There are actresses in Hollywood who succeeded because they possess phenomenal acting capabilities (Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton) and those who attained stardom through a slew of commercially-successful films (Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman). There are also those whose success in Hollywood can leave you asking “…why???”
In no particular order, here are the 10 most overrated actresses in Hollywood.
1. Jennifer Aniston
Although Aniston starred in one of the most popular television shows in recent memory and has been in countless movies (popular and otherwise), her fame was built not on her theatrical prowess but on the hype surrounding her show, her hairstyle, her relationships, and her life’s ups and downs. Has she ever been known for her exceptional acting abilities? No. Do any of her movies stand out? No.
2. Kristen Stewart
Another Hollywood actress that owes her fame to the work of good publicists, Stewart is undoubtedly one of the most over-hyped “stars” today. As anyone who has seen any of the movies in the Twilight series will tell you, Kristen Stewart seems to be made out of stone! She shows no emotions whatsoever. Her facial expressions – whether sad, hurt, angry, or confused – are basically the same. If it wasn’t for the hype surrounding Twilight, this actress would probably not have a career at all.
3. Megan Fox
She sure is a looker, but an actress she is not. As the token hottie in Transformers, she fit the bill perfectly; but aside from wowing the audience with her pretty face and short shorts, she added nothing whatsoever to the films. Megan Fox simply cannot act.
4. Jennifer Lawrence
This might be the most unpopular choice in this list, but the fact remains: JLaw is one of the most overrated actresses in Hollywood. Her acting is OK, and some of her roles may even be called complex and layered; but the whole hype surrounding her (based on her being a “cool girl”, an “everygirl”, a clumsy Hollywood star with quirks) is misplaced. Her opinions (voiced on shows such as Ellen and The Tonight Show) on issues such as mental health and gender are problematic (that’s a euphemism for wrong) and just aren’t worth the adulation of so many young fans.
5. Gwyneth Paltrow
Although Paltrow starred in several critically-acclaimed films such as Shakespeare in Love and Great Expectations and in blockbuster hits such as Iron Man, she is one of those celebrities to whom people are sharply divided. Some love her and some just hate her. The fiercest of her detractors love to point out her lackluster acting, her stony expressions, and her steely iciness that just don’t endear her to the audience.
6. Cameron Diaz
Whatever happened to the Cameron Diaz who starred in the beautifully-imagined Being John Malkovich, the spectacular Gangs of New York, and the terrifically-acted Vanilla Sky? Today, Diaz has veered away from the path to becoming a serious actress and appears in nothing but cheesy rom-coms. She may have been a good actress in her heyday, but now she’s simply overrated.
7. Kate Hudson
Hudson did well as the groupie Penny Lane in the movie Almost Famous. She gave such a glowing but subtly profound performance that she earned an Oscar nomination for the role. It is sad, then, that she seems to have regressed in her acting capabilities since then, appearing in a string of terrible rom-coms such as Fool’s Gold and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Nowadays, Hudson’s success as a film star seems to come not from her acting but from her looks.
8. Blake Lively
Lively’s career as a Hollywood personality owes to the success of her TV show Gossip Girl and such films as The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Watch Gossip Girl and then Traveling Pants and you will see that the Blake Lively in the former is basically the same as the Blake Lively in the latter. She’s practically incapable of inhabiting a different persona. Her acting is wooden and has no variations. Lively’s financial success as an actress is because of her good looks, her charisma and the work of good publicists.
9. Jessica Alba
It’s a good thing that Alba seems to be focusing more on her family, her businesses and her advocacies nowadays because as an actress, she’s just… so-so. Watch Jessica Alba closely and you’ll see that her facial expressions barely change and her reactions are tepid. If not for her pretty face and sexy body, could Alba have made it to Hollywood?
10. Scarlett Johannson
ScarJo has been in some really good movies with some really good actors that helped mask the fact that she is an average actress, at best. Even in The Other Boleyn Girl, where her acting was better than usual, her performance was outshone by that of fellow actress Natalie Portman.
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