiest was equally entertaining as Whoopi's best friend in the film.)

[QUOTE]Hey [R154] I watched Peyton Place yesterday. The young ladies were lovely.

Never said they weren't.

Nastassja Kinski, LeeLee Sobieski, Inger Stevens, Risë Stevens, Miliza Korjus, Corinne Calvet, Jean Seberg.

Sharon Stone Massive hit with Basic Instinct followed by a succession of flops (aside from her supporting turn in 'Casino' and middling success with 'The Specialist'

Sliver; Diabolique; Intersection; The Quick and the Dead; Gloria

Emily Lloyd

Olivia Wilde. Every time I see an ad for one of her movies I think "Time for another bomb"

Ilona Massey

Natalie Portman

[R181] Sharon Stone actually is a good example. She had a grand total of one hit as a leading lady. She is a lousy actress but amusing as a bonkers celebrity - not the same thing.

Yes, Sharon Stone is a great example. She was in films for years before Basic Instinct. Woody Allen's Stardust Memories, Total Recall with Swarzenannagar and the one with Ryan O'Neal and Shelley Long. But she failed as a leading lady, it's true. Basic Instinct is a really stupid film. But she's beautiful in it, though her line readings are dead. Why are people so misled by box office receipts? Sharon Stone is a shit actress who was in a good sexy steamy film showing her pussy. Michael Douglass showed his pancake ass too. Such things entertained people 30 years ago.

But she was very good in Casino. Other actresses could have done it as well, but I can't picture anyone other than Stone as Ginger, and that's good enough. Her growth as an actress in that film is pretty impressive. Since when isn't being the star of a Scorsese film and Oscar nominated a failure? Like a lot of bad luck actresses, Stone actually became a better just as her popularity diminished.

*Since when IS being the star of ....

* Stone actually became a better actress as her popularity diminished.

* Arnold

I thought Stone was pretty funny in irreconcilable differences.

I never got why people thought Sharon Stone was so great in "Casino". She was okay.

Don Rickles was excellent in "Casino".

R190: It’s without a doubt her best performance to date.

Don’t forget Sharon Stone was in her mid-30s when she became a big star. She only had a few years where she was marketable by Hollywood standards as a leading lady. Also her stroke put an end to even what remained of the latter part of those years.

Sharon Stone stole the entire from DeNiro and Pesci, R190, that's why she gets a lot of praise in Casino.

It was her best acting performance to date.

Elke Sommer

Sharon Stone in Casino is one of the top 10 female film performances of all time. She does everything in that role, she is charming & gorgeous, we root for her and against her. She inhabits the character. The performance is truly a roller coaster journey.

Though she may be the prime example of a failed leading lady, if the standard is at least one success.

Jenna Elfman. Katherine Heigl.

Jenna Elfman. Katherine Heigl.

Rachel Ward

Annabella Sciora

Neve Campbell, Mia Kirshner, Ellen Page

Jenna Elfman was too nice and down to earth. She never had a bitch vibe. America’s Sweethearts always have to have a “I could go full cunt... fast” vibe ala Sandy & Julia. I really enjoyed her in EdTV and especially Keeping the Faith, her and Elaine Strich were the only good things about the atrocity that was Krippendorf's Tribe. I wish she had more roles. She really was an engaging screen presence.

She's also a scientologist, so......

R1, You are such a fkin hater Kim. God, let it go already.

Michelle Williams

Michelle Monaghan

Abigail Spencer

R100, you're totally correct about Shailene. I knew she was doomed when she made a big deal in interviews about reaching out to Jennifer Lawrence to learn how to handle her newfound fame as a "movie series heroine." Cut to the last 'Divergent' film being scrapped, and when they attempted to retool it as a TV movie or miniseries, Shailene made yet another big deal in interviews, saying TV was beneath her and that she hadn't signed on for a TV series. Next thing you know, she's somehow cast in 'Big Little Lies'...a TV series.

Naomi Watts gets my personal vote...she was so heavily touted as the next Nicole Kidman...and as Nicole's BFF to boot! They showed up at tons of award shows together, like in the pic below. Naomi just never had the oomph that Nicole had.

Ann Margaret

Carol Lynley

Maria Schell

Tippi Hedren

Hildegarde Neff, Alida Valli (they weren't successful at Hollywood stardom, did fine in Europe)

Pier Angeli

R205 That always floored me too. What a slap in the face to say "the next Nicole Kidman" when they are only 1 year apart and Nicole is still alive and kicking and crushing it. Naomi is a good actress but can't compare to Nicole in looks or talent. Plus, like others in this thread (Sharon Stone etc.), she was already approaching too old for a leading lady when she started making it big. Just because you date someone 11 years younger than you, doesn't make it so for you, hun. Sorry.

Sharon Stone also had the benefit of being directed by Scorsese in CASINO - which matters A LOT. Don't think for a moment she could have pulled it off left to her own devices - she's a B actress for a reason. As for CASINO, I've tried to watch it on at least three occasions but I find the voice-over narration and cutting style to be obnoxiously overdone and needlessly complicated. Sensory overload doesn't necessarily equate to excitement but I can imagine the experience might be more tolerable in a movie theater. I find most of Scorsese's movies to be unwatchable exercises in style - a minority opinion. GANGS OF NEW YORK is another inexcusably bad film.

Penelope Ann Miller sort of owns this thread. She got a lot of exposure by being in high profile projects throughout the 90s, particularly in the first half of that decade, but then quickly fizzled out. These days, I assume that if she's in something, it's got to be mediocre. What is the story with her? Being difficult, drugs, stepped on the wrong (powerful) foot...?

Diane Keaton

Penelope was never attractive enough. Even when she was younger.

[quote] Estella warren has had legal issues over the years and her career pretty much came to a halt after 2003.

Her legal issues were a DUI in 2011, long after she'd flopped as a movie star. The bigger issue was, as Anthony Anderson said after working with her, she "can't act her way out of a paper bag."

Bridget Fonda might not count as a fail since SWF was a big hit and she had a big part in Singles. I think her career ran its course and she saw the #money with Danny Elfman and she decided to go for it. She still gets all the Hollywood perks but doesn’t have to do any of the work. Basically Katherine McPhee will have Fonda’s same life now that she’s hitched HER cart to David Foster.

Melanie Griffith? She was briefly a leading lady and she failed. I love her anyway.

Naomi can't compare to Kidman in looks? LOL. Kidman looks like a hot botox mess

Melanie Griffith's a good one.

1 hit film 'Working Girl' 1 cult hit 'Something Wild'

And relentless flops - 'Shining through'; 'Bonfire of the Vanities'; 'Born Yesterday' etc etc.

Kim Basinger is another. She was in 'Batman' yes, and bizarrely won a supporting Oscar for a mediocre performance in 'LA Confidential' but she's never been in a hit film otherwise.

[R221] Basinger is an excellent example. She got her foot in the door on her looks but was so difficult and neurotic she really didn't develop much as an actress.

Kim Basinger’s post Oscar failures were epic: Bless The Child and I Dreamed of Africa.

Don’t all leading ladies fail though? It’s so rare that a woman can open a movie or have long lasting top billing that you can count the remarkable exceptions on one hand.

I can think of only a few recents (not necessarily currents):

Sandra Bullock

Meryl Streep

Julia Roberts

Scarlett Johansson

Maybe Margot Robbie

Maybe Jennifer Lawrence

Wasn’t Bridget Fonda in a serious car accident as well?

Griffith also had body double as well which she was very good in. She needed to work with directors that could reign her in.

[R190]: It’s without a doubt her best performance to date.

R191 And that's not saying much. Because she's a terrible actress!

[quote]Sharon Stone in Casino is one of the top 10 female film performances of all time.

MARY!!!!

[R227] Roles having dried up for a mature woman of her, ahem, talents, Sharon has pivoted to film criticism.

I heard that Bridget Fonda had a very bad car accident. So maybe that factors in.

[R229] Is Bridget's "bad" car accident (which she walked away from and spent 1 night in the hospital for) morphing into the next "Judy was one of the most talented singers ever" DL meme?

Greta Scacchi

Mena Suvari

Lake Bell

Susan Powter

Cathy Mitchell

Sheree North

Cathy Moriarty. Or was she always supporting?

Suzanne Pleshette

Christina Ricci

R230 a fractured vertebrae isn’t a picnic in the park.

I don’t think Sandra Bullock has long lasting leading lady stardom. She’s had a few good roles, like Griffith. What’s she doing lately? She’s kind of one-note, she’s no Streep or Close.

Nobody knows much about her, but what bad things are there to say about Bridget Fonda? I didn't like her haircut is all I can think of. She's forgotten and causing no one any grief. That's success, not failure.

Bullock has probably been in more hits than Close, r239. She's been famous for 25 years now

Mamie Van Doren, whom I was reminded of by the mention of Sheree North upthread. Mamie, Sheree, and Jayne were no Marilyns.

Misty Rowe

R243 Glendora High School, 1968

Marie McDonald

I think it depends on what you mean by failed leading ladies. Do you mean they failed as leading ladies in the roles? Like they couldn't pull it off. Or failed as a leading lady that can open a movie at the box office and carry multiple films over the course of many years? There were many actresses that have succeeded playing leading ladies but never had much effect on box office. I wouldn't call actresses like Sissy Spacek, Debra Winger or Jessica Lange leading lady failures. There's actually probably less than 10 women ever who have had truly major box office effect and most of them were in the Golden Age of the past.

I think it depends on what you mean by failed leading ladies. Do you mean they failed as leading ladies in the roles? Like they couldn't pull it off. Or failed as a leading lady that can open a movie at the box office and carry multiple films over the course of many years? There were many actresses that have succeeded playing leading ladies but never had much effect on box office. I wouldn't call actresses like Sissy Spacek, Debra Winger or Jessica Lange leading lady failures. There's actually probably less than 10 women ever who have had truly major box office effect and most of them were in the Golden Age of the past.

r221 Kim Basinger was also in the hit film 8 Mile.

Elvira made an attempt with Mistress of the Dark.

Bonnie Bedelia

Barbara Hershey

Kate Nelligan

JoBeth Williams

It's true that there have been very few actresses who can guarantee a film will be a hit - but there are definitely some women who are big enough that they can get projects made based on their name alone.

[quote]Roles having dried up for a mature woman of her, ahem, talents, Sharon has pivoted to film criticism.

I'd say she's pivoted to films that don't get released.

As much as I loved Sharon Stone in Casino, I think another actress maybe could have played that role. I really, really hate the bad wig (Carol Brady) and bad wardrobe in the 2nd, interminable, half of Casino (3 hours long, total).

I do have to give S. Stone credit, tho, for having chemistry with all 3 guys in Casino: DeNiro, James Woods, and Pesci (ugh).

R254 Screenwriter Joe Eszerthas used to say, “If a Producer won’t give us what we want, we put Sharon in a room with him for an hour...”

R254 Screenwriter Joe Eszerthas used to say, “If a Producer won’t give us what we want, we put Sharon in a room with him for an hour...”

[quote] Helen Reddy (circa 1974)

Technically 1977 if you want to limit it to lead roles, but who's counting?

Whoever their agents were, they really pushed Sienna Miller, Julia Ormond, Gretchen Mol, Olivia Wilde, Kate Bosworth, Alicia Vikander as if they are the second coming of Julia Roberts. Numerous photoshoots in fancy clothes and numerous paid hacks declaring that they are the best actress ever! Its the equivalent of seeing Melania in Vogue in 2003 or so and the public thinking, who the fuck is this?

Dawn Addams

Geena Davis

Veronica Lake

I loved Melania in Vogue. It was a little seen film, highly underrated.

Tina Louise, and she’d be the first to admit it and blame Gilligan's Island.

This post gives me a greater appreciation for Charlize Theron. In the 90s she would occasionally luck out with a role you could tell was passed over by other actresses, but now she's near the top of the food chain as an actress and producer.

Theron brings it, even if I'm not a huge fan, respect. Better respect her because she will cut a bitch.

Nikki Reed. She was touted as the next it girl. Then *cricket sound.*

I recall the name Jamie King, but little other than that.

Nikki Blonsky

Jamie Gertz

Vanna White circa 1988

R267: Jaime King made a name for herself by being a junkie teenage model! She got press for being addicted to drugs and alcohol and dating a fellow addict, Davide Sorrenti (brother of Mario, the famous fashion photographer). I never thought she was being groomed for leading lady status...she's mainly been an example of how someone can turn their life around.

[Quote] Whoever their agents were, they really pushed Sienna Miller, Julia Ormond, Gretchen Mol, Olivia Wilde, Kate Bosworth, Alicia Vikander as if they are the second coming of Julia Roberts.

Ahem

Evan Rachel Wood

Sienna Miller is another great example. Lots of stupid ones out here, but Sienna was given so many star making roles and opportunities. She's not even terrible. She just isn't much of anything memorable. All those Vogue covers and press coverage. Lots of movies. And she looked like a new leading lady. Still nothing. Fucking with Jude Law and nothing. There's more than press and talent that makes a star. Sienna makes me feel kind of sad. She must have been really excited a few times in her career and she had some decent reviews and got to know all the right people. Still nothing. Not young anymore and not good enough to be cast as anything but the leading lady.

Blake Lively did not screw Weinstein. That's crazy. He fucked some homely chicks, but not that homely.

r274 Sienna Miller was also a "style star," and still nothing.

Renee Zellweger

Renee Zellweger

Renee Zellweger

Jeanne Tripplehorn

r274 Certainly better-looking than Renee Zellweger and Mena Sorvino, and being ratfaced like Gwyneth Paltrow is at least unattractive and related to inbreeding, I think. And Caucasian is regarded as the best-looking ethnicity, and she is blond and I guess blue-eyed which is regarded as best for women, also good height, which many sluts, actresses and gold-diggers are not. He slept with many women who were less attractive than Lively, and he did seem to appreciate talent and diligence, few of those types, especially diligence, are good-looking. Don't know how you think a lot of prostitutes and semi-prostitutes look.

What ever happened to Cary Mulligan (stew), she seemed on the edge of bigness? Was it just that she could pass for a lot younger and then she couldn’t?

Cary Mulligan was too short

I almost feel obligated to preemptively add Ana de Armas.

"Cary Mulligan was too short"

Too short for what? She's 5'7" - a lot of leading ladies are shorter than that

Renee Zellwegger is not a failed leading lady - she's had loads of success - 3 Bridget Jones movies; Chicago; Nurse Betty; Jerry Maguire, Judy...

Gee, I wonder why?

^^She had loads alright.

Twiggy

Cher

Carrie Snodgress. Probably this was in the 60s-early 70s but I remember a big NYT Magazine story about her starring with Dustin Hoffman I think and nothing happened.

Also Mia Farrow would have been on this list if Woody Allen didn't single-handedly revive her career.

Marthe Keller is barely remembered.

Zellwegger's had a super successful career. Whether that's because of Weinstein or not isn't really the decider. She's been a leading lady in several hit films.

Not sure they've been mentioned yet, but Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson. They'll soon fade into character actress roles instead of Hollywood continuing to shove them down our throats.

Alyssa Milano

When did Alyssa Milano have a film career? She can't even breathe.

If Rebel Wilson reaches her weight goals, then she will have to fall back on actual talent.

r292, neither of them have been shoved down anyone's throat. If you don't like them, ignore them

Is Cher failed, or did she just choose to walk away at the right time?

Cher sucks at everything. But she often succeeds. How can she fail when she isn't any good?

Britt Robertson

Miss Sian Barbara Allen

Helen Shaver

Season Hubley

Introducing Deborah Raffin

Diane Baker

Patty Duke

Susan Blakely

Bjork

Millie Perkins, Rita Tushingham, Julie London, Jane Bryan

Pamela Tiffin

This thread has been a Who's Who of "Who?"

That lesbian actress who picks up all my scraps and played a dyke astronaut left alone in space to munch on her own carpet. I forget the name.

Does Brittany Snow count? She had potential with her show American Dreams but people recognize Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson from all the Pitch Perfect films more than her.

OT, I loved the concept of American Dreams. Yes, it was an American Bandstand tie in with the same concept as Hairspray (integration of music on tv ) but what I liked is that current actors/artists plays actual artists during that period

Tom Jones played by Nick Lachey.

Brenda Lee played by Kelly Clarkson

Nancy Sinatra played by Jennifer Love Hewitt

and SACRILEGE

Aretha Franklin played by Fantasia Barrino.

and Dionne Warwick played by Ashanti

R305 What music star did Brittany play?

Blake Lively has gone back to usheretting.

[Quote] Does Brittany Snow count? She had potential with her show American Dreams but people recognize Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson from all the Pitch Perfect films more than her.

I think she counts. She was fun in John Tucker and then she did that terrible Prom Night remake. I remember when she was supposed to get a Gossip Girl spin-off as Serena's mother.

And you're right about not getting as much attention with PP, but alot of those fans shipped her character with Anna's. Which led to a bunch of lesbian rumours.

Wasn’t there a shower sex scene in the movie with them?

R309 there's a shower scene but no sex. There's another guy there that Brittany's character is with.

A lot of successful television actresses fall into this category. Kaley Cuoco (forgettable film), Lisa Kudrow ('Marci X'), Julia Louis Dreyfuss (that one film with James Gandolfini), Lisa Bonet (that terrible film with Mickey Rourke), and Elizabeth Berkley (for DL's fave 'Showgirls'). For every Melissa McCarthy or Jennifer Lawrence who started in TV sitcoms, there's those above who just don't translate to the big screen.

Bette Davis started as a teen in a TV sitcom and she had big success in films. Until she died in 2018! What a life.

Petula Clark

Jayne Mansfield

Ina Balin, Constance Towers

If we're including TV actresses then I'd include Vanessa Marcil. She was still on General Hospital when she got the female lead in The Rock. According to her, she then had to turn down several subsequent film roles because of her GH contract. She eventually left for 90210, which forced her to turn down a role on Ally McBeal. Then she was supposed to be a regular on NYPD Blue but was replaced after only one episode. After one more primetime stint on the totally forgettable Las Vegas she ultimately just ended up back on GH.

[quote]Bette Davis started as a teen in a TV sitcom and she had big success in films. Until she died in 2018! What a life.

What?

[quote] Petula Clark

She actually made movies back in England as a child star and even into young adulthood, but she dismissed them as nothing once she went to Hollywood to make musicals once musicals started going out of style.

Pet Clark is wonderful in Francis Ford Coppola's film version of the classic Broadway musical Finian's Rainbow.

Like everyone else, I never miss a Francis Ford Coppola musical.

R318 Petula Clark was all that and more, she was great - but this is about failed leading ladies. It's true that in England she played leads but those films weren't universally known, and in Hollywood -- where she made her 2 musicals, already in her late 30s.

R319 It's a good joke but he later also made One From The Heart - the man was one step away from being the next Vincente Minnelli, I tell you!

Annabelle Wallis

I was in a series with Gretchen Moll, Seven Seconds, on Netflix. She may not get leading roles, but she's certainly a working actress.

Jennifer Jason Leigh

Phoebe Cakes

There's not a single thing about Julia Louis Dreyfuss that suggests "failure." 3 out of 4 successful series, a slew of Emmys, and a billion dollars.

Jeanne Crain.

Jeanne Crain was a fucking leading lady, goddammit!

Betty Hutton

Betty Buckley

Jennifer Manniston. It's not that she's awful or unlikeable. I just always feel like she should be playing the "friend" in a film. No pun intended.

Some of these women, like Jeanne Crain and Betty Hutton, did have successful and decently long careers as leading ladies before their careers shriveled up and died. How should we consider them vs. actresses like Linda Fiorentino and Sean Young, whose careers were extremely short lived?

I love a failure. That's why I come here. Who the fuck is Betty Hutton and Jennie Craine? Not exactly superstars. But I know Yvonne DeCarlo. Cuz she was gorgeous and fucked everyone and sang I'm still here!!! Before I was born. Goddammit she was pretty. But Sondheim preferred this failed lady, above all the rest. He cried the first time she sang this. He fucking wept. Because she's a trouper with pride and just enough talent. She had more than enough star power and just a bit of what makes a failure sad. Ann Margaret - Enjoy!

Ann Miller is an acquired taste, a very acquired taste. Even as a child I was like who is this strange lady and why is she on TV?

Several years before Follies, I saw Yvonne de Carlo in a bus and truck tour of Hello, Dolly! and she was fabulous. Everyone else was there to see Lily Munster but I was there to see Dolly and both she and the show were fabulous. Everyone left very happy.

BTW, she played Dolly GALLAGHER Levi with an Irish brogue. Decades later, Tovuh Feldshuh claimed to be the first to do that at Papermill Playhouse, but she lied.

It would have been great if de Carlo had ever gotten through a single performance of Follies without going up on her lyrics.

[quote]Ann Miller is an acquired taste, a very acquired taste. Even as a child I was like who is this strange lady and why is she on TV?

One of the greatest tap dancers of her time, not exactly a fringe performer.

Betty Hutton was a big, popular star but since she really did fail so totally at the height of her fame, she can be considered a failed leading lady, I think. Judy Garland could, too, actually since her film career never recovered from being fired from MGM in her late 20s. She only made 3 or 4 more movies (one was A Star Is Born, though). I mean this is if we're talking leading lady status. They did TV, stage, clubs, Vegas, etc.

I find the supposed complexity and skill needed to tap dance overhyped. Shirley Temple could do circles around everyone at five. And even Jonathan Groff, a non dancer by any standards, was able to Sutton’s dance with a strong drive and lots of practice.

You summed that up very nicely, r337.

Jonathon Groff summons his inner Sutton Foster.

R338 Do you have any idea what you're talking about? Shirley Temple at 5? What was she doing at 25? If she could dance like Ann Miller she would have been the queen of musicals. Saying you find the skill needed to tap dance overhyped is like saying you find the skill to play tennis, or skateboard, or figure skate, overhyped. Of course a lot of people can do these things, just not well. Def not on a brilliant pro or Olympic level.

Bill Robinson and Shirley Temple adored each other. It was a lifelong relationship.

Their scenes together were sometimes cut in Southern states. She said he treated her like an adult and she never forgot it. Their dance scenes together were the first interracial dance scenes to appear in major Hollywood films.

Ann Miller was a failure. But a trouper. And no, tap dancing is no analogous to being a world class tennis player or even a great dancer. It's a very narrow skill set. Miller had charm and was fun. She did or didn't fuck Mr. Mayer and she married someone old everytime she ran out of money. As a star of film, she was a failure. But her wig game was world class and she had mink coats and tacky sequins and the tiniest nose job in the world. She makes you feel something when she tries to sing and dance. The effort of it all. Ha. Is she still alive?

I love Shirley Temple. I love Bill Bojangles Robinson. I love Ann Miller.

I guess I'm just an old DL queen.

Ancient

But not dead.

But not dead.

You're still here honey. I lived through Donald Trump and I'm HEEERRRE!! It's okay old queen. Ann Miller was fun. I'd draw the line at Shirley Temple though. 🎀

Esther Blodgett.

Robinson was given control over his dance scenes with Temple. They were very modified versions of what he had done for years in vaudeville. He still thought she was one of the most talented partners he ever had.

Hunny, this thread has gone to pot! I just consulted the Crystal Skull of Honduras, ya know... somewhere near the Bimini Road? Anyways, my career was not “a failure.” I had ups and downs, sure, but! I never said no to a part. Did pretty well with the ones I got. Cultivated myself. And, for the record, my mother was with me every time I saw Mistah Mayer. If we had fucked, she would have been watching.

^^^ she’s right.

Ann Miller died in 2004.

R94 Her career genuinely baffles me. She got (I think?) one lead after American Beauty (Loser) and she was relegated to supporting roles after that.

Just because Ann Miller is dead, doesn't mean she failed.

I feel like the last big movie Mena did was that Graduate sequel (?) with Jennifer Aniston and Kevin Costner.

Mena just played Nicole Simpson in a terrible movie.

The Queens of DataLounge

The funniest thing Mena ever did was impersonate Aaron Carter on SNL. Too bad cheapskate Lorne Michaels won't let me play it.

Joan Allen was very much a leading lady on stage and film. Hardly a failure. I don’t know why you all always have such high expectations of actor’s careers. Even Streisand only had about 9 good years.

I adore Joan Allen. The Upside of Anger is one of my all time favorites. Then I watched her in A Good Marriage and was so sad to see she had ruined her face. She has that lion-esque look they all have.

Joan went the way of most actresses who think getting their face recut will get them more work. It doesn't. The older actresses who keep on working are the ones who let themselves look real.

Yes, I agree R362. Wrinkles and character in a face are so much more interesting and beautiful. It just baffles that they don't learn from the countless others who have tried and failed.

there isnt really much of pretty older woman roles (kidman, blanchett, goop and winslet will play them anyway) , and now she looks too hollywood to play regular older women and character roles.

Young Monica Potter looked like Julia Roberts' more attractive sister. That pretty much prevented her from becoming a major star.

They do look alike.

How is being hired for various roles a "failed' career? I never got this line of thought. Actors and actress are basically freelance workers.

Character actors and actresses actually have a longer shelf life than 'movie stars' Sure, these performers make much less money than A-List stars, but they are constantly working and seem to be better actors and actresses than performers who are more well-known for their glamour/looks, which seem to be more important than actual talent.

R195 I've always liked Jenna Elfman in movies, but she is better as a supporting player. She was wonderful in CAN'T HARDLY WAIT.

It's a real pity that she's a nutcase clam. Wonder if that's the reason she never really bagged any marquee roles?

Jessica Alba. The PR teams keep pushing her, but she's not talented.

R367 Jessica had a good run in the early 00s. Her latest show got cancelled but she still has Honest Beauty to keep her afloat.

R27 My favorite Sossamon performance is in "The Rules of Attraction". Second favorite: in Cher's "Strong Enough" video.

Britt Robertson I completely agree with r297. She seemed like the next big thing when she left Under the Dome. She was in Cake with Jennifer Aniston and was going to be the female lead in a film with George Clooney. And then that film, Tomorrowland, bombed. She's currently starring in Books of Blood on Hulu.

Daphne Zuniga.

Neely O’Hara Helen Lawson

R370 she seems to work better as a side character rather than a lead. I don't think The Longest Ride was a huge smash at the box office. And Girlboss was cancelled after a season. But she doesn't have much trouble finding work.

Did anyone mention Lauren Holly?

Marthe Keller, Maria Schell, Hildegarde Neff, and even Liv Ullmann bombed in Hollywood but did ok in other countries. Alida Valli, I'm not sure if she failed or just didn't like Hollywood because post-Hollywood she did fine.

Nastassja Kinski is a great example. I recall numerous reporters comparing her to Garbo and Bergman. She made some b-horror movies as a teen. Played the titular role in Polanski's Tess and then had flop after flop: Cat People, Exposed, Revolution, Unfaithfully Yours, and on and on. Hollywood really wanted her to happen, but she didn't...

R376, because she was dull on screen. Linda Fiorentino was mentioned upthread and I’d say she and Kinsky had the same low level of charm. I’d throw Rene Russo in with them as well.

Gretchen Moll had to suck Weinstein's peen and for what?

Greta Scacchi seemed like she was on the cusp of of making the leap.

Mena Suvari seemed to fade away.

Annette Benning - She's like the actress you get if you can't get M, G, Emma Thompson, or Jessica Lange - but you can always get one of them. She's not sexy enough to replace Michelle Pfeiffer. Yet, she's a proficient actress who usually does a good job.

Ironically, R 379, Pfieffer replaced Bening as Catwoman in Batman 2, which seems very strange in retrospect.

I read somewhere that the 2003 car accident messed up Bridget Fonda's neck and spine. She apparently deals with chronic pain. She was approaching 40 anyway and had married well, so maybe she just said 'fuck it.'

R380 From Wikipedia:

[quote] According to Pfeiffer, who was previously reportedly considered to play Vicki Vale in the previous film but turned down, she felt devastated after Annette Bening was cast as Catwoman based on the strength of her performance in The Grifters, but Bening had to drop out of the film due to becoming pregnant.

I would’ve thought Burton - or any director, for that matter - would have instantly thought of Pfeiffer for the role, especially considering her feline looks. That being said, I think Bening would have been great too, though not necessarily better than Pfeiffer, who I think should have won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her work.

Now that I think of it, perhaps Burton didn’t consider Pfeiffer because she had already turned down the role of Vicki Vale.

Jamie Gertz

Rebecca Demornay

Debra Messing

Mena Suvari

Jenna Elfman

Kristie Alley

All deservedly so

R385 why does Mena deserve it?

Kristen Scott Thomas

Mrs Nicole Kidman Cruise Urban

Mrs Barbra Streisand Gould Brolin

Mrs Oprah Winfrey King

Mrs Mariah Carey Cannon Lopez

Mrs Courtney Cocks Arquette

Mrs Beyoncé Knowles Carter

[R380] Michelle Pfeiffer isn't half the actress Annette Bening is. In her prime Bening was physically beautiful with a lovely speaking voice, onscreen poise, humor and great charm - equally good at comedy and drama. She had wonderful training and moves with grace. The only reason she didn't have an even bigger career is that she prioritized marriage and children over work, which I commendable in the cutthroat world of Hollywood.

Emma Thompson is an entirely different type - a Plain Jane character actress with a flair for comedy who lacks the gravitas for serious drama.

It's not whether or not Bening was a better actor or not, just that Pfieffer's feline features seem perfect for the role of Catwoman and she was a major movie star at the time (much bigger than Bening) so it would seem to me that she would be the first choice for the role. Catwoman aside, I actually find Bening to be a bit mannered and 'stagey', and while Pfeiffer might be more limited I tend to find her performances more authentic.

VIVIIAN VANCE