MovieChat Forums > Frasier (1993) Discussion > Pick an actress: who do you think would ...

Pick an actress: who do you think would have fit the role of Maris?

posted 7 years ago by artguylarry (498)
44 replies | jump to latest

I've pictured a few different actresses in the role

Kiera Knightley - although she was born in 1985 so she was only 8 when the show started. I just picture her in the part as she is now.

Minnie Driver

Lara Flynn Boyle

Meg Ryan - most perfect in my opinion, though she was never really a TV actor, AND Niles actually dated someone who was the very spitting image of Meg Ryan (and oddly, not even a relation)

[–] Ghaleon (606) 7 years ago

Juliet Landau. In an interview once, David Hyde Pierce said something to the effect of 'imagining Maris looking like something out of Buffy the Vampire Slayer'. I immediately thought of the character Drusilla played by Landau.

[–] artguylarry (498) 7 years ago

Ahhh yes. My guiltiest of all TV pleasures. I can see that.

[–] Bercilak (300) 6 years ago

Wow. I've never heard of her, but I looked her up. If any one woman could embody Maris' various characteristics, it would have been this actress. Good call.

Most importantly, though, could she pretend to have a fetching little underbite that's perfect for doing the Barracuda? ; )

[–] Frogarama (12942) 6 years ago

Good choice. I've met her too, we have a mutual friend. Nice lady.

[–] fc31 (5477) 2 months ago

She could work, she has this vindictive quality, she could be cold, though I am not sure she could be callous.

I think Kristen Stewart is a better call, for which I detailed reasons in the next page.

[–] modica (4169) 7 years ago

Sean Young.

[–] bobbydallas (8556) 6 years ago

YES !

[–] MissMargoChanning (6630) 7 years ago

Marris was extremely thin. She was older than Niles.
I had always pictured a very young Shelly Duvall. I'm thinking of her in Three Women.

[–] jennygerms (58) 7 years ago

Good one!

[–] MissMargoChanning (6630) 7 years ago

Finally! Someone who can see that possibility.

[–] jennygerms (58) 7 years ago

She even has the overbite that Marris is supposed to have!

[–] fc31 (5477) 2 months ago

That is your imagination of an old money girl?: https://www.ft.com/__origami/service/image/v2/images/raw/ftcms%3A8cbb65ec-dce8-48a8-8bd0-e93770b5497e?source=next-article&fit=scale-down&quality=highest&width=700&dpr=2

[–] horrorfan000 (2317) 7 years ago

Valerie Mahaffey.when ever niles would describe her she's always who I envisioned.she has a small frail build and often plays sophisticated characters.

[–] MissMargoChanning (6630) 7 years ago

I have always liked her! I can see that! I still remember her on Seinfeld. Very affected!

I especially loved her appearances on Wings when she played crazy Sandy!

[–] [email protected] (5918) 7 years ago

She was the actress I always pictured as Maris. "Crazy Sandy" seemed like a version of Maris. The actress could always play someone slightly unhinged.

I've been watching a lot of Frasier lately and the unseen Maris aspect of the show is getting on my nerves. LOL Several shows have done the "talked about but never seen character" and after a while it gets annoying (at least to me).

It always bothered me that we never saw Lars Lindstrom on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. They never showed Norm's wife Vera on Cheers either.

Okay it's funny at first, but then the whole "unseen" shtick runs its course. It just gets to be an irritant. The show seems to be admitting that it has written itself into a corner. The whole excuse is "we could never cast anyone who would match the audience's imagination."

So then why do it? It's just annoying after a while.

[–] MissMargoChanning (6630) 7 years ago

I've never heard that before. I mean someone saying they get annoyed after a while with the character who is never seen.
I've always thought it took amazing writers to create a character with a unique personality. Instead of becoming annoyed, I think of them as a character in a good book I'm reading. I have the chance to cast that person! Each one of us gets to do that. It's always fun to compare notes.

[–] [email protected] (5918) 7 years ago

Yeah well that's just me. I get annoyed at those "unseen characters" because I feel like the writers are toying with me, just jerking the audience around. LOL

There was an episode where the Cranes were attending functions and "Maris was waiting in the car" or "Maris was in the other room".
Really, how many of those contrived excuses can they come up with because after a while I just feel manipulated! (guess I am sensitive).

In one Mary Tyler Moore episode, Lars had an affair with the Happy Homemaker. He was spoken about through the whole episode. The story was ALL about him, but he was never seen. It was a clever bit of writing. But I guess it's just a personal pet peeve of mine. It just seems too "gimmicky".

It is also true what you said. Everyone can "cast" the character in his own mind. But after a while, I don't want to do that. If I want to "picture" the character, I'll read a good book. But if I am paying a fortune for cable, I want to SEE the character. lol

[–] jennygerms (58) 7 years ago

Yes!

[–] fc31 (5477) 2 months ago

If Maris was written as a funny clumsy clueless girl, sure.

But was she written as that?

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Frogarama (12942) 7 years ago

Baranski is a great choice, of course.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

Kristin Scott Thomas

Christine Baranski

Joan Allen

Charlotte Rampling

[–] fc31 (5477) 2 months ago

Kristin Scott Thomas looked more mature and understanding, I am sure she would have worked things out with Niles.

Christine Baranski has that quality, but isn't she kind of tall?

Joan Allen is even taller.

Yeah, Charlotte Rampling I have to agree. She could be a decent Maris.

[–] Fornax (1) 7 years ago

[deleted]

[–] captainbucky (15252) 7 years ago

What's wrong with you, I say you she dead fool!

[–] Fornax (1) 7 years ago

[deleted]

[–] captainbucky (15252) 7 years ago

Nope... Nope no.... That would just be weird

[–] hoosiergirl (217) 6 years ago

In National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, the wife of Clark's boss who shows up at their house at the end of the movie in her negligee--that's the actress I always pictured in my mind as Maris (even though I know Maris was said to be a blonde).

[–] wearsalan (5554) 6 years ago

I always imagined Angelica Huston in the part of Maris

[–] hoosiergirl (217) 6 years ago

I can see that

[–] fc31 (5477) 2 months ago

You guys are kidding, right?

Anjelica Huston's Maris would probably beat up Niles.

She is taller than Niles, the actor anyway, definitely not "tiny".