Amy Irving


I hadn't seen this mini-series in a very long time; I just watched it again.
It holds up pretty well. The story is interesting; settings, costumes, etc., are spectacular; casting, overall, is good; with one glaring exception: Amy Irving is thoroughly unconvincing as Anjuli.
Whoever thought Irving could play an Indian princess ought to have been kicked out of any role in casting FOREVER, Almost as bad a casting choice as Ali McGraw as Natalie in that other blockbuster mini series of the same era, The Winds of War.

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I know what you mean, I wouldn`t say she was horrible but there is something off in her performance.

Not in all scenes but she seems a bit to "stiff" though of course as far as manerism goes it might be part of her character as I have not read the book.
Overall for me I believe it is due to the way she talks and weight her words. Its almost like every sentence she delivers has to carry the grace of the last word uttered by someone before they die.

However the series is quite good in my opinion and I agree it holds up pretty well.

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if you've read the book you would know that Anjuli is half russian, with light blue eyes - so choosing her for the role was appropriate. i didn't find her acting so off-puting - only the dark make up was too much. also, six hours is too short, not too much for the scope of the book - much like "band of brothers" or "rome" : it is not meant to be viewed in one sitting.
anyway, the book is much better, as is the other indian saga by m m kaye : "shadow of the moon"

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We are given the information that she is a half-cast (as you said half russian) in the movie, it is quite essential to the plot in regards to her.
I agree with you on the dark makeup as well, it`s a bit to much, though it enhances her eyes.

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Absolutely agree-on both counts!

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She looked too old, and the makeup was too heavy, ageing the 31 year old actress further. Her acting was fine IMO but I'd rather they had found a young, mixed-race actress for the role.

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I think she was a weak link in the miniseries, and that she had no chemistry with Ben Cross (compare that to his chemistry with Alice Krige in Chariots of Fire). And of course her make-up job was terrible.

The lack of chemistry thing was the worst though -- I don't know whether to chalk that up to her acting or what.
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