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Does a generation choose its stars?


I often see people complain that a certain actor or actress is being pushed on us despite having no widespread appeal or box-office success. You also read about an actor being the "soul/attitude/voice of a generation" in the media. It made me wonder why some actors become famous while others don't.

Who gets to choose the characteristic actors of an age? Is it down to box-office appeal, certain producers' preferences, nepotism or something else?

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You have to have opportunity. Not everyone gets that.

Look at poor, hungry for work (plus gas and body parts) Armie Hammer.

The Hollywood Machine pushes but Time pushes back.

Barbie will be forgotten but Toxic Avenger will live forever!

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Nepotism now plays a large role - there are oodles of families w/ multi-generational presence in the industry. This also lends itself to 'safety', of many sorts. They just seem to be wildly over-represented.

One thing I noticed in the early actors, say from the 30s/40s, is they were not uncommonly from upper middle class / elite backgrounds.

Clearly, a young person who doesn't have to earn a living while making the rounds of auditions is at a serious advantage over those who do.

This woman, who sort of made it on her own in NY, has some interesting tales on the journey :

https://www.youtube.com/@jilldaltonnyc7545

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Who knows?

A couple of years ago it seemed Ana De Armas was being pushed.

Recently Sydney Sweeney.

Then I read somewhere Billie Eilish was "The Voice of a Generation".

I read the same thing about Amy Winehouse.

As to who makes these choices on stars, no idea.

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