Jessica Biel has a lot to say about the state of career in next month’s cover interview in Allure (story via US Weekly). When asked if her “good looks” hurt her career, Biel says “Yeah, it really is a problem. I have to be blunt.” Oh, no. So it’s because of Jessica’s radiant beauty that her stripper role in Powder Blue went straight to video? And it’s because she’s just so gorgeous that her biggest job this year is doing musical theater in Los Angeles? Biel tells the magazine that she just wants “an opportunity” but doesn’t understand why casting directors won’t even meet with her – “But if you don’t want to even see me — that’s hurtful. And why? You know nothing about me!”
Jessica Biel says her good looks are hurting her career.
“Yeah, it really is a problem,” Biel tells the June issue of Allure magazine. “I have to be blunt.”
The actress — whose latest film, Powder Blue, (in which she plays a stripper) is going to straight to DVD — isn’t handed plum roles.
“I’m in there with everybody else, fighting for the good parts. Yes, The Illusionist has made a difference — but a huge, massive difference, so I can pick and choose what I want? No.”
Biel, 27, covets the careers of Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman.
“I just want an opportunity. If you don’t like the audition, don’t hire me!” she says. “But if you don’t want to even see me — that’s hurtful. And why? You know nothing about me!”
Biel also opens up about dating the more-famous Justin Timberlake — and the attention that’s brought her.
“I mean, you love who you love! It’s not like you meet somebody one day and say, ‘OK, I’m not going to put up with his fame!’ or ‘Yes, I am going to put up with his celebrity,'” she says. “You can’t choose that. It just happens to you.”
Biel says she hasn’t “moved out to New York City full-time” with Timberlake. “I’m here because I’m interested in theater,” she insists.
She’s not sure they’ll ever wed. “I have no idea if I want to get married,” she says. “I have a lot to do careerwise.”
As for that emerald ring that was reportedly a gift from Timberlake? “I bought that ring for myself,” Biel affirms.
[From US Weekly]
Was this “too beautiful” talking point issued to all of the young Hollywood actresses? Because what Jessica’s saying seems very similar to Megan Fox’s obscene tirade about how people tell her she’s “too beautiful” for certain parts. What is with these girls?
I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt for a moment, and accept their premise. So Jessica Biel is so gorgeous that directors look at her and say to themselves “There’s no way a girl that stunning could play the girl-next-door in this romantic comedy I’ve got.” That’s the problem I have accepting Biel and Fox’s premise, though. Hollywood consistently miscasts actresses in those standard girl-next-door roles, or vixen roles, or best friend roles. All of the young Hollywood girls are probably auditioning for the same parts of “The Girl” in whatever interchangeable film. Whoever gets the part probably came cheapest or had the least professional drama. And if Biel is talking about the heavier acting challenges in dramas and Oscar-bait, well that has nothing to do with beauty and everything to do with talent.
Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake are shown at the Costume Institute Gala on 5/4/09. Credit: Fame Pictures
If she spend half her time taking acting classes as she does going to the gym.
she be halfway there to being considered an actress. Meryl Streep she’s not.
Uhhh… yeah. Sorry sweetie. You can tell yourself it’s because you’re just “too pretty,” but it’s really because you can’t play the role.
Not all directors are stupid enough to cast untalented actors like Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan (STUPIDEST. MISTAKE. EVER.).
She’s not a good actress…
It has everything to do with talent. There’s enough beautiful actresses with interesting leading roles. the thing is: Jessica is JUST a pretty face. Her problem is that she doesn’t have the depth as an actress to add some soul to her beauty.
Ho Hum, I feel so badly for her, poor baby, such a burden to be strapped with!
I’m sorry but beautiful she is not, she has a nice figure but that’s about it.
The Illusionist was a great movie but I thought she was terrible in it. Her accent was horrible.
Maybe she doesn’t get great roles because she isn’t all that as an actress? 7th heaven doesn’t count as acting. ugh
to paraphrase a former president…
it’s your ACTING, stupid. you’re just not that good. and no, you’re not that pretty, either.
great bod but that’s it.
She’s not even sorta pretty. She totally looks like a man.
Beauty was a real problem for Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor, and Raquel Welch too. Those ladies never had a real career and hardly anyone has ever heard of them thanks to that damned beauty thing. HA!
Hey Jessica…FYI Scarlett and Natalie are good looking women too (better looking in my opinion). And the reason they get good roles is because they have talent. Hang it up Jessica. You have no talent, you peaked with 7th Heaven. And you are not that good looking, you kind of look like a man in drag. If you where not JT’s girlfriend you would have probably been long forgotten.
She’s looking a little beat these days.
Well let me be blunt. This is completely insane on so many levels. First of Jessica you are not that beautiful. I am not saying you are ugly but Natalie Portman is much better looking and they call her for roles and you know why? Because they DO know you and they know Portman and while Portman irritates me a little sometimes, she can act and you can’t. I also don’t hear Portman complain that much…she seems like she concentrates on work…WOW what a novel concept that would be for you, a person who spends most of her time hanging on her pimpsqueak pretending to hate the attention.
And it’s hurtful? Not as hurtful as trying to accept the fact that people want to give you jobs and magazine covers when you are so undeserving. And if your skin is that thin then maybe you are in the wrong industry.
Good examples, Carrie.
What does Biel (and Megan Fox) think – that they are the ONLY women that are “too beautiful”?
Because just like you said, Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson are GORGEOUS women, yet they get some awesome roles! Especially Natalie Portman! Now THERE is an actress with both beauty and talent and intelligence.
Also, Charlize Theron. She is so striking, yet she played in “Monster.” With all the special makeup they have to make someone look gorgeous, average or hideous, you would think Biel and Fox would KNOW that the “too beautiful” thing is complete bull.
Maybe they do know, deep down. But opening their mouth just makes them look naive and stupid.
THE ILLUSIONIST was a great film with only one flaw, Ms Biel’s jarring nose job. She was a walking anachromism (and her accent sucked)
She’d be good as a cop in some procedural show on CBS, but that’s about it.
eh. such pettiness here. beauty is subjective, people – AND you can’t really compare natalie and jessica because their “looks” are like apples and oranges. Jessica’s athletic look (both in face and body) wouldn’t fit a role made for a more bookish and waif-like Portman.
Also I think she’s just trying to say she’s judged on her looks and that’s it, not that she’s the most beautiful woman in the world. She said it herself: she only wants a chance to audition.
Huh, I really don’t think she is all that pretty, let alone a good actress to pull it all off.
she shot her wad with 7th heaven.
tv actresses never learn their lesson.
stay in your lane and thank your lucky fuggin’ stars if you even GET to have some kind of career in hollywood, period.
she’s always been a weiner, i hate that.
dump her, justin.
dump her immediately.
i meant ‘whiner’
Thespian extraordinaire Jessica Alba is another, “I’m too beautiful to be cast,” complainer.
Jessica, Jessica + Megan.
Acting Axis of Twit.
Natalie Portman is beautiful AND she has a great career. Jessica is attractive but doesn’t even come close to Natalie. her career sucks because she can’t act. and the illusionist was so boring i fell asleep.
Porn is Not in her future..
she got naked for a movie, POWDER BLUE and it went to dvd. meaning its an awful movie.
beauty?? what beauty??
She is certainly a gorgeous girl, but who isn’t in hollywood? Even the “ugliest” of women with a career in acting usually knocks the rest of us outta the water any day…and I consider myself pretty damn good looking. So ofcourse directors don’t really need to audition her, theres plenty of tape of her around for them to check out her one dimensional acting ability…why waste valuable time auditioning someone they already know can’t play the part? thats just stupid.
Yeah, Hollywood has never had an obsession with physical beauty ever. Seriously haven’t they see the constant parade of plain and ugly women with missing teeth and moderate to severe acne that we all know and love and win the Academy awards every year?
What a jerk!
I think she’s okay in parts that are not too taxing… The Illusionist was just okay, she needs to up her game; her problem might be that she has no sparkle on screen. She is semi pretty but there is just no sparkle there!
hahaha hotmilfchoco– you were right the first time, she is a weiner, or maybe it’s that she has a weiner– I always forget which one.
Thinking of her doing porn makes me roll on the floor laughing– I can only imagine the lengths of sensual-overacting that would occur. She is the most awkward, un-sexy spooge this side of the Mississippi (possibly both sides).
Bad nose job, bad lip enhancement job and overall not even attractive , let alone beautiful. Who told her she is beautiful? They were pulling her leg for sure. Get real he female. You are not beautiful. Sorry.
she looks feverish and consumptive in the header photo. she needs a new stylist stat.
No honey, work on your talent. If Charlize Theiron can get Monster and an Oscar, it has to do with talent.
Get some.
Stop b*tching and hone your craft.
She’s super pretty… but, a bit masculine and definitely NOT beautiful… at least not too beautiful to get jobs. LOL at her illusions about herself.
Well, EXCUSE her beauty! ROFL! I’ve never seen this woman in anything, ever. Yay!
This girl in particular has always rubbed me the wrong way. I knew she had a typical Hollywood ego. SIT DOWN Biel.
Ugh
She was terrible in The Illusionist!
Well Biel, first of all you have an ugly face – maybe you have a good body but good movie roles you have to play with your face also – and see, even your body that you all present us naked so often doesn`t manage to give you good acting roles! What a pity, it is because you can`t act! Because the only way to get attention is to cling on Timberlake and use him for publicity, because otherwise nobody would give a sh-t about you! You have no talent at all and YOU CAN´T ACT that is why you don`t get good movie roles!
i find it laughable that she would think she’s so gorgeous that she can’t get roles. really? cause it certainly hasn’t stopped natalie portman, charlize theron, cate blanchett, kate winslet, rachel weiss, salma hayek, halle berry, penelope cruz, etc. and at least half of these ladies are oscar winners and much prettier than jessica. i think what’s stopping her getting roles is her bad acting…i saw the illusionist, and she sucked.
I must agree with most people here, she is very pretty but there are attractive actresses out there that have no problem landing roles due to their beauty because they have a much broader range. Halle Berry (as the original Kate noted) who is IMO almost unbreakably beautiful hasn’t lost out due to her looks and she is an Oscar winner to boot.
MK @ dlisted had a hilarious response to her quote.
anastasiabeaverhausen:
May 19th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Well, EXCUSE her beauty! ROFL! I’ve never seen this woman in anything, ever. Yay!
OMG you’re referring to that video aren’t you, of the transvestite arrested who was arrested & told the cops “Excuse my beauty!” OMG thank you for reminding me of that *dying* LOLOLOL
As for Biel – yeah, nice try, Jessica. I used to like this chick until I saw how transparent she is (and deluded, apparently.) Yeah, if Hollywood wasn’t run on beautiful people she would have a point. As it is she’s just one more pretty face in a sea of thousands. What a twat.
*still laughing @ “Excuse my beauty”* XD
I wonder if its a real problem that most of the actors in Hollywood are smaller boned and shorter. It’s something I noticed in Gangs of New York with Leonardo di Caprio and Cameron Diaz, she was as tall if not taller than him. Plus Cameron is very thin, Jessica is not. Gwyneth Paltrow is also tall, and I remember reading she couldn’t wear heals when filming up close with Robert Downey Jr. because he was shorter than her. Gwyneth is also built very thin. However, Jessica is built big boned and very muscular. She looks like an athlete. Maybe she should find a movie about a female athlete, then she could compete with Natalie and Scarlett, and probably win. I think to most people she just doesn’t look very girlish and feminine. Especially compared to the better actresses in her age demographic.
Another idea: why not audition for some independent, smaller films. Natalie Portman has a lot of acting credit for doing small projects that never received much commerical success.
@katharine jaynes: i don’t think it has to do with pretty, tall or thin jessica is or is not; kate winslet is gorgeous but she is not thin and she won an oscar. i think it has to do with the fact that jessica simply cannot act – she is very wooden on camera. and plus her new teeth/mouth combo is really unsettling as they no longer fit her face.
Halle Berry, Charlize Theron, Angelina Jolie, Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Catherine Zeta Jones, Salma Hayek, Zoe Saldana, Naomi Watts, Freida Pinto, Monica Bellucci, Eva Mendes, Kate Beckinsale, Cate Blanchette, Uma Thurman… these are but some actresses that are better looking than Jessica Biel, and can actually ACT. There in lies the secret, Jess.
jennifer: YES! I love that guy/gal. So EXCUSE her beauty!!!
When I first read the headline I laughed out loud.
She has this sense of entitlement. She is completely deluded!! She obviously has not watched any of her own work.
Oh Sweetie! “The Illusionist” had Ed Norton and Paul Giamatti. They were excellent. You were window dressing.
Original Kate, I agree with you she’s not an Oscar worthy actress but there are still many mediocre beautiful actresses who get more work than her (Sienna Miller, Kristen Bell). I just wanted to point out that most directors and producers in Hollywood are still men. Most movie scripts are still focused on a male protagonist. Therefore in big Hollywood blockbusters often the male character is cast first as the star of the picture, and the female lead is a secondary casting choice. If it’s a Tom Cruise movie for example, then the female lead should probably stand shorter than 5’6″ on a good day. As for Jessica Biel’s really athletic physique I can’t think of many other actresses with similar shapes. A lot of singers have athletic figures, but actresses tend to be small. Even Scarlett Johansson’s just over 5′
They say the camera adds 10 lbs… lol
Oh, WHO will come to the rescue of the young, thin, attractive white women in Hollywood? That’s Bataan-level persecution! Ugh.
It doesn’t matter, none of this matters. I’m sick as all get-out of enduring what seems like the same eight faces playing Musical Films. But if any of these ceiling-eyed entitlement jockeys want me to actually care about their work, I suggest they pull their feet out of their mouths, and walk on over to a, hmm, SCHOOL. Y’know, learn a few how-tos on ‘actress-ing’.
Again, ugh.
IS this woman insane? Has she looked in the mirror? Rockin bod yes but uhm honey, do something about that horseface before you start comparing yourself to Natalie Portman. She proved herself a true actress as a young kid–and her beauty has not hindered her career at all. Wow, the audacity….earth to Jess….earth to Jess….
To Brianne;
“She is certainly a gorgeous girl, but who isn’t in hollywood? Even the “ugliest” of women with a career in acting usually knocks the rest of us outta the water any day…” ..
Uh…no. I disagree completely with that belief/statement, and please don’t speak for all of us!
Blind vanity is highly amusing to observe.
If this woman is famous for anything, it’s for having a backside that could serve as a shelf for the Complete Works of Shakespeare.
An athletic looking woman who is attractive but not seeing her true physical qualities. She could be many things but really elegant or feminine doesn’t apply. So yeah, it must be hard for her if that’s the image she’s shooting for. I agree with KJ.
She’s pretty but nothing outstanding. Her nose and mouth look messed up. She resembles the singer Carly Simon with her wide teethy smile and small eyes.
I love how people on the Internet feel it’s their job to knock a starlet down a peg when she talks about how pretty she is. Do you think Jessica just woke up one day and said, “I’m so beautiful and I’m persecuted for it!”? No. She’s probably heard a variation of this from thousands of directors and casting pros over the course of her career. No, she’s not the most talented actress working today, but in my personal opinion she certainly is gorgeous – that’s because beauty is a subjective ideal, and different features strike people differently. Hers strike me as beautiful.
I just get so annoyed when a famous person says something nice about themselves and everyone feels the need to cut them down. So what if she thinks she’s pretty? She is!!
Jessica Biel could/would never be classified with the most beautiful actresses of any era, so her “beauty” could not be what’s standing in the way of her getting roles. Acting lessons maybe? I hope she saved her tv series earnings.
SH*zz and you’d think she be a better actress by now too. She’s been working for a really long time . She’s just plain mediocre everything, looks and talent. Next please.
Didn´t Megan Fox complain about the same thing only a week ago?? Are they all programmed to say this to justify a lack of talent?
Sad.
Jessica has too many pointy teeth, a cut up nose job, and a ridiculous fat upper lip. You think she would have noticed it’s bigger than her lower. Your plastics indicates you’re trying too hard. Oh, yea, your voice sounds like a man and your personality stinks.
Sums up to…case closed.
She is not even pretty!
Speaking as a guy, I actually think the problem is that she is too masculine. She has a fit and toned body, but it is too square and stocky and doesn’t have an overall feminine shape (she looks like a more muscular version of Evangeline Lilly and that is not a good thing). Check out this picture; she has the thighs and build of an NFL running back:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/entertainment/2006-07/20/xin_4007032014101721322910.jpg