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Lost opportunities and what might have been


I was and still am just a middling fan of Natasha Henstridge, someone who thinks she's hot and likes seeing her on film. That's about it.

Like so many ordinary citizens, many years ago we eagerly anticipated the Hollywood heights that Natasha Henstridge would rise to in just a short time, so we thought. Natasha Henstridge still has no negative publicity and no bad news about outrageous behavior. This is pretty much typical of Canadian actors and actresses, with but rare exceptions, of course. The Canadian actors seem to be, on average, more restrained and moderate in their off-screen behavior, as a group, compared to American actors, of whom demonstrate sometimes really bizarre off-the-wall antics. This is one big asset of Natasha Henstridge that many fans appreciate.

But the great fame and fortune didn't happen to Natasha Henstridge.

While she didn't possess a diva attitude, she appeared to have the opposite, a kind of, 'this is a bs role...forget it, I'll pass', while a diva might say, '...this proposed role is beneath me...I'm entitled to better...'. In other words, Natasha admitted that in hindsight she made bad film career choices. Movies she declined went on to become theater blockbusters. Movies she accepted tanked. She was fortunate to land her own, short-lived private detective action girl series in 2001, "She Spies", but it lasted only two seasons and was quietly forgotten.
At the zenith of her career, looking back now, in the later nineties and up to the very early 2000s, Natasha was a hot babe in her twenties, and hovered somewhere in the A- actors list, at the very least, at the top of the actors B list, a highly visible Hollywood starlet. Since then she has slid into quiet, lower B list obscurity, relegated to little-noticed supporting roles. I am very happy and relieved for Natasha that she still can find acting work. But that's just employment, not a rise up the Hollywood film career ladder. That train left the station long ago, leaving Natasha standing on the platform. Like so many fans, I am so disappointed. We wanted so much bigger and better for her. This is the exact opposite of Schadenfreude. I'm dismayed but I still hold out hope that her acting career will last much longer.

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She is beautiful and I think there is some talent there, but ultimately she is not a great actress (I don't think she'd disagree). However, I don't know if she's a movie star either. She doesn't really radiate a lot of presence, other than her beauty.

If she remade herself as a character actress she might be ok. She's January Jones-esque, though I think she's more interesting and talented than January.

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I can't disagree with you, CodaSky. Since we're there, we might as well admit it openly. Natasha Henstridge is no longer the hot 25-year old babe. She's a middle-aged woman. Sure she looks pretty, but not as much as back then. I agree, Natasha looked January Jones-esque. But one day, January Jones will be middle-aged too. You can see the difference in Natasha Henstridge's appearance from 1997 to 2011. I noticed in recent candid photos that when she smiles, a tooth shows between her lips. But I notice the beauty factor about blue-eyed blondes is common. They look soft, lovely, nubile, and such maidens between the ages of 16 to 25. But their appearances change sharply in their late 20s and then especially into their thirties.

There was discussion about Natasha Henstridge's acting ability. I firmly believe that her acting ability was competent. I certainly didn't see any problems or glaring flaws. But most actors and actresses should be able to achieve acceptable proficiency and competency in acting. Look at actress Liv Tyler. She's never had any acting classes and no one's questioned her acting ability. No, with Natasha Henstridge it was all about critical career choices fifteen to ten years ago.

I would be happy enough, now, if Natasha Henstridge could find consistent acting employment until her retirement. Eventually she can opt for well-to-do marriage, or entry into another career choice.

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Years ago I would have thought she was going to be a bigger star.
But, TV and movies are brimming over with attractive young starletts, who in a few years have to move over for the newest crop of young lookers.

So, now Natasha is still a beauty that will have to adjust to be a mid-to- late 30 something year old actress that can still have something to offer.
Just a few years younger than Kristy Swanson.

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Yes, I recall when Ms. NH was an "It Girl" and I think many people (movie fans, maybe a few movie critics) thought "Species" would lead to bigger & better things...and it led to "Ghosts of Mars."

Now, Megan Fox is an "It Girl" (tho her time might be about up) - there's just no figuring why some females become "stars" and others get "exiled" to straight-to-DVD-movies-land.

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