Saturday Morning Ponderings- The issuse is a person's looks

[Liberalynn]

Question: Do you think it is unfair that people dismiss an actor, actress, singer's talent, or whatever else they bring to the stage or screen just because they also happen to be good looking?

How is that any different than dismissing someone's talents and abilities just because they don't fit the majority of people's ideal image of classically handsome?

I bring this up because I have just gotten into watching Once Upon A Time, I know I am a little late to the party, and I have been reading bulletin boards and television "news" sites to catch up and learn about the show, the performers, the writers etc.
My favorite character is Captain Hook as portrayed by Colin O'Donaghue. While there is a lot positive posted about the character and the actor, and some valid criticism's too, there seems to be some people who dismiss him simply because he was genetically gifted with what most would probably consider "handsome movie star looks."

Now I am not denying he's easy on my eyes and that isn't part of what draws me to the character, I'd be lying. I also, however, like that the character is on a path of redemption because he realizes that hurting others as he has done in the past was wrong, and he wants to become a better man both for his own conscience and to be the type of man the woman he loves deserves. It's also the wit and the humor, the soft spoken way the actor has of delivering a line but still giving it impact.

It's the beautiful love story being developed by the writer's about two people who aren't saints, who've done wrong, have been wronged, etc finding something right with each other.

I also don't always find myself automatically choosing a favorite characters just because there are good looking people playing them.

Now I also watch Chicago Fire, and find Severide to be extremely blessed genetically but Herman is my favorite character there because he's the heart of that fictional fire station. Jack McCoy was my favorite on Law and Order tied with Lenny on Law and Order, even though in my opinion Logam and Ray(sorry I am having a senior moment on Benjamin Bratt's character's last name) fit my definition of classic good looks personally. And I have always loved Wlliam Daniels characters and think he is a tremendous actor even though I personally don't find him to be all that good looking.

I know things like this are subjective and not a major point in the grand scheme of things, but sometimes these are the things I ponder about in my attempts to better understand human nature.

[Tobin S.]

1. People have no control over physical traits that attract them.

They have more control over the kind of mind that they are attracted to. I'm talking reality here and not TV shows. In the TV shows, you can tell who is good at acting and who is bad. It's one thing just to look at shows for eye candy and another to appreciate talent. There are shows that appeal to each motive.

I don't think personal appearance has anything to do with acting talent, but actors do get cast in certain roles due in part to their appearances. That's just the way it is and any actor will tell you that.

[Liberalynn]

2. You make a lot of good points

I tend to be attracted to men with dark hair and blue eyes for some reason that I can't really explain. I also agree that there are people who probably do watch just for the eye candy and that's okay.

The attitude some of the posters were expressing, however, was that the only possible reason people could like the character or appreciate his expanded role was because of the actor's looks. I thought that was kind of dismissive attitude to have toward Mr. O'Donaghue and those who can appreciate his acting abilities in addition to his looks. Plus it is also not acknowledging the writer's efforts for creating a flawed character's interesting journey to improve himself on the inside.

It kind of reminds me of when the magazine International Musician wrote an article on Rick Springfield. The journalist who was assigned the story said some of his colleagues laughed at him and said really you're going to write a story about a poster boy teen idol? I thought we were supposed to be a serious magazine about actual musicians?"

The journalist defended Rick to them by informing them that he had won a prestigious award for his guitar playing abilities at age 17 before Tiger Beat or the teeny bopper girls in the USA ever knew who he was. He is a real musician.

Rick writes all his own music and lyrics. He won a Grammy for Jessie's Girl, and some of his non top 40 pieces are actually pretty deep and thought provoking songs. Yet his actual talent often gets overlooked by those who assume that all he ever was, was a teen idol with a pretty face.

You are right that actors and I guess any performer goes in knowing that often their looks matter and can further their career but hey can also hold them back from being taken seriously sometimes.

[Tobin S.]

3. If I were an actor and a lot of people were digging my performances

I probably wouldn't care what the reasons for that were. I'd be making money doing what I love. There's nothing better than that.

But I see what you are saying. I don't think people who say that the only reason why an actor is successful is because of his or her looks really appreciate the craft. They probably aren't thinking about the performances too deeply. I think it's more revealing of their own biases. I've met a lot of good looking people in my time who didn't appear to have much talent at anything. In other words, I don't think any actors make it on looks alone. They have to be talented to some degree.