Lessons from today’s LA Times, Part 1
On the cover of TV Times, beneath a photo of Sam Neill, scowling and unrecognizable in some PBS period piece, the caption reads “Veteran actor Sam Neill stars in…”
When did Sam Neill become “veteran actor” Sam Neill? He just turned 59. What does “veteran actor” mean? And is this particular “veteran actor” happy about this designation?
I seem to recall “veteran actor” being euphemistic for “grizzled old character actor we’ve all come to respect.”
October 23rd, 2006 at 5:38 am
I Googled Sam Neill and went to the first site on the list. They feature a filmography that begins in 1975 and includes 85 roles. That’s veterany enough for me.
October 23rd, 2006 at 5:48 am
In Hollywood, there is a definite rite of passage that accompanies “veteran” status for actors — and for most of them, it isn’t a good rite. Very few of them come out the other side, like Clint Eastwood. (And far fewer of them are female, Helen Mirren and Meryl Streep being exceptions.)
October 28th, 2006 at 9:22 am
Streep was awesome in the Devil Wears Prada. I actually saw it twice and I don’t usually like chick flicks.