Acting On A New Direction

They're global movie stars when they're gorgeous and funny. What happens when they're mature and serious? JAMES ULMER surveys the pundits.

It's been two years since the world's most bankable actress veered off course with the hapless drama Mary Reilly, yet Hollywood players are still slapping Julia Roberts with a moving violation. Even though My Best Friend's Wedding grossed US$275mil(RM1.045bil) worldwide, and Roberts is the only star in this quartet whose name on its own can successfully open a movie, she came in second in total star-power points in this Rank and Bank survey.

How could this be? "Women in Hollywood suffer poor career choices longer than men do," sighs international markerting consultant Bonnie Voland. "They still haven't forgiven her for breaking her Pretty Woman mould. Nobody blamed Harrison Ford for doing Sabrina."

Although Roberts, 31, may be "too contemporary-looking for period films", says one British film executive, her ability to be sexy, glamorous, and funny onscreen makes her US$15mil (RM57mil) Notting Hill fee a good bet for PolyGram. But to ensure a long career, Roberts should do more dramas like the upcoming Stepmom, advises director-producer Fran Rubel Kuzui (Buffy The Vampire Slayer). "Her face reveals suffering well."

But our survey showed that front-runner Meg Ryan, 37, fresh from her hit romance City of Angels, is sometimes seen as too spunky and cute to play heavy drama. When she ages past her romantic prime, genre-jumping may become necessary refuge for her as well. "You can't play perky forever," warns a New York casting agent.

In romantic comedy, Ryan has "walked on water for 10 years," observes a huge distribution executive from Japan, where Ryan's appeal is huge. No wonder industry insiders predict that You've Got Mail (screening here in February), starring Sleepless in Seattle's Tom Hanks, will be a slam dunk.

Some experts doubt Sandra Bullock's career buoyancy after a string of critical sinkers, including Two If By Sea and Speed 2. "She can't choose dramatic roles to save her life," offers one studio production executive. "With Chris O'Donnell [In Love and War], she looked like she was babysitting."

Bullock's gal-pal charms works well for action (The Net) and comedy (While You Were Sleeping), but the weepie Hope Floats played better Stateside than overseas. The 34-year-old tops our list in professionalism and foreign promotional skill, particularly in Germany, where her fluent German is a crowd pleaser. If it hits, the romantic comedy Practical Magic may be just the career potion she needs.

Although Andie MacDowell, 40, has played likable comic foils in hits such as Four Weddings and a Funeral and Groundhog Day, the model-turned-thespian received the lowest scores on acting ability from our panel. "She's simply not in the same league as these other actresses," sniffs one indie executive. But, adds Inter-Media's Nigel Sinclair, "She's managed her career shrewdly, working well with top talent, from Green Card on."

Success in romantic comedy may depend less on acting than on chemistry. Says producer Jonathan Weisgal: "If we the audience don't get involved with the romance, then we're the ones who feel jilted." -Premier Magazine

The Ulmer Scale ranks worldwide bankability of movie talent, based on a global survey of film buyers and sellers who supply numerical grades in their specialties.

Willingness to travel
How co-operative is this actress in promoting her films in the US and international media?
Bullock ..... 79
Ryan ..... 74
MacDowell ..... 68
Roberts ..... 64
Drama queen
How bankable is this actress if she stars in a non-comedy?
Roberts ..... 64
Ryan ..... 60
Bullock ..... 52
MacDowell ..... 41
Bankability
To what extent does this actress' name alone guarantee a sale up front in today's global marketplace?
Roberts ..... 89
Ryan ..... 79
Bullock ..... 69
MacDowell ..... 48
Professionalism
How reliable is this actress to work with, both on and off the set?
Bullock ..... 80
Ryan ..... 78
Roberts ..... 74
MacDowell ..... 71
Talent
Based solely on acting ability, how talented is this actress?
Ryan ..... 74
Roberts ..... 71
Bullock ..... 58
MacDowell ..... 54
Career management
How well has this actress chosen roles to maximise her career potential?
Ryan ..... 72
Roberts ..... 68
MacDowell ..... 68
Bullock ..... 57

Total percentage points
Ryan ..... 72.8
Roberts ..... 71.8
Bullock ..... 65.8
MacDowell ..... 58.3

Copyright Star Publications (M) Bhd.
Source: Pg. 26, Section 2, The Star, 17th December 1998

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The Ulmer Scale ranks worldwide bankability of movie talent, based on a global survey of film buyers and sellers who supply numerical grades in their specialties.
Willingness to travel How co-operative is this actress in promoting her films in the US and international media? Bullock ..... 79 Ryan ..... 74 MacDowell ..... 68 Roberts ..... 64 Drama queen How bankable is this actress if she stars in a non-comedy? Roberts ..... 64 Ryan ..... 60 Bullock ..... 52 MacDowell ..... 41 Bankability To what extent does this actress' name alone guarantee a sale up front in today's global marketplace? Roberts ..... 89 Ryan ..... 79 Bullock ..... 69 MacDowell ..... 48	Professionalism How reliable is this actress to work with, both on and off the set? Bullock ..... 80 Ryan ..... 78 Roberts ..... 74 MacDowell ..... 71 Talent Based solely on acting ability, how talented is this actress? Ryan ..... 74 Roberts ..... 71 Bullock ..... 58 MacDowell ..... 54 Career management How well has this actress chosen roles to maximise her career potential? Ryan ..... 72 Roberts ..... 68 MacDowell ..... 68 Bullock ..... 57
Total percentage points Ryan ..... 72.8 Roberts ..... 71.8 Bullock ..... 65.8 MacDowell ..... 58.3