Kiera vs. Dakota: Who Will Make the Greater Artist's Muse?
Monday, November 7, 2011 at 3:18PM With all the projects in development in the world drawn from an infinite number of topics, it's always curious to note how many of them inexplicably arise simultaneously on the same topics. Thompson in Hollywood reports that Keira Knightley is considering the lead role in Untouched (2013?) which is a romantic triangle biopic on the artist muse Effie Gray and her relationship to two men, the art critic John Ruskin and his protégé the painter Everett Millais. She married them both during her lifetime, though only the second marriage was consummated.
But get this... Dakota Fanning is also playing this role in a competing feature called simply Effie (2012?) written by everyone's favorite Acting/Screenwriting Double Oscar Winner Emma Thompson. While we'd love to see more movies written by Thompson as well as meatier roles for Dakota Fanning (especially since Elle Fanning fever threatens to consume Hollywood), Keira has actual experience as an artist's muse. She's currently filming Anna Karenina, her third feature as Joe Wright's muse (He's only made four features prior to this so by the time Anna Karenina arrives, Keira will have starred in 60% of his filmography; they be tight.)
Effie (2012). Costumes by two time Oscar nominee Ruth Myers<-- Here is Dakota Fanning in costume as Effie. That's Greg Wise (Emma Thompson's real life man and Kate Winslet's heart-breaker in Sense & Sensibility) as her first husband, the art critic John Ruskin. Their marriage was famously unconsummated before she left him for his protege Millais (Tom Sturridge) which caused all sort of social drama in Victorian England.
Millais painted both Effie and her sister Sophie and other family members frequently. There's no word on IMDb about who plays "Sophie" or even if she's in the film but is it too much to ask for Elle Fanning in a surprise uncredited appearance?
Keira or Dakota?
Make your case in the comments.
Or did your eyes glaze over at "Emma Thompson"? Yes yes, we know. We were just saying. She's really all that matters in most movie conversations that involve her. Happily she also acts in Effie. Yay!
Reader Comments (10)
I think Dakota looks more like Effie than Kiera.
I agree with you, Tiago. But my bigger concern is that hey, is that really Mr. Willoughby? Good God, breaking Kate Winslet's heart turns men into ugly.
Kiera has Anna Karenina for 2012, let Dakota have Effie, whatever one comes first will win, right? even though it's a huge what if because this is new territory for Dakota, Emma Thompson is a amazing writer so I'm sure the film will be top notch and she will make sure Dakota is dotting her eyes and crossing her t's. Here's hoping!
Dakota camp for me. We know Kiera can do period drama in her sleep, and this doesn't sound like much of a stretch or challenge for her, it being simply one of many period pieces in her wheelhouse or comfort zone.
But for Dakota, this would be different. And besides, I'm curious to see her in more mature roles now that she's a young adult and seguing away from kid/teen projects.
I'm Team Dakota for sure - I agree with Blinking Cursor that it'd be something new to see Dakota in a role like this, whereas Knightley would be a yawn in every way. Though to be honest I'd pick just about any ingenue over Knightley for any role in any film - she is nails-down-a-blackboard unbearable to me - I'm still fuming that she's doing Anna Karenina!
But the director of the new one is BRAZILIAN! ....meaning it'll be all dark, edgy, cool, and gritty!! Actually i have no idea, but both directors are dude's who i've never even heard of so not really that excited for either.
Dakota! Interested in seeing her transition into an adult actor, especially since her work as a child was so strong.
Keira!
But seriously, Mulligan was going to play Effie in Effie, then Ronan, now Fanning... and now Keira in another movie. Weird. I mean shouldn't Keira have replaced Mulligan in that movie instead of Ronan replacing Mulligan in this movie? See? Weird.
Anyway, it's just that I like Keira more. But I'm not uninterested in Dakota's movie since, you know, Emma!
Lol just because it's set in a different time period doesn't mean it's not a challenge.
But I'd rather Keira do some edgy Mike Leigh film.
Danielle -- Keira with Mike Leigh. intriguing notion. She does like a challenge.