Six Movies Starring Unknown Actors
Six movies starring unknowns.
Saint Joan (1957):
Gone with the Wind producer David O. Selznick found his Scarlett O'Hara after an epic search that ultimately made Vivien Leigh a star. Otto Preminger decided to do him one better. After seeing 18,000 complete unknowns to play Joan of Arc, he settled on Jean Seberg, an Iowan with a boyish 'do and no acting experience. It backfired monstrously, with Seberg destroyed before she began. Jean-Luc Godard turned her into an icon by casting her in 1960's Breathless, but she led a rocky life, ultimately committing suicide in 1979.
The Birds (1963):
Having failed to make Vera Miles (The Wrong Man, Psycho) the next Grace Kelly, Alfred Hitchcock turned to Tippi Hedren, whom he discovered in a diet drink commercial. Hedren starred in The Birds and then alongside Sean Connery in Marnie, but the real career went to her daughter, Melanie Griffith.
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969):
Roger Moore excepted, the Bonds have been built around a relative newbie stepping into the role. When Connery retired, EON Productions tried their luck again with George Lazenby, an Aussie model whose previous acting work was mostly chocolate commercials. And it all worked out swimmingly.
Zabriskie Point (1970):
Attracted to America after the success of Blow-Up, Italian filmmaker Michelangelo Antonioni decided to go so deep into the counterculture he cast two non-pros. Neither went on to have careers. Daria Halprin acted once more and was married to Dennis Hopper for four years. Mark Frechette died five years later in prison after a bank robbery.
The Phantom Menace (1999):
Unknown kids tend to be accepted when cast in major roles. Not Jake Lloyd, who as Li'l Darth Vader attracted the wrath of millions just because George Lucas forced him to say "yippee." And yet Hayden Christensen just signed a three-picture deal. Poor Jake.
Notorious (2009):
Sorry, Beanie Sigel. You're no Jamal Woolard.
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1. Garry said... on Jan 14, 2009 at 02:47PM
“Seberg's death has not been solved. Additionally, her 'boysih' haircut resulted after Preminger asked to have her shoulder length locks cut off. For the true story of Seberg, read the new book Jean Seberg-Breathless. A new documentary film will be released this year, too, entitled Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg.”
2. Withnail said... on Jan 15, 2009 at 10:26AM
“Phantom Menace? Unknowns? So I guess Liam Neelson, Ewan MacGregor, and Natalie Portman were unknown?”
3. Ryan said... on Jan 15, 2009 at 10:53AM
“Jake Lloyd is one of the worst child actors ever. Seriously. Ugh. Take him (and JarJar, obviously) out of the movie, and suddenly it's not so bad.”
4. csheard said... on Feb 19, 2009 at 06:21PM
“Plan to see all these, eventually.”