No, Jolie, no.

[logansrogue]

Apparently, they want to cast Angelina Jolie as Cleopatra in an upcoming movie.

Now, Cleopatra's race is a complicated issue. She was Greek, Macedonian specifically, and horribly inbred. Apparently, she wasn't that much of a looker, either. Not by modern standards at least (I think she was still lovely).

So why pick Jolie? Sure, Jolie might have the right amount of quiet psychosis required to pull off Cleopatra, but she's far too pretty and overexposed to be believed as the most famous Egyptian Queen ever to have ruled Egypt.

I mean, they wouldn't *gasp* get an actual mixed-race woman, of mainly Macedonian heritage to play her, would they? That would be unheard of. *grumps*

Comments

[hotclaws.livejournal.com]

She's not going to able to pull it off,she's not the right type of actress either.

[anarchicq.livejournal.com]

Why not? She played the queen in Alexander (Which was a horrible movie), she was Mariane Perl in A Mighty Heart (And she was amazing in it), and she was Grendel's mother (Which...eh...).

Personally I think the true test of an actor is their ability to transform themselves and make you forget who they are.

Yes, it's unfortunate they're giving the role to her and possibly passing by some unknown, but at least Jolie has paid her dues in Hollywood.

And as someone below me said, "It's better than Liz Taylor."

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

I'm not saying that Jolie doesn't have the chops to do an acceptable job, she's played these roles plenty of times.

Honestly, I can't see her in a role and forget who she is. I just can't. She hasn't been able to pull that off for me yet. So, for me, it's not a casting I would choose.

It's nothing personal, I have no problems with Jolie and think she does good work.

(I didn't mind Liz).

[marie-j-granger.livejournal.com]

I can't stand that woman. I think she's a home-wrecking attention wh*re. But that's just me. ;~)

And yes, it would be much better to get a mixed-race Macedonian woman.

[nephron.livejournal.com]

A homewrecker, eh? What about the man's responsibility in the homewrecking?

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

I'm not comfortable with talking about her like that, as I believe Brad had as much to do with that particular situation as she did. I don't judge people on stuff like that cause I don't know what I'd do in that situation myself, I just - there's no point to it. It also doesn't really have anything to do with her acting abilities.

But it would be nice if they got someone that actually looked the part.

[svashtar.livejournal.com]

She's better than Elizabeth Taylor, so points for that.

I think they should use that chick who played wosshername in The Mummy.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

I didn't mind Liz too much.

Rachel Weisz is probably too pretty as well, I think.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

When you're making a big budget movie, it's all about the benjamins; you have to have a name that will draw people in. That said, there are already-known mixed race, black, and at least one Greek actresses I know who would be good for this. (Although, wasn't Cleo pretty young when she lost rule of Egypt too? Could be none of the well known actresses I can think of would be young enough to play her anyway.)

[robin99.livejournal.com]

When you're making a big budget movie, it's all about the benjamins; you have to have a name that will draw people in.

Sad but true.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know how the movie industry works, it just totally chaps my ass.

Cleopatra's story spans from her late teens to when she died.

[loic.livejournal.com]

Meh, if they're not going to shoot it in ancient greek and egyptian, who really cares? Her diminishing acting skills are her real problem here, but she'll put bums on seats in the cinema so the producers will be happy.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

You're talking to an Ancient History nut. I live in hope for the day that they cast a historical with some accuracy. I hope in vain!

[amichandrn.livejournal.com]

I had the same problem when they picked a blonde to play Helen of Troy.

[bewarethespork.livejournal.com]

As much as I like her, I have to say, this will be...interesting, to put it charitably.

[xedra.livejournal.com]

I'm looking at your icon and thinking they should use her. She'd be a lot more believable than Angelina.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Well, she'd be a good actual Egyptian princess/Queen. Probably a bit too dark for Cleopatra, though.

[robin99.livejournal.com]

River Song was busy?

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

LOL! Apparently! I think she'd actually be very good.

[catchingspirit.livejournal.com]

This is so random, but your post made me think of it:

The one character consistently cast as 'ethnic' when she wasn't seems to be Katherine of Aragon. They consistently (overall, at least; there are exceptions with someone depicted so many times of course) find typically Spanish-looking actresses to play her, when she was actually blonde and fair.

Edit: By 'typically Spanish' I should say 'dark'; because certain regions actually do tend towards light hair and skin more.

[holly-go-noor.livejournal.com]

I thought she was a redhead.

But at any rate, I've noticed that, too! The woman who plays her in The Tudors (I forget her name) almost looks Arab to me.

[drbunsen.livejournal.com]

That would be Galicia, where the Spanish Gauls (Celts) live.

Soooo prettteeeeeeee ^_^

[greteldragon.livejournal.com]

She was Greek, Macedonian specifically

Haha, those are fighting words.

Also looking at Jolie, doesn't she have a fair chunk of eastern European heritage? Your comment about mixed-race is confusing me. Especially as my own part Macedonian heritage tells me obviously Cleopatra should have dirty blonde hair, blue eyes, and freckled pale-arse skin. Obviously that's how most of southern Europe should look right? :P

The overexposed is an interesting remarked, but the pretty comment is interesting. Half the world seems to think she's georgeous, the other half seems to think she's funny looking with unrealistic and crazy features.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Sorry about that.

It's not her colouring that bothers me. Not at all. Jolie is unrealisticly, absolutely, beyond ken, gorgeously beautiful. She's stunning beyond belief. And the wonderful thing about Cleopatra was that she wasn't immediately gorgeous, she was charming beyond her plainness.

I guess I'm just a schtickler for historical accuracy.

And I should be clear - I have nothing against Jolie. She's awesome, she does good work, I like her. She's just not who I think of when I think of Cleopatra.

And deepest apologies about the Greek/Macedonian fuck up.

[holly-go-noor.livejournal.com]

Not to mention, as the OP stated, she was inbred. So...it's safe to say she was probably pretty wonky looking anyways. xD! Seriously, even if they don't have birth defects, inbred people tend to have weird features. I don't know how to explain it. Like their noses are SUPER huge, or they have EXTREME unibrows, or their eyes are too close together or SOMETHING.