Friday, May 14, 2010
Rocket Queen
The singular reason why I became interested in Twilight in the first place was Kristen Stewart. I should probably begin by noting that in addition to loving literature, I’m also something of a theater fan, especially in terms of observing the actors at work. I was immediately drawn to the understated, subtle way she approached the role in the movie from the beginning shot at the desert in Phoenix. As I hadn’t read the book prior to watching the movie, I didn’t have a frame of reference into which I could situate her acting or to evaluate how true she stayed to the book. But after reading the book and watching the movie again, I was able to appreciate how well she embodied the role. It would be hard for me now to imagine another actress taking on the same role – she is
Given my penchant for research, I dug with relish into KStew fan sites and blogs soon after watching the movie. Initially I was oblivious to the whole Robsten phenomenon as I was keener on finding out about her other work, so I’ll leave the relationship discussion to future posts. Through various means I was able to acquire The Cake Eaters, Speak, Adventureland and The Messengers (note to self: Amazon.com deliveries to Europe are expensive and slow) and spent a few evenings immersing myself into the movies. I immediately thought upon finishing with them that here’s a young actress who is going to be in the same league with Natalie Portman (Léon, Where the Heart Is) and Kate Winslet (Heavenly Creatures) in the not-too-distant future. I challenge anyone who thinks she can’t act and is ruled by her tics to watch The Cake Eaters and Speak. She’s visceral, and being able to portray such difficult roles at her age speaks of amazing talent for her chosen craft, especially in light of her lack of formal training. I’d love nothing more than to see her tackle a theatre production one day to expand her range.
Naturally when I delved deeper into facts about her life, I became aware of her personality and private life, and the parallels it has e.g. to Portman (‘I’d rather be smart than famous’). I believe her raw honesty and lack of pretense is an integral reason why both men and women are attracted to her, beyond her exceptional looks. It’s hard not to appreciate how levelheaded she is despite the massive dumping of fame that she’s been forced to embrace due to Twilight, and also understand her frustrations with the unavoidable side effects like paparazzi, studio handling and incessant interest into her personal life. A lot has been made out of how ‘difficult’ she is towards press and that she never smiles. It would be helpful for people to remember she’s just 20 and is still coming into her own both in terms of personal and professional growth. I sure as hell was equally awkward, fidgety and sarcastic when thrust into socially challenging situations. To me her difficulty with elucidating on her thoughts about her roles speaks about intense dedication and wish to do right by the characters she portrays. Listening to such interviews is immensely more gratifying than listening to shrink-wrapped sound bites by some other actors associated with the franchise.
This post would not be complete without a short treatise on her appearance. The third leg of the holy trinity of complaints against her is her unwillingness to embrace the default Hollywood beauty standard. It’s refreshing that she can rock a pair of Chucks and skinny jeans with a hoodie while out and about, and then totally smoke an almost indecent mini dress in a movie premiere. As a guy I can safely say she has an exceptional physique and very appealing features, the most striking being her eyes. I find it difficult to focus anywhere else when looking at images of her public appearances, and I can appreciate why a certain someone is also so visibly drawn to them.
Personally I’m equally fascinated by her sublime acting ability, straightforward personality, and physical beauty. In my next blog post, I’ll look into these aspects of the Stew in connection to Robert Pattinson and provide my insights into why I and other people are fascinated by their relationship.
I’d like to share a snippet of an email discussion with a friend of mine, incidentally a she, about movies worth watching. I think it pretty well summarizes my feelings about Kristen Stewart the person and the actress:
“I think here we get back to that level of genuineness and how the actor can convince me as a viewer, that the person she’s portraying is going through all those things she’s acting out on the screen. The actress I’ve been talking about [before] is Kristen Stewart, and everyone that have seen e.g. WTTR are totally blown away how she has managed to transform herself in that movie into an empty 16-year-old stripper-prostitute, who is right on the border of no return to a life worth living. As far as I can see, the only way an actor can do that is to possess this understanding, empathy and ability to connect to yourself, and understand the landscape of your own soul (this is probably starting to sound a little weird). When I’ve watched her interviews on the web about that movie, she channels this sort of nervous, almost neurotic need to tell truthfully about the things she associates with that experience. It’s lacking the typical brain-to-mouth filter actors have, whereby you repeat the rehearsed sound bites you think people want to hear. I would watch movies by actors like her regardless of genre, because the main point is the honesty of the portrayal, regardless of how bad the script or lines are.”
Despite this post being full of praise for the Stew, I think it’s important to differentiate between what our impressions of her are and the reality of her life. It’s easy for us fans to build these perfect facsimiles of the people we appreciate – she can do or say no wrong – but no one can live up to those kinds of standards. It’s ok for her to have a bad hair day, or not sign an autograph because she has PMS and can’t deal with fangirls, or spark-up a bowl on her p
orch steps to unwind. That’s what makes her human on a wholly different level than the nervously if brilliantly delivered lines in interviews that make her seem real.
Finally, I don’t know her or what she is really like behind closed doors; I’m not her friend and the fan-star relationship is not reciprocative on an emotionally intimate level, beyond a few brief encounters she might have with fans during promotion. And that’s how it should be, in my opinion. At the end of the day it’s the person you go cuddle up with after logging off RobstenLove.com that you’re the Kristen Stewart to in real life. Or maybe a poor excuse for Robert Pattinson, if you’re a unicorn like me 
Loved the post! I too agree that kstew is so endearing in the way that she is not cookie cutter hollywood. She is her own person with no pretenses. I love that about her. I love that you talk about her interviews not being rehearsed and robotic like some others in the franchise. I love both her and Rob's honesty and refusal to play the pr game. I also love that she takes risks with the roles she plays and embodies them fully. People gave her crap for cutting her hair for TR..but I though that showed her dedication to the role. She gave herself completely and was willing to cut her hair to not sacrifice it's authenticity. Great post Kerensky! Looking forward to the next one.
I knew after the first few sentences who had written this post. Kerensky, you have such an eloquent way of writing. I loved reading your wonderful praise for all that embodies Kristen. She is an exceptional actress with a great career ahead of her. Kristen is not going to become part of the Hollywood machine, it's so not her style. I love how down to earth she is, and I admire that about her. Talented, beautiful, smart, honest, just to mention a few of her wonderful qualities, why wouldn't Rob be in love with her?
Great post Kerensky, looking forward to the next one!
Great post. I grew up with a mother who loves movies and I worked in a video store in high school so I've seen a lot of movies. I'm a fan of many actors and actresses but I can honestly say I've never been so enamored with a actress before. I loved Kristen in Speak, but it wasn't until Twilight that I started looking behind the scenes, watching and reading interviews, and looking at fan forums. The more I've seen the more I've loved. I think she's an amazing actress and I can't wait to see all the wonderful things she's going to do in her career. I also used amazon.com and now have quite the Kristen movie collection.
I loved reading this from start to finish! It's smart & sincere. I love that you talk about how she's allowed to have a bad hair day & PMS, because I think many people need that reminder: she is human & down to earth & real… and that's a big part of why I love her & sounds like you feel the same. Looking forward to more from you, K! This was fab!
Hey, would like to share with you this blog post: http://kristenstewartfashion.blogspot.com/2010/05/why-are-you-fan-of-kristen-fans-give.html
This post is about fans' giving back the reasons why they love Kristen. The words from fans are really sincere, touching and beautiful. Have a read. I nearly cried after reading this.
Mon
Fabulous job Kerensky
Can't wait for the next one.
Oh, Mr. Unicorn Sir…how I love thee for your love of my baby Kris
Brilliant post, and I agree 100% with your statements *standing ovation*
Awww I read your post from the beginning to end…I love it. U made my heart melt. U understand her very well, not just her profession but also her personality. It's great to know who Kstew is and her ability of acting from a guy point of view. Thanks again K for this. Looking forward to your next post ( I can't hardly wait!!!)
Well done, K. You've done Stewie justice in this piece. What more can we ask for?
Dana
Wonderful job sir! Kstew would appropriately fidget and blush from your accolades.
hello–nice read, thought you might like this blog post about kristen's lack of smiling on the red carpet-she ties it to gender roles we've placed on young starlets and our insistence that they be overjoyed about being looked at. great read:
http://deeplyproblematic.blogspot.com/2010/05/kristen-stewart-smiling-is-not.html
well done i love everything about your post its was amazing
found you through Kstew411 – loved this post. Will come back again and share this with friends.
Well done and well said
U have such an eloquent way of writing srsly I cudnt tek ma eyes off this post so touching and moving thank u yo highness, if da whole world understood like u and all the Stewfans do, this planet wud be very peaceful to live in . Lookin 4wad fo yo nxt post
Am aw-struck such a moving post from an amaizin writer how beautiful, true and sincere u describe this amaizin creature that I have grown to love so much like you Kristen is da reason I got hooked to Twilight wen I saw, i feel in love with her and I have nva turn back yes she not perfect everyone has got their up and down and she keeps to her true self thats what I love most about her and sometimes she jst seems so fragile that i feel the need to go and hug her. Keep up da amaizin wak lookin forward for yo nxt post
Oh, Kerensky… your words certainly do captivate people from all walks of life – an amazing talent to possess as a writer. Congratulations! I agree it is how she 'doesn't act' that makes her stand out as an outstanding actress. Nice, great post and looking forward to your future write-ups!
Wow nice article!…I was hooked on Twilight because of Kristen not the other way around =)
Wow. I've never been here before, but I saw this link on Twitter. You said some really amazing things about Kristen. They should have had you on Oprah. She is the reason I watched Twilight too and got into the books. After I saw her performance, I wanted to see if she did the character justice. Kristen makes Bella Swan better. She managed to give a pretty dull character dimension without taking away the core characteristics. I have seen all of her films except WTTR and she is an amazing young actress. It's no wonder that she's worked with so many Oscar winners. I love that she doesn't comform and that she doesn't apologize for being herself. We need a million more like her. Great blog post and I'll be showing this to all my friends.
i wish every GUY out there is LIKE YOU, who understands woman,,nice
Thank you for this very sensitive, and I believe accurate portrayal of Kristen Stewart. She doesn't conform to the vulger, over played Hollywood sub-standard, personally or professionally and she doesn't apologize for it, either. I love that about her. On the professional level I've got to say I've done a fair number of interviews (as interviewer) myself and the nervousness that I hear so much is really off. It's the job of the interviewer to make the set comfortable enough to allow the interview to flow naturally. I haven't seen the Oprah interview, just snippets, but what a stage show to step in. Who, in a sane state of mind, would not feel uncomfortable in that unreal setting? It's bizarre that we have the nerve to expect so much from our celebrities, as if they owe anyone autographs when they are walking through an airport, smiles when they are being insulted and shouted at, and private details about important relationships in their lives for us to comment and analyse. What are we coming to as a people when we lose the good sense and demand that another person surrender their privacy for our own cruel amusement? Kristen is showing a tremendous strength of character by refusing to submit to this and her acting ability, so shining, subtle, and intensely intelligent can be compared to the greatest of Hollywood,,, truthfully, she's a young Bette Davis, in the making. I look forward to more of her genuine acting in the future; I hope her chosen roles do her talent justice. As Robert Pattinson said in an interview, she makes his lines and delivery "authentic," and that shows in all her work. Bravo to Kristen Stewart! You go, girl!
I look forward to more of your thoughtful posts in the future.
I love KSTEW, she is the best actress and began to watch Twilight because of her. She´s authentic, smart,beautiful and intelligent girl.
I understand the reason that Rob fell in love her. She´s amazing.
this is awesome. this is my first time reading your posts and im sure im coming back for more. this is awesome
Kristen needs more fans like you to support her. not just by talking but encouraging people to believe in her.
i love this smart intelligent unicorn! love ur post kerensky! =P
it's still amazing hearing a guy's point of view in such matters!
Thank you for your wonderful comments………Kristen deserves all the praise you've given her and more……..absolutely adore her and everything about her.
This is my first time here but it definitely won't be my last.