After the massive response to Kay’s bad boys feature, it got me thinking about bad girls, and I noticed an opposite pattern emerging. While all bad boys may come from Britain, it doesn’t seem to be the case for female villains.
Let’s have a look at some of the more famous female screen villain’s. Kathy Bates terrifying mallet wielder from Misery – American. Fatal Attraction’s Alex Forrest, as played by Glenn Close – American. Meryl Streep’s bitch editor, Miranda Priestley – American. The Dark Knight Rises’ Catwoman (and, for that matter, Batman Returns Catwoman) – American.
Of course, as with all men being British, this seems to be the rule, not the exception. So why exactly is it? Well, for a start, British male actor’s seem to have more success across the pond than actresses (unless they’re Judi Dench or Maggie Smith, and any film with them as villains is a movie I would pay good money to see). The recent Snow White & The Huntsman saw Charlize Theron (who, for the record, I love), playing an evil queen with a british accent. Would it have been so hard to cast a Brit in the role?
English actresses seem to play the romantic interests, the ‘english rose’, and when that’s whats in demand, whose to blame them. I’ve no doubt that Emily Blunt or Kate Winslet would relish the opportunity to play a super bitch, they just haven’t found the right opportunity. Imagine, for a moment, Kate Winslet as a vampy, bitchy evil queen with men falling at her feet. Emma Thompson as a pistol-toting super spy. Hell, I’d even take Victoria Wood chasing after some pure white trash with a chainsaw. The fact is though, the roles just aren’t there.
Then of course there’s the fact that there are less opportunities for female villains, and those that are there have pretty much been eaten up by Helena Bonham Carter (who, of course, is british. Perhaps she should spread the parts about a bit more? We’ve seen her do crazy more than enough times, it’s time to give some of the other girls a go.)
Come on Hollywood, isn’t it time some of our british girls got a chance at playing the big bad?
bywayofthegreenlinebus 