In another thread about the passing of Anne Bancroft, someone made the comment about her being one of the last classy actresses in the industry. Why do many of the actresses today have no class and limited acting ability?

I'm curious to know who you think has class and why? Also, if you agree that so many don't have class, tell us why you think this.

Patricia Clarkson
Julianne Moore

Two VERY classy ladies.

And I think they are classy because of the choices of movies and their portrayals of their characters.

Patricia Clarkson blew me away in Pieces Of April and especially The Station Agent.

Julianne Moore should have gotten an Oscar for her scene in the movie Magnolia where she is trying to pick up prescription drugs... wow.
[Edited 6/8/05 7:15am]

Gabriel Union
Kate Winslet
Regina King
Katherine Zeta

i think natalie portman is borderline classy...her role in 'closer' wasn't as smutty as i thought it would be...

Anxiety said:

Kiera Knightley?

what about nicole kidman?

Anxiety said:

I LOVED that movie!

evenstar3 said:

I was thinking about her as well. But I hated 'Moulin Rouge'. Class was missing in that movie.

I've always thought Nicole Kidman was fairly classy and a good actress too, although I hated Moulin Rouge.

She's shown a lot of class over the past 5 years since Cruise left her. I think that will turn out to be one of the best things that's ever happened to her. He's turning into a religious, love-struck nut. She has behaved very maturely over the past several years and her choice of movie roles has been quite good too.

Halle Berry seems to have some class too, although I recently read that she's considering doing Playboy. I have no idea why she would want to do that. It's not like she needs to money or needs to prove to anyone how sexy she is. I believe Halle has some self-esteem issues.

Jodie Foster is very cool too, but she's been away from the limelight for a while.

Juliette Binoche is brilliant - a class act.

meyrl streep

julianne moore

patricia clarkson

IrresistibleB1tch said:

Yes, very true.

Telecaster said:

Check out Patricia Clarkson in High Art. She's a completely stoned, gravelly-voiced has-been in that - but still a top class lady.

Cate Blanchett and Ashley Judd are the definitions of class, in my book.

beret1022 said:

Gabriel has made some incredibly CLASSless movies.
The one with DMX where she stripped ? How is that classy?

And Regina King.....Boyz N the Hood - drinking the 40 on the porch with Ice Cube....

Most of the contemporary classy actresses are outside the U.S. like the aforementioned Juliette Binoche. I also think of Cate Blanchett and Kristin Scott Thomas. Tilda Swinton is good too. I love Isabelle Huppert, but she likes to choose disturbing roles (i.e. 'Ma Mére' and 'The Piano Teacher').

sextonseven said:

You can't say she never tried to incorporate 'classy' and 'whorish' at the same time.

MarieLouise said:

love, love, looooove The Piano Teacher!

IrresistibleB1tch said:

One of my friends looks completely like the boy in the film. He hasn't seen the movie yet, so he wasn't embarassed when I told him.

MarieLouise said:

too funny!

i'll have to buy the dvd... i rented it last time and was blown away by the intensity... didn't think a lot of people would like it.

be sure to get your friend a copy of the dvd as well!

IrresistibleB1tch said:

It was indeed a very intense film. My boyfriend loves stuff like star wars and the lord of the rings, I like movies like 'La pianiste'. He was disgusted after seeing it. Not sure who's the mad one though.

MarieLouise said:

I own 'The Piano Teacher' DVD also. An edited version was on the Independent Film Channel once, but I think the only part edited out was the scene in the peepshow booth. That film she was watching in the booth was a bit hardcore even for IFC.

'Merci Pour Le Chocolat' is another twisted role for Isabelle, but it's a lot more subtle and nowhere near as explicit as 'The Piano Teacher'.

And there was her wacky take as a spinster daughter in '8 Women'.

She's great. I love her.

sextonseven said:

Oh wow.
Good calls, all of them. Especially Tilda Swinton.

Diane Lane