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Utterly Elegant -- the most elegant woman in the world

posted 14 years ago by coolbluegreen
9 replies | jump to latest

I enjoy Regency and Victorian literature. Jane Austen is a particular favorite of mine. Anyway, women are often described as "elegant" in these books and it is high praise, indeed. However, I was never really quite sure what it meant, what constituted elegance. There's no premium on elegance in American 21st century society that I can tell.

And then I saw Molly Parker on Deadwood. She just took my breath away and I thought, "That's it! THAT is elegance."

Something about Molly Parker, about her essence, has helped give me a definition of elegance. I'll put it down here.

She has exquisite poise, such quiet confidence. Her manners, her voice, her intelligence -- they are filled with meaning but again, are quiet -- very strong, but completely low-key. She looks as if she can easily understand her own emotions and never, ever let them overwhelm her. She has kindness and compassion for others and herself, and that kindness and compassion is expressed with respect and dignity, never pity. Her slim, upright posture is the picture of grace and her walk is quiet, yet self-assured. She is a Regency or Victorian heroine come to life.

Now, of course, I don't know the real Molly Parker, but she projects all these things.

And she can project them while doing ANYTHING. My god, when her character is masturbating after a disturbing sex/rape scene in The Center of the World, all I can think of is how she, in the midst of a scene that could be vulgar and disgusting, maintains her elegance. Who looks elegant masturbating? Molly Parker does. She can play a a prostitute, a junkie, a senator's wife, or a wealthy Victorian East Coast society woman -- whatever she does, her elegance shines through, clean and pure. THere is nothing vulgar or coarse about her.

I adore her. I can't think of any other actor who has such elegance. I wish people cared about it more. Elegance is a rare quality (so rare I can't think of anyone else who has it) and one I would like to see return.

If you have any thoughts on this, please post them! Thank you.

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[–] jac91604 14 years ago

I guess you have never seen Audrey Hepburn.

[–] coolbluegreen 14 years ago

iac91604 wrote: <>

Obviously I have seen Audrey Hepburn and she is as beautiful as a spring day and all that. She's elegant. But she doesn't fascinate me the way Molly Parker does.

I respect Audrey Hepburn for her charity work and recognize that she was one of the world's most beautiful women.

But that Regency/Victorian description of elegance? I am NOT saying Audrey Hepburn was vulgar. Far from it. But she doesn't define the concept of Regency/Victorian elegance for me the way Molly Parker does.

[–] coolbluegreen 14 years ago

Please cite your sources. Your are mistaken. I do not know how you can think soap was an unaffordable luxury while perfume was not.

People made their own soap from lye and ashes and it worked. Furthermore, there were many soaps on the market during the Victorian Era. While people did not have the access to showers that nearly everyone in the West does today, the members of the middle and upper classes certainly did wash -- the washing of armpits, face, hands, and nether regions, would happen on a daily basis. Hair-washing or whole-body sponge baths took place less frequently, but not as unfrequently as you seem to think. There were also public baths.

Beauty is always subjective. As for elegance, that is a compliment that isn't really even used anymore, although you often find it in Regency or Victorian novels.

An elegant woman had impeccable manners. She spoke well, dressed with an understated yet fashionable distinction, presented herself well, and was graceful (no easy trick with all those clothes). She was never coarse or rude or loud.

[–] sarah1916 13 years ago

Elegance? Yes, she does project that quality, particularly playing a period character like Alma Garret in "Deadwood." Exquisitely beautiful too, with the natural, no makeup look the show employed for most of the female characters. Molly Parker's Alma Garret could have stepped out of a cameo setting.

Add to this, I think her performance as Alma was pitch perfect. Not a false note in three years. Which isn't to say the character made perfect choices. But at no point was the audience left in the dark about Alma's interior life, thanks to MP's subtle, yet revealing acting.

It is unfortunate that "Deadwood" was overshadowed by flashier fare like "The Sopranos" during awards season.

[–] movie-lover41 13 years ago

Totally agree! She's a very accomplished and classy actress!

[–] threadman80 13 years ago

I've seen some well written posts on IMBb, but damn. I have to agree.

Time to see this movie with the odd rape and masturbation scene.

[–] kincaid-5 12 years ago

You're right about her character in "Deadwood," but for a change of pace, check out "Pure." Molly is brilliant, but I don't think you'd want to use the word "elegant."

http://redkincaid.com