Julia Roberts joins a fine tradition of universally-sensitive actors.
By Burbanked on Dec 15, 2006 in Celebrities, Movies | 1,437 views |
Having lent her voice talents to the titular arachnid of the remade classic Charlotte’s Web, actress Julia Roberts has decided that it’s no longer okay to kill spiders. In a statement reported by the World Entertainment News Network, Roberts says – in a completely unrehearsed, off-the-cuff, not-at-all-staged- for-movie-publicity way,
I kill them less now. Which is saying a lot, because I have two babies in the house. I will actually try and be brave and steel myself and capture them in Tuppeware (containers) and get them out of the house.
And hey, really, this is just fine. In fact, cinematic actors have a long history of heightened awareness of other cultures, points of view and species after they’ve spent some time playing pretend within the context of their important movie roles. In fact, take a look at these lesser-known facts about some of our favorite actors and the roles that have made them nicer, better people:
| Actor | Life-changing movie | Resultant epiphany-like life decision |
|---|---|---|
| Boris Karloff | Frankenstein, 1931 | Increased sensitivity toward monstrous beings reanimated from aggregate body parts |
|
Tom Hanks |
Toy Story, 1995 | Has never thrown away a single toy, especially if they can talk |
| Sigourney Weaver | Alien, 1979-1997 | At first hint of alien presence: kill it |
| Joe Pesci | Goodfellas, 1990 | No longer stabs people in the trunks of cars |
| Margaret Hamilton | Wizard of Oz, 1939 | Never again let water touch her skin |
| Hayden Christensen | Star Wars: Episode III, 2005 | Less willing to murder Jedi children |
| Sandra Bullock | Speed 2: Cruise Control, 1997 | Learned it’s best not to push one’s luck |
| Patrick Swayze | Ghost, 1990 | Increased respect for black screamy things from the afterlife |
| Toni Collette | The Sixth Sense, 1999 | No longer skeptical when children claim to talk to dead people |
| Uma Thurman | My Super Ex-Girlfriend, 2006 | Now understands that Ivan Reitman lost it a long time ago |
Thank you, Julia Roberts. Like so many non-selfish, non-soundbyte-spouting actors before you, you’ve made the world a better place.
Charlotte’s Web trots into theaters today.
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Sulu at the Helm | Dec 15, 2006 | Reply
I suggest adding the name of ANYONE who has played a villian in a Bond film. The lesson: After you manage to corner an arch enemy with a license to kill you, pump him full of lead. Then pump him full of some more lead.
Here’s one more: Steve Buscemi. The next time Adam Sandler asks you to commit your considerable talents to one of his crapfests, pump him full of lead. Then pump him full of some more lead.
DPrince | Dec 17, 2006 | Reply
Awesome post!
Burbanked | Dec 18, 2006 | Reply
DPrince: Thanks! As ever, your sense of brevity is matched only by your bright and welcome enthusiasm!
Sulu: Ideally you don’t 1) live near Hollywood or 2) own firearms. Then again I can’t bring myself to disagree with you.
The problem with Buscemi is that Tarantino and the Coen brothers don’t work frequently enough to keep him in Cheerios and Maseratis. The dude’s gotta pay the mortgage, and when Sandler and Michael Bay are the only ones calling, what’s a creepy character actor to do?
Sulu at the Helm | Dec 18, 2006 | Reply
Apparently, collect a paycheck from creepy director/writer types. Oh yeah, and another sign that the “Transformers” movie will be the crapapollooza you and I are guessing it will be: someone I know who happens to be a big fan of “Showgirls” and “Pearl Harbor” is eagerly looking forward to seeing it.