The Right Place at The Right Time – How a Breakout Role Defines a Career

Wikipedia.com defines a breakout role thusly: “A breakthrough role, also known as breakout role, is a term in the film industry to describe the performance of an actor or actress in a film or television show which contributed significantly to the development of their career and beginning of critical recognition. Such a moment in an actor's career may often occur some time after they begin acting as their roles become more substantial. Often a breakthrough role is a significant increase in importance in the actor's part in the film moving up from a minor character or extra to one of the leading cast, or a "high impact" role in a film which has mainstream success and results in the widespread recognition or popularity of the actor.” I can’t help but think the way we perceive talent and star power is hugely connected to an actor’s initial success – the moment of critical recognition as having talent to keep one’s eye on, garnering attention from either the masses or someone important as being “someone to watch”.  I want to explore this idea with a few actresses, because what kind of American would I be if I wasn’t conscious or subconsciously buying into the draw of the male gaze?? We keep “pitting women against each other” because it’s entertaining, and whether they admit it or not, they love it. ANYWAY.

Jennifer Lawrence is a great actress, yes, but would we believe that if her breakout role wasn’t in Winter’s Bone (2010), where she played a destitute stricken gritty teenager gutting squirrels and searching for her meth making father in the back woods of Missouri? What if her breakout role was actually (what we would all agree is) Blake Lively’s breakout role, the over eager and flirtatious soccer star in Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)? Would Jennifer Lawrence become a David O. Russell darling had she played Blake’s horny jock pre nose job? (YOU KNOW Blake’s nose is post op. Google it.) Methinks not.

When you’re interested in an acting career, one of the most common phrases you’ll hear is “being in the right place at the right time.” Maybe Blake was too busy getting her nose done to go to the casting call of Winter’s Bone, but she either didn’t audition for it, or the director wasn’t interested in casting her because of her previous role(s). Do you see what I’m getting at here? Other than Blake’s nose? (I’m done with the nose jokes, I promise. LUV U BLAKE.) The director of Winter’s Bone presumably wanted an actress who no one was too familiar with, who we could buy into as being rough and tough and Sundance-ready.

After Jennifer proved her acting chops in a meaty role that garnered her an Oscar nom, she eventually moved on to more Serious Actress films including Russell’s Silver Lining’s Playbook (2012), American Hustle (2013), and Joy (2015) - all of which received rave reviews and various noms on her part. Let’s not forget X-Men and The Hunger Games franchises. Yes, Jennifer was good, but could Blake have played these roles just as well? Theoretically. Arguably. In Lawrence’s latest Vogue cover story, she mentions being relieved at having finished her contracted franchises. She understood that she had become a new “tour de force” (UGH. So overused, that phrase) and wanted to hand pick her roles accordingly. I was a fan of Lawrence until I read her story. She came off as conceited, snobby, and a bit too self-important. The actress who was once endearing has tipped over the line of too try-hard. I suppose it was about time, it’s pretty much inevitable when a star is so upfront about themselves. Their likability is almost always going to have a downfall. (In regards to likability/downfalls - Amy Schumer also comes to mind. And Anne Hathaway. See the pattern here? It has to do with reproductive organs. Can I be sexist as long as I acknowledge I’m being sexist? No? I digress.)

Meanwhile, Blake became the new Cali girl beach-babe, and starred in the CW’s high school version of Sex and the City – Gossip Girl (2007). This role simultaneously solidified her hotness, Barbie bod, unrealistically perfect hair, and mediocre acting chops. Although critics have cited her Elvis and Anabelle (2007) role as being her breakout, Imma go ahead and assume you’d all agree with me in saying you’ve never even heard of it. Lively attempted to flex her cRaFt when she played a gritty Bostonian in Ben Affleck’s The Town (2010) – her moments where both anticipated and forgettable. SIGH. A swing and a miss, Blakey. She then starred in Green Lantern (2011) with her future (and my future 2^nd) husband, Ryan Reynolds. The film was a flop, and you already knew that. Did ANYONE see it?? No I didn’t think so. (I just caught parts of it while I switched between that and the last debate and MY GOODNESS they were just as bad as each other.) Lively then ironically replaced Lawrence’s character in Oliver Stone’s thriller Savages (2012). I haven’t seen it, but I’ve been wanting to. I am prepared to yet again be let down by Blake and watch her get seriously out acted by her costars – John Travolta, Benicio del Toro, Salma Hayek……I believe this is an actress who is given second, third, and forth chances to show her skill and can never quite commit to ‘being ugly’. Can you imagine her playing a role like Charlize Theron’s in Monster? I can’t. If she were trying to sell that to me, I wouldn’t buy it. But she doesn’t sell that, she sells the Pretty Girl. It’s what she likes to sell. And I know plenty of people who buy it…..I saw The Shallows this summer, and Blake was yet again making a pointed effort to play a more challenging role who shifts from moments of screaming in unimaginable pain to delivering dialogue for the sake of dialogue: “NOT TODAY (SHARK).” Even in this bikini-clad shark attack thriller, Blake managed to maintain a certain level of prettiness. It’s like she’s unable to make herself look ugly. Or she’s just THAT attractive. I just couldn’t take her seriously.

 It’s pretty apparent to me that an actress is only as good as her opportunities, characters, and skills, and the delicate balance of those three is what defines a career path and certain set of chops. In my opinion, a career is established thusly. It takes a lot of effort and convincing to turn around one’s star persona and abilities. This seems more likely when one is shifting from one genre to another, like comedians who do drama well. Matthew McConaughey is someone who has surprised me with his overnight switch from fluffy rom-com stardom to serious actor with real, true talent – prompting critics to concot the term ‘McConaissance’. He just needed to get the chance to play those roles. Not trying to be sexist, but I can’t think of a female actress who has had a similar career path – flipping it on its head and defying what we thought she was capable of. Anyone come to mind? Or is it that women aren’t given these shots? Charlize Theron has shown her talent is ever spanning. And Meryl Streep comes to mind but I’m not familiar enough with her entire career……

I know the things I’ve said here are sweeping generalizations, but……what do YOU think? Are actors actually capable of playing many levels of roles? Are our opinions of their abilities solely based on their career paths?