14 DAY TRIAL // As speculation is building up that Jessica Biel, once the hottest and most promising star of her generation, has become so desperate for a good movie part that she’d kill for it if she had to (speaking strictly figuratively), the star is readying for her musical debut in “Guys and Dolls.” However, even as she’s doing so, she can’t help but feel that Hollywood has already put her in a box and is not willing to give her a proper shot at showing her real worth, as she says so herself in a recent interview with Los Angeles Times.
Biel is not the first and will not be the last female star to complain of the double standards in Hollywood. Neither is this the first occasion on which she voices her discontent at often being regarded solely as a beautiful woman, which literally cripples her chances of getting a good part in a good movie. Because she’s good looking, the industry does not take her seriously, the star believes, and, while she’s more or less OK with that, the least she would like is to be given a proper chance.
“The only destination I’m hoping for is longevity. I want to be able to keep working until I’m 105 years old. I want the choice. It’s difficult for women in general in entertainment. They peak earlier and the men peak at 30, 40. It’s kind of scary. But you can’t tell Meryl Streep she can’t do a part. You can’t say to Cate Blanchett ‘I don’t believe her in that.’ They do anything they want because they have explored the range, which is endless for them. That’s what I want.” Jessica Biel tells the aforementioned publication.
In the same interview, the actress reiterates her belief that the industry has already classed her as a “hottie” and is not willing to move past her image. As noted above, Biel stated in the past that she often felt left out when it came to important parts, for deep characters that she’d like to have a go at, solely based on her good looks. “I just don’t want to be in a box ever where anybody feels I can only do one thing, because it’s boring. I feel I have a lot to explore and a lot to give and try and probably fail doing something, but I want the shot to do it.” the star says now.
As fans must know, Biel’s more recent attempts at long-feature films have been received harshly by critics and worldwide audiences. Her latest movie, for instance, “Powder Blue,” where she plays an exotic dancer, was literally squashed by reviewers, so much so that the movie studio skipped a theatrical release and decided to bring it straight to DVD.