Michael Douglas knows what’s wrong with American cinema. He knows why roles that seemingly would go to American actors are being scooped up by English and Australian actors.
In a recent interview with The Independent, Michael Douglas bemoaned a preoccupation among American actors with image. He indicated that American actors spend too much time and energy worried about how they look on social media rather than working on their craft.
“There’s something going on with young American actors – both men and women – because the Brits and Australians are taking many of the best American roles from them,” Douglas said.
“Clearly, it breaks down on two fronts,” Douglas remarked. “In Britain they take their training seriously while in the States we’re going through a sort of social media image conscious thing rather than formal training. Many actors are getting caught up in this image thing which is going on to affect their range.”
Lest you think that Douglas’ comments were xenophobic, he does not seem to be complaining about the actors from abroad who are getting American roles. Rather, he is simply stating that this is what happens when you take your eye off the ball.
Ranveer is a risk taker in d sense dat he brought d moustache back in vogue at a time whn actors r trying to b contemporary & metrosexual- J
— Ranveer's Cafe (@RanveersCafe69) June 29, 2015
Michael Douglas further commented on the lack of “masculine” actors in the U.S.
“With the Aussies, particularly with the males it’s the masculinity,” Douglas explained. “In the US we have this relatively asexual or unisex area with sensitive young men and we don’t have many Channing Tatums or Chris Pratts, while the Aussies do. It’s a phenomena.”
Ese momento en el que te das cuenta de que es Michael Douglas el que hace de Liberace en Behind the Candelabra. BOOM pic.twitter.com/LKncWnlMM9
— Ainoetis Byrjun (@Ainoetis) April 5, 2015
Michael Douglas has played Liberace. He is clearly not calling actors sissies. When a director looks around for someone to play the part of a bruiser of a man, the skinny boys with their shirts tucked into the belt buckle, wearing their sister’s jeans, are not going to get a second look.
guy on internet says that Disney can't recreate a Han Solo character because all modern actors are too "metrosexual"
— Mary✨Clare (@YUNGMEPHISTO) March 4, 2015
“There’s a crisis in young American actors right now,” Douglas says. “Everyone’s much more image conscious than they are about actually playing the part.“
Do you see a lot of the metrosexual hollywood pretty boy actors try to especially man up in your presence? #AskRussellCrowe
— Chris Griggs (@MeChrisGriggs) February 13, 2015