Natalie Portman Says 'Star Wars' Almost Killed Her Acting Career

[Dream]

""Star Wars had come out around the time of Seagull, and everyone thought I was a horrible actress," Portman says. "I was in the biggest-grossing movie of the decade, and no director wanted to work with me. Mike wrote a letter to Anthony Minghella and said, 'Put her in Cold Mountain, I vouch for her.' And then Anthony passed me on to Tom Tykwer, who passed me on to the Wachowskis."

http://www.techtimes.com/articles/2...n-says-star-wars-almost-killed-her-career.htm

Of the big three from the OT, only Ford was able to move on to have a major acting career. I don't think he ever care much about the Han Solo role, and preferred Indiana Jones for obvious reasons. Hamill was able to have a thriving voice acting career. Fisher had too many personal issues to deal.

Alec Guinness resented the fact that his role in SW became so popular.

James Earl Jones become the go to guy for awesome voice work.

It didn't really impacted Liam Neeson's career, he moved on to action roles like Taken.

Ewan McGregor went back being successful in supporting roles in movies. I think he was the best actor in the prequel trilogy, so I'm glad for him.

What ever happened to Jake Lloyd? Hayden Christensen?

 

[Turtletrekker]

Jake Lloyd has had some issues.

Hayden Christenson took a sabbatical from acting, but has recently started up again.

 

[Kor]

If I was most known for saying things like "You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy," I might resent that too.

But it could have been worse... I realllly feel sorry for Christopher Plummer when I watch Starcrash.... a skilled Shakespearean actor in an awful Star Wars-knockoff released by George Corman's company.

Kor

 

[Christopher]

Of the big three from the OT, only Ford was able to move on to have a major acting career. I don't think he ever care much about the Han Solo role, and preferred Indiana Jones for obvious reasons. Hamill was able to have a thriving voice acting career. Fisher had too many personal issues to deal.

That's a little unfair to Fisher. She didn't do that much acting, but she pursued a successful career as a novelist, playwright, screenwriter, and script doctor. Just because she wasn't as visible, it doesn't mean she didn't achieve anything.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

Hamill was able to have a thriving voice acting career.

That voice acting only came recently. For many years, Hamill couldn't really break from the Skywalker character. His role was lampooned on MadTV as well as Jay and Bob Strikes Back (and probably the only reason I watched that film was to see Hamill and Carrie Fisher). Hamill would also have a few roles in low budget fare like The Guyver or small villainous roles.

Most notably, he's The Trickster on both versions of The Flash.

If I was most known for saying things like "You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy," I might resent that too.

But it could have been worse... I realllly feel sorry for Christopher Plummer when I watch Starcrash.... a skilled Shakespearean actor in an awful Star Wars-knockoff released by George Corman's company.

Kor

I think you mean 'Roger Corman?' As far as I know, he didn't have anything to do with that film. That was Battle Beyond the Stars, the 'other' Star Wars knockoff.

 

[Turtletrekker]

Hamill was able to have a thriving voice acting career.

That voice acting only came recently.

Uhhm, the Joker?

 

[Joel_Kirk]

Hamill was able to have a thriving voice acting career.

That voice acting only came recently.

Uhhm, the Joker?

Yeah, but that was early millennium, right...? That wasn't off-the-bat after Star Wars, of course.

{EDIT: Checked IMDB. Hamill was indeed doing voice work, including The Joker, around the late 90s. Although, Turtletrekker states it is actually the early 90s. However, at that time, he was still within the Skywalker hold. I personally don't remember many acknowledging his work as The Joker (or work outside Star Wars) until different versions of the live-action Joker, or even the live-action Batman films and games based on Batman started making the online news}.

 

[Turtletrekker]

Nope, he started playing the Joker in 1992.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

Nope, he started playing the Joker in 1992.

^^

I edited my earlier comment.

 

[Kor]

If I was most known for saying things like "You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy," I might resent that too.

But it could have been worse... I realllly feel sorry for Christopher Plummer when I watch Starcrash.... a skilled Shakespearean actor in an awful Star Wars-knockoff released by George Corman's company.

Kor

I think you mean 'Roger Corman?' As far as I know, he didn't have anything to do with that film. That was Battle Beyond the Stars, the 'other' Star Wars knockoff.

Oops, yes, Roger. I don't know why I typed "George."

Corman may have had nothing to do with the actual production of the movie, but Starcrash was released in the US by New World Pictures, Roger and Gene Corman's company. Now it's on DVD and blu-ray in the "Roger Corman's Cult Classics" series.

Kor

 

[Joel_Kirk]

If I was most known for saying things like "You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy," I might resent that too.

But it could have been worse... I realllly feel sorry for Christopher Plummer when I watch Starcrash.... a skilled Shakespearean actor in an awful Star Wars-knockoff released by George Corman's company.

Kor

I think you mean 'Roger Corman?' As far as I know, he didn't have anything to do with that film. That was Battle Beyond the Stars, the 'other' Star Wars knockoff.

Oops, yes, Roger. I don't know why I typed "George."

Corman may have had nothing to do with the actual production of the movie, but Starcrash was released in the US by New World Pictures, Roger and Gene Corman's company. Now it's on DVD and blu-ray in the "Roger Corman's Cult Classics" series.

Kor

Ahhhh....

 

[Christopher]

I personally don't remember many acknowledging his work as The Joker (or work outside Star Wars) until different versions of the live-action Joker, or even the live-action Batman films and games based on Batman started making the online news}.

Work doesn't have to be universally acknowledged to be real and worthwhile. Those of us in animation fandom have known for decades that Luke Skywalker was just the prologue to Hamill's real career. The most frustrating thing for me about The Force Awakens was that

Spoiler: the thing

Hamill's greatest asset as an actor, his voice, wasn't used at all. I hope that changes in Episode VIII.

 

[theenglish]

I personally don't remember many acknowledging his work as The Joker (or work outside Star Wars) until different versions of the live-action Joker, or even the live-action Batman films and games based on Batman started making the online news}.

Work doesn't have to be universally acknowledged to be real and worthwhile. Those of us in animation fandom have known for decades that Luke Skywalker was just the prologue to Hamill's real career. The most frustrating thing for me about The Force Awakens was that

Spoiler: the thing

Hamill's greatest asset as an actor, his voice, wasn't used at all. I hope that changes in Episode VIII.

I'm sure that he will get a great part in the sequel.

But the question that needs to be asked is how much these actors have earned from their roles in the movies?

They weren't conscripted to act in them. They made a lot of money.

Even if they couldn't make a lot of money afterward I am sure they have done better than many pro NFL players whose average career is something like four or five years.

 

[Ithekro]

I seem to recall an interview with Mark Hamill sometime in the last century I think, were he said Lucas asked him near the end of filming Return of the Jedi, if in thirty year Mark wanted to come back as the Obi-wan role character.

Mark Hamill did have a starting role in the computer games Wing Commander III and Wing Commander IV.

 

[ALF]

Her career? Really? I think Hayden Christensen's been the real disappearing act. Honestly, did anyone really expect Jake Lloyd to follow up on his brutal 'performance'?

Natalie's always great to watch, even in that god awful mess, Closer (2004).

 

[Ithekro]

Last I heard she was very intelligent. Also still looks good. She shouldn't have a problem anymore.

 

[davejames]

I'd say there's a difference between what the original actors went through and what the prequels actors went through. For the originals it was much more about typecasting and being closely identified with such beloved characters in a hugely popular series of movies...

While for the prequel actors it was much more about people suddenly starting to question their acting abilities after seeing them be so incredibly stiff and lifeless in a series of very mediocre movies. Along with probably a certain stigma that came with that association.

 

[The Old Mixer]

I don't think that all the blame can be heaped on Lucas...working with him was a test of acting ability. Ewan McGregor had the same writing and directing, and he managed to project some character through his performance in spite of the handicaps.

HC has a little more of an excuse because he really could have used that third film to grow into his role, if not for Lucas's decision to start Anakin's story at an age so young that it would require a recast.

 

[Christopher]

I don't think that all the blame can be heaped on Lucas...working with him was a test of acting ability. Ewan McGregor had the same writing and directing, and he managed to project some character through his performance in spite of the handicaps.

On the other hand, McGregor had an advantage that Portman and Christensen did not: He was playing a character that had already been defined by Sir Alec Guiness in three earlier movies. So he had more guidance in how to understand and interpret his role than they did. Ditto for the other actor who shone the most in the prequels: Ian McDiarmid, who was reprising his own role from Return of the Jedi.

So I don't think we have enough evidence to conclude that the difference between their performances was due to their relative acting ability. Portman has shown herself to be entirely capable as an actress in her other work.

 

[dahj]

On the other hand, McGregor had an advantage that Portman and Christensen did not: He was playing a character that had already been defined by Sir Alec Guiness in three earlier movies.

Isn't that more of a handicap for an actor rather than an advantage?
Instead of interpreting the role completely how they see it, they're somewhat compelled to honor a previous interpretation of the character.