James' career

Mr. Marsden is a most interesting man & has made some very surprising career choices. He started as a model, which seems to inspire some people to downplay any talent an ex-model may have. His looks have developed as he has gotten older, but for a man without technical training in either film schools nor did he do any professional theater work (that I'm aware of), how else does an aspiring actor get professional work & a SAG card? Yes, TV soap operas & other TV work-- & he's done that (I've seen the 1st 2 "The Nanny" episodes, but I completely missed "Ally McBeal" & have only picked up snippets on Youtube).
He made a couple of teen-type movies, 1st playing a teen, then a college student, then as an obnoxious older brother--almost reprising a similar role (as obnoxious older brother in something like no dessert, dad until you mow the lawn), enacting a certain Rex in "Sex Drive". He & Seth Green brought that movie to life, despite the gratituous nude scenes & people in the unrated version. I held a Marsden marathon for my friends, including "Drive," & my friends were scandalized. I laughed, but that's my humor.
Earlier, he made another teen type film named "Sugar and Spice," & it seemed to be a forerunner to his role in "Enchanted." He plays sweet, clueless young men to a fare-thee-well.
I'm not being chronological here. He took a chance with 3 gay roles: "The 24th Day," "Heights," & "Sex Drive." People got worried that he'd be type-casted. The 1st 2 of that list seemed to me to be independent films, & that's another chance he takes. Will "Nailed" ever be released? Look at "Interstate 60"--that film never made the theaters because the company which handles that sort of thing ran out of money.
He's been lucky in being cast in singing/acting roles in "Enchanted" and "Hairspray." He was the male lead in "27 Dresses," but I looked closely at the film, & Kathryn Heigl was given too much time & I kept waiting for Kevin Doyle to show up again--he made that film, not her, IMO.
That's another joy I have in his talent--his singing voice. People seem to urge him to make CD's or Broadway musicals, but I won't be surprised if he does neither.
He's brave in tackling "Straw Dogs," & I'm waiting for the hatred against him to start--he's too handsome for many people. He's been called plastic & pretty-boy, & has somewhat overcome these epithets. Someone said, "Someone has got to make this man a star." I agree.