The Heidi Montag Effect: Plastic Surgery Backlash in Hollywood
The New York Times has an interesting article about a growing backlash against plastic surgery in Hollywood. It's what they call the Heidi Montag Effect: girls that look like a pinup aren't getting callbacks for serious acting roles.
For the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie, actresses had to sit for a bathing suit shot so the casting agent could see if they had implants or not. Actresses in period pieces shouldn't have implants, goes the theory.
Casting directors say that they see Botox and implants in very young actresses and they all look the same. They are becoming un-castable. As far as women in their 30s and 40s, plastic surgery is fine if it is done subtly. The criticisms for that age group only kick in if the surgeon botched the job.
One director told The Times, "Behind the scenes, you have so many conversations.
Why did she do that to herself? She was beautiful. She was great. But now we can't cast her."
So the message seems to be: if you're not naturally gorgeous, please don't audition for the part. And if you're going to have work done, don't go bargain basement. Go the the best doctor in town, or it will ruin your career.
