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Casting Ash... why all the beanpoles, guys?

posted 13 years ago by d112cons
19 replies | jump to latest

When trying to come up with a good actor for Ashley, everyone just blindly goes for someone passingly cute with dark hair. "HAY I KNOW - Mila Kunis or Shannon Sossamon!" Because, they both look like they'd get knocked over if they were hit with a wet rag, let alone firing a gun.

Chief Williams is supposed to be a babe, sure... but first and foremost, she's gotta be a badass. She needs to LOOK like she's a soldier who could beat the living crap out of you. Jessica Biel, maybe. Hillary Swank, we're at least going in the right direction. Truth told, neither one looks at all right for the part.

In a perfect world, Gina Carano does a good job in Haywire (Steven Soderberg's next on in the works), actually turns out to be a decent enough actress, and takes the role.

[–] Vivness 13 years ago

Wow, I looked Gina Carano up and she does look like she could beat the living crap out of you!

Then again, Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams is more about weapons and shooting than about hand-to-hand combat, so I don't think she NEEDS to have big muscles and abs.

I think maybe it's just a matter of how good an actress the person chosen is. They'd probably have to buff up some (Linda Hamilton did it for Terminator, didn't she? That worked out well.), but other than that they'd just have to be convincing about being girly but tough. But not too tough. So I'd like to see someone unusual rise to a role like this, not the same old same old tough characters like Michelle Rodriguez or Katee Sackhoff, but someone like Emily Blunt. Or Iyari Limon (but I don't know if she even still makes movies).

Also, Famke Janssen didn't exactly strike me as someone badass, but she pulled it off well in that James Bond movie..

[–] Lupin-III 13 years ago

I wouldn't buy Gina Carano as Ashley, I just don't think she looks the part. Jessica Biel actually does have the look, and could handle the role... but I'm sure there's a better choice out there. Hillary Swank I wouldn't give a second glance... I don't think she looks the part, and I don't think she'd fit the role.

One actress that pops out as a potentially good Ashley would be Rosario Dawson. They look similar, even sound similar, and Rosario is quite capable of being the tough chick who is also easy on the eyes. I've always gotten the impression that Ashley is of a very mixed heritage, which is the same with Rosario, and that plays into the same look of the character. This would be a decent choice if they want to go with a well known actress.

However, the very best option, in my opinion, would be Erica Cerra, the actress that plays the deputy in Eureka. She looks the part with more than passing resemblance to the character, and would definitely do well in the role as proven by her character on Eureka. They also sound a lot alike. I would definitely buy her in the role.
http://eureka.maxupdates.tv/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Deputy-Jo-Lupo. jpg

[–] Vivness 13 years ago

Oh wow, from that picture, I could totally see Erica Cerra as Ashley!

[–] hejbreovojemojmail 12 years ago

She has a bit of a manjaw on her but yeah, Erica Cerra does look the part.
The million dollar baby is too good to play Ash, Alba is too flirtatious, Biel is too fit, Carano can't act, Rosario is too feminine, Kunis is a joke.
Michelle Rodriguez might have fit the role, if we could somehow have her fiery Fast and Furious 1 self back. Man, that destructive/self-destructive yet feminine energy she exuded..

[–] Jelenedra 12 years ago

See, I wouldn't say that Rosario is too feminine. I would say that her voice is too bubbly. Acting wise and action-wise, she could pull it off I think. She has done the Babe With Guns thing before after all... Same with Carano. They altered her voice in Haywire so that it sounded deeper. O_o

Hilary Swank is just BARF. Sorry. She is possibly the love interest? Someone less... fug please.

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[–] hejbreovojemojmail 12 years ago

Rosario has played a femme fatale role, a dominatrix, oozing sex. The character of Williams on the other hand, is upfront, in your face, obstinate, tough as nails, Jenette Goldstein in Aliens kind of a girl with a somewhat offbeat touchy-feely undercurrent. The only thing making Ashley remotely sexy is how all the armor in ME tends to exemplify secondary sexual characteristics. I can't take Carano seriously. But could Rosario pull it off? I don't see why not.
And Swank... well, Ash isn't an academy award winning role. Regardless of her looks (which I personally find appeasing) it'd be a poor fit. It would be like hiring the late Tony Jay solely for the purpose of voicing an NPC.
But I am kinda partial to miss Swank. Hah.

[–] Jelenedra 12 years ago

Blarg. That's all I can say. Blarg.

Dawson has the lips to play Ash, at least. =p

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[–] d112cons 12 years ago

Swank might make a good Samara, anyway! Off topic and all.

[–] hejbreovojemojmail 12 years ago

Hmm.... you got my mental cogs turning.... both of them. Wait, I mean the Asari not the number of cogs I have available for turning. Jesus I mispelled 'available' three times. Haha. Samara and Morinth. Yes. She could do it.

[–] MuggySphere 12 years ago

What about that actress that played the tough cop in the series The 3rd Watch? Not sure when that show was made but she was pretty tough in that show.

[–] kaunte 13 years ago

The clichèd choice for a badass chick would be Michelle Rodriguez.

"Be it a grain of sand or rock, in water they sink as the same."

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ixtrm-sol 12 years ago

plus you'd be force to kill her off on virmire because michelle rodirquez always die

[–] hejbreovojemojmail 12 years ago

Haha, you have a point there.

[–] Ryo7 12 years ago

Jessica Biel would be splendid for this part...as would Hilary Swank. Sure, at some angles Swank looks rather boyish...but she still depicts a female hardass well and not so much that she could be dubbed a 'Female Rambo' ala Milla Jovovich...

"Good...Bad...I'm the guy with the Gun" - Army of Darkness - Ash (Bruce Campbell)

[–] RottenBeauty 12 years ago

I think Biel is a terrible actress and any attempt I have seen by her to play a hard-ass looks pathetic. Swank is far too old.

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[–] ayf_1983 11 years ago

ME 3 Ashley with her hair down reminds me of Sandra Bullock .

[–] eddy089 10 years ago

That's exactly what I thought too. A younger Sandra Bullock would be perfect for the role! Not just looks-wise, but as a presence as well.

I can set you free
Make you rich and wise
We can live forever
Look into my eyes...

[–] neo_noir777777 9 years ago

Just cast someone who can shoot zombies, look good and quote Tennyson.