Redefining Beauty

“IT took years for Hollywood to create the perfect woman.  Now it wants the old one back.”  The first sentence of an article in this past Sunday’s New York Times:  “A Little Too Ready for Her Close-up?”,  got me thinking. 

 According to the article, casting directors are screening actors and even extras with more scrutiny than before in order to be sure they look “natural”.  Said differently, an actor will likely lose the part if it’s obvious that he or she has had plastic surgery.

What’s really causing this current backlash?  Is it that some have taken plastic surgery so far that they no longer look believable?  Is it part of Hollywood’s desire to keep changing things up (in this case – the definition of beauty), in order to succeed at the Box Office?  Or, is it because audiences insist on complete honesty and transparency (now more than ever), in order to truly be engaged?  I’d say it’s a combination of all of the above.

The one thing that’s certain in my opinion is that there is still a mixed message out there.  Fans and casting directors alike expect leading ladies to look flawless.  However, if stars turn to cosmetic surgery to stay true to that expectation, we critique their choices to evolve their look.  Keeping it real has its price too, especially since it’s well-known that roles for more mature-looking leading ladies are limited.

As I read the article I also started to think about the options that women I know (myself included) are willing to entertain to look and feel great, and I have no doubt that cosmetic surgery will continue to be popular.   However, it’s good to know that perhaps the pressure of perfection may be letting up a bit … for now at least!