Kirsten Dunst Facing Ageism, Will Do Superhero Movies Again For $$$

[RAMROD 104,126]

She's one of the most accomplished actresses in Hollywood, but since becoming a mom and turning 40, has dealt with being typecast. Now, after a two-year hiatus, she's returning to the big screen in an unexpected, new role.

This is Kirsten Dunst's first interview in two years, she tells me as we cross Beverly Boulevard to Angelini, a quaint Italian cafe from which she often orders on Postmates. That's because "I haven't worked in two years," she says over necessary espresso. After Campion's The Power of the Dog, for which Dunst, long deemed underrated, finally got her best supporting actress nomination from the Academy, "every role I was being offered was the sad mom," she whispers, lowering her voice, as if those casting directors are seated beside us.

Dunst had just portrayed a crumbling mother and wife of a ranch owner, played by Plemons. It was demoralizing to see her options narrow; to experience firsthand Hollywood's gender-specific ageism. There's a twisted irony to it, too: to be typecast in a variation of the role she's playing in real life—though, to be clear, Dunst is currently a tired mom, not a sad one—even after she actively defied pigeonholing throughout her career. Seeing the nuance in women in over 40 is hardly her industry's strong suit, but both undeniably are true: Dunst is in the thick of it with her sons and she's an Oscar-nominated Hollywood lifer who still wants to lose herself in the kind of meaty roles that are actually worthy of her.

Not working the past two years, Dunst reveals, "To be honest, that's been hard for me...because I need to feed myself. The hardest thing is being a mom and...not feeling like, I have nothing for myself. That's every mother—not just me."

She adds matter-of-factly, "There's definitely less good roles for women my age."

"Do you feel that already?" I ask, incredulous on her behalf and also insulted because we are the same age.

Dunst doesn't blink. "Yes," she replies. "That's why I did Civil War."

Instead of surrendering to sad motherhood, Dunst hard-pivoted to what she calls "elevated action" in the provocative new film from cult director and screenwriter Alex Garland (Ex Machina; Never Let Me Go). In Civil War, a dystopian U.S. is torn apart by a third-term president gutting governmental agencies (an eerie Nick Offerman) and 19 states have seceded, with California and Texas forging a "Western Forces" alliance. Dunst stars as steely photojournalist Lee Smith, who consistently risks her life covering the American war zone on a harrowing, bloody odyssey with press colleagues played by Priscilla star Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Wagner Moura.

"When I read the script, I thought, I've never done anything like this," Dunst says. It was exciting to be offered something fresh, especially because Dunst, an admitted nerd for directors, admired Garland: "I just love that he's someone who pushes boundaries." For Garland, Dunst's long career was an asset to a character he felt needed "to have lived," he says in the film's production notes. "Kirsten is just a first class actor," Garland tells me in an email. "She has a deep level of craft, and crucially for this role, she has soul. It's in her eyes, and her gaze, which felt perfect for a photographer."

Her current dream is landing a great TV show that films in L.A. Would she ever do another superhero movie? "Yes," Dunst says with refreshing honesty, "because you get paid a lot of money, and I have two children, and I support my mother."

In an attempt to enrich herself outside of acting, Dunst returned to tennis, which she's played since childhood (she isn't too chill to admit she's competitive). Her endgame is playing as a family, hence why Ennis is at his first lesson as we speak. She's also taken up oil painting, based on a love of art that she hasn't always nurtured.

Dunst's lack of ego or controversy after a lifetime in Hollywood should be an award-winning feat in itself: Best Uncanny Ability to be Normal Under Abnormal Circumstances? Growing up here might have deluded her, but instead it seems to have rooted her in what's real; what it takes to last as long as she has. "I just have really good people around me," Dunst says. 

 

https://www.marieclaire.com/celebrity/kirsten-dunst-interview-2024/

[Nutella 3,959]

Kirsten Dunst is an underrated actress. That will always be an advantage of hers, though, IMO… because most people will root for her even more 📣 classic underdog

She was such a FORCE as a child actress. Interview with a Vampire was great. And she was one of the best parts of Jumanji

I’m not really a superhero fan, but this kiss was truly “iconic” … 🕷️☔️

[faysalaaa 2,936]

I think the "sad mom" role was offered to her recently because she was nominated for an oscar, and they took her seriously for the first time. I dont think its because of her age, considering alot of actresses her age are doing amazing roles today? Even Julia Louis-Dreyfus is getting superhero movie roles at the age of 60!

She also admitted shes willing to do any role for money, which will play a big factor in her not being taken seriously in hollywood, or given important roles. She said she will do any role for money because shes a mom and takes care of her mom, but shes worth over 35 million dollars!

Edited March 6 by faysalaaa1

[Killa 15,533]

Kirsten Dunstable is very versatile. She convinces me in the usual Sunday romantic comedy or in movies like melancholia. I still haven’t see this new movie, perched.

sonehow she has gotten into this outcast situation for a decade or so. If the director knows what to do she looks stunning on screen. And she has a certain vulnerability/sensitivity.

like don’t tell those Naomi watts, the unbearable Jessica chastain etc are so superior. I don’t think so

she suffers from a similar curse as Winona ryder? Well not really but yeah  it’s a very peculiar situation, given her extensive curriculum

[Frankenztein 1,172]

I have never really liked Kirsten Dunst as an actress. I am sure people enjoy her for a reason but I find her performances hard to connect to. 

[Addison Rae 15,128]

she would eat in a sci fi series 

[Wolf Boy 3,131]

I was watching Hairy Bird last night and realised how she’s been in so many movies over the years since i was a teen. I like her.

[Ziggy 10,731]

13 hours ago, faysalaaa1 said:

I think the "sad mom" role was offered to her recently because she was nominated for an oscar, and they took her seriously for the first time. I dont think its because of her age, considering alot of actresses her age are doing amazing roles today? Even Julia Louis-Dreyfus is getting superhero movie roles!

She also admitted shes willing to do any role for money, which will play a big factor in her not being taken seriously in hollywood, or given important roles. She said she will do any role for money because shes a mom and takes care of her mom, but shes worth over 35 million dollars!

But Julia is also playing a sad mom as well rn  I think the larger point is that there are only a handful of roles that are exceptions to this rule but if you think about it a lot of what gets made features some kind of sad mom type lmao she’s also not the only actress to talk about it so I can’t imagine it’s not related to some sort of ageism namely around what execs *think is commercially viable

as for her worth, she’s saying she’s open to anything not that she’ll take anything lol

Edited March 6 by Ziggy

[faysalaaa 2,936]

4 hours ago, Ziggy said:

But Julia is also playing a sad mom as well rn  I think the larger point is that there are only a handful of roles that are exceptions to this rule but if you think about it a lot of what gets made features some kind of sad mom type lmao she’s also not the only actress to talk about it so I can’t imagine it’s not related to some sort of ageism namely around what execs *think is commercially viable

But Julia chooses to play the "sad mom" kind of roles in independent movies because she loves real stories thats relatable to women her age. But she gets alot of offers to play huge roles at the age of 60, like playing the president of the US in Veep, and getting a superhero role in three superhero movies (Black Panther, Black Widow, and Thunderbolts).

Nicole Kidman (Age 56) is a perfect example of an actress playing a variety of amazing different roles, but its because shes willing to take the risk and do independent movies with talented directors, and not rely on superheroes and blockbuster movies.

Jennifer Aniston is in her 50's and she never plays the sad mom role.

Im not saying sexism is not an issue in Hollywood, its still an issue for sure.

Edited March 7 by faysalaaa1

[Ziggy 10,731]

3 hours ago, faysalaaa1 said:

But Julia chooses to play the "sad mom" kind of roles in independent movies because she loves real stories thats relatable to women her age. But she gets alot of offers to play huge roles at the age of 60, like playing the president of the US in Veep, and getting a superhero role in three superhero movies (Black Panther, Black Widow, and Thunderbolts).

Nicole Kidman (Age 56) is a perfect example of an actress playing a variety of amazing different roles, but its because shes willing to do independent movies with talented directors, and not rely on superheroes and blockbuster movies.

Jennifer Aniston is in her 50's and she never plays the sad mom role.

Im not saying sexism is not an issue in Hollywood, its still an issue for sure.

Well I think part of it is those you listed are SUPER powerful a listers. Kirsten Dunst has and probably will continue to be a bit more of an art house favorite. 
 

but someone like Julia literally has a mark twain prize and has done two of the biggest comedies of the last 30 years with enormous critical acclaim and acting talent displayed. And BOTH were largely bc of her (like would you say spider man is a success bc of KD? Eh I don’t think people were seeing the movies to see her Mary Jane lmao). Stuff like that affords you power that someone like KD just doesn’t have I think 

 

[djBuffoon 11,997]

Dunst is one of her generation’s finest actresses. And a large part of that is her deliberate choice to work with interesting filmmakers who will actually challenge her and broaden her range: Sofia Coppola, Lars von Trier, Alex Garland, Jane Campion, Walter Salles, etc.

As good as Ariana DeBose was in West Side Story, I felt Kirsten should’ve won for Power of the Dog. 

[Nutella 3,959]

A literal month later, but this showed up on YT the other day & I enjoyed it. Hope you ladies do too

(the story about the sweaty actress is so mean though lol)

 

[Catnikko 13,696]

On 3/6/2024 at 6:11 AM, JessFletch said:

️

I was like 7 and i remember wanting to be her in this scene 

[Nutella 3,959]

2 minutes ago, Catnikko said:

I was like 7 and i remember wanting to be her in this scene 

I was 8 and I was stunned... even at the time, I remember thinking it seemed like such a genius "idea" for this kind of story.

Apparently it wasn't comfortable to film at all, because water kept running into his nostrils...

but I would make Tobey McGuire stay like that for hours, idc 💋 lol

[FrederickSpears 2,065]

I never really cared for her, but I don't dislike her she's just never been anything special to me?

Also isn't she an alcoholic? Or was that just a rumor?