HALLEY FEIFFER has already established herself as a captivating starlet and continues to astound viewers with a series of riveting performances. I’m honored and lucky to be able to watch her on film and reading of her interest to be featured on the Actress Obsession Blog is truly special indeed. The posts I’ve written from the first day is a testament to the influence of talented women such as HALLEY and they’re the very reason why this blog was created. There’s sweetness about HALLEY that is layered with fascination awaiting to be discovered by keen eyes. Invited to spend time with a man and his gravely ill wife in “How It Ended”, her portrayal as a flustered young woman is vulnerable and tempting in equal measures. “How It Ended is available now free online through Film Movement, its distributor and this is the perfect opportunity to be mesmerized by Miss HALLEY FEIFFER…:)
If you’ve read the interviews she’s done, HALLEY has a kooky and dirty sense of humor, a genuinely engaging aspect to her personality that she so often exudes be it in her varied roles, on the theater scene or in real life. On her way to becoming a big name herself, she’s starring alongside Paul Rudd and Paul Giamatti in “Lucky Dog” as well as with Jesse Eisenberg in 2 upcoming comedies, she’ll be all the rage in 2012. Also an amazing playwright and producer, HALLEY is segueing into lighter fare as opposed to her earlier dramatic exploits, demonstrating her inviting versatility. Expect a flood of devotion trickling her way in the months ahead.
Genial actresses are always put on a pedestal of affection right here and pretty as a peach SAMANTHA FIGURA should quickly warrant your fancy. Recently displaying her comic flair in the web series “BoomChickBoom”, SAMANTHA shone in parodies that take a dig at socio-political culture such as the Reality show “Master Chef” and even the much maligned Burqa. This week, watch out for her in the episode ‘Disciplining the Keens’ of “Man Up”; A welcome sight considering the testosterone in the air that refuses to grow up, this comedy’s fixation on the measure of a man. Having also caught the eye on two of my fav TV Shows namely “The OC’ and “Greek”, SAMANTHA’s personable demeanor are too precious to miss out on and I can’t overstate enough that it extends beyond the confines of a camera. She’s still a figure of kindness now as she was way back when we first connected on Facebook.
Juicily, she once starred with Jesse Eisenberg (pre-Social Network) as Gina, a teen with bizarre powers in “One Day Like Rain”, an offbeat film reminiscent of the metaphysical state of impending doom once explored in “Donnie Darko”. There’s a great scene of her posturing over a crystallized formation she concocted (a mini ‘Fortress of Solitude’???) revealing that she may not be human after all, a benign Klaatu-like messenger if you will. It’s a master stroke that there’s an ambiguity to the character and SAMANTHA’s interpretation of Gina’s alluded alien roots is enthralling or was it all in her head?? “One Day Like Rain” is evidently one of the jewels of indie storytelling, meriting more than a single viewing. If you’re a fan of Molly Ringwald performance in “Sixteen Candles”, SAMANTHA’s must see portrayal of hormonal insanity harks back to those days when teenage morose was so sweet. As she stated in the entertaining “Making of” clip (above), she sums it up by hoping more love is introduced into the world and we’ll be willing to reciprocate the love for her right back. Whatever she has in store for us in the near future, we’ll take an instant liking to!
This fall be prepared for Camille Mana and “Mr Social Network” Jesse Eisenberg in ‘The Ambassadors’, the upcoming indie project Camille co-stars with Jessie. That sounds mighty fascinating but first fall for her in “Norman” premiering tonight at SIFF 2011. While Emily VanCamp chews up the screen as the love interest we’ve come to adore, Camille herself does steal a heart or two (catch her in the trailer above) as she did in her very own coming of age drama “The Samurai of Strongsville” . Emily VanCamp was the sole reason I religiously followed “Everwood” on TV….must have started when I caught sight of Emily in the purple bikini in an early episode..hehe. Flash ahead and it seems foxy Camille has undeniably taken my fancy..:)
ISLA FISHER & POLLYANNA MCINTOSH in “Burke and Hare”
These two striking ladies sure make the Scottish accent so damn tempting. Isla Fisher is the Aussie Girl Next Door with that invitingly voluptuous body. Pollyanna Mcintosh is the statuesque vixen with the killer figure that has us fantasizing in an instant. Together they provide the visual pleasure amidst the black comedy of “Burke and Hare” in their cleavage bursting corsets. Pollyanna of course garnered controversy for being the centrepiece of gory thriller “The Woman” and its predecessor “Offspring”. Isla is the go-to-girl of comedy having caught the eye in “The Wedding Crashes” and many more after. Most significantly is the way they change it up onscreen that rocks our boats. Doing so in a period piece such as “Burke and Hare” is testament to their acting finesse.
Seeing Sophie Quinton in a barely naked pose in the poster of French murder mystery “Poupoupidou” harks back to the days of bombshells like Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield. Once voted as Most Promising Newcomer, Sophie does have that Sex Bomb appeal she uses to great effect in “Poupoupidou”. Take it from me, French starlets are synonymous with the carefree eroticism of cinema of days gone by and more so in the modern era. If you like whodunits than this French film will be your cup of tea. Tracing the cause in the death of Candice Lecoeur played with sweet seductiveness by Sophie, this is an entertaining look into the trials of being a celebrity and at the same time could just be a poignant tribute to the life and times of the great Marilyn Monroe.
Not sure why but strangely Rinko Kikuchi reminds me of Devon Aoki. Maybe it’s the peroxide hair or the innocent facade that masks a burgeoning sensuality. Whatever it may be, Rinko is fashioning herself into a style icon on the red carpet these days. The poignant drama “Babel” introduced her to the world and help her gain a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination, a first for any Japanese actress. “Maps of the Sounds of Tokyo” and now “Norwegian Wood”, adapted from the best-selling novel by Haruki Murakami has put her in the driver’s seat as an Arthouse Darling. The romantic tearjerker brought to the big screen sees Rinko facing emotional turmoil in this tale of forbidden love. Her penchant for portraying the darker shades of the human makeup is gripping!
LUDIVINE SAGNIER & KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS in “Love Crime”
It’s intoxicating when a drama has two sexpots from different generations playing off each other in a game of seduction and betrayal. I’m talking about French thriller “Love Crime” that has its leading ladies Ludivine Sagnier and Kristin Scott Thomas straddle the merry-go-round of power and pleasures of the flesh. Kristin is the ageless siren whose forays into French cinema is something we always look forward to since she’s always stirringly wonderful. Ludivine is the belle de jour best remembered for her uninhibited nudity and sexual trysts she so aptly embodied as a nympho in “Swimming Pool”. European actresses are well known for disrobing on camera to drive a story but that never detracts from the fact that these ladies have solid credentials to captivate.
The great country of Canada sure has produced some of the hottest talents on the planet with quite the staying power. Take for example, the vivacious Jill Hennessy, she of “Crossing Jordan” fame who proved that medical examiners can be sexy despite mired in yucky dead bodies and dastardly homicides. Come 2011, she’s making a comeback with not 1 but 2 indie features that will ignite our fondness for her once more. In Roadie, she gets to showcase her vocal skills as a singer/songwriter who reconnects with an old flame. Her acting prowess can also be seen in “Small Town Murder Songs” as a scandalous drug addict who strays from the straight and narrow. If you have a weakness for exotic brunettes with a dazzling aura, Jill Hennessy is your gal.
FHM Cover Girl, Award-winning film-maker/producer and already tipped as one of Ten Promising Asian-Americans To Watch, CAMILLE MAMA enthralls with relative ease. When she acknowledged in jest her openness for threesomes from an interview she did (above), she probably made the day for many a guy…hehe. Sassy, funny and blessed with a wholesome yet foxy sex appeal, this Filipino-Chinese beauty has even kissed “Mr MegaTwitter” star Ashton Kutcher in just her bra and panties albeit in a scene from the comedy ‘SMART PEOPLE’. Even though she’s well known as the sprightly Lisa Sanchez from TV Series ‘ONE TO ONE’, CAMILLE has done several independent features most notably the Mean Girls meets Ninja High School comedy ‘THE SAMURAI OF STRONGVILLE, OHIO’ which had its run during CANNES FILM FESTIVAL 2010. Add an appearance in star-studded Sundance fave ‘HIGH SCHOOL’ plus a starring role alongside the face of “The Social Network” Jesse Eisenberg in the upcoming ‘THE AMBASSADORS’ and you can see why she’s primed for stardom. It’s been a tough road for her so let’s face facts by not sugarcoating them; Asian faces are the minority in this industry but her exuberant passion and strong belief has garnered a semblance of deserved success.
You may be surprise to know even though CAMILLE’s a social butterfly, she doesn’t necessarily subscribe to the trappings and allure of Hollywood themed parties, preferring to be seen in the more artistic fringes of Tinseltown. With her star on the up and up and fame knocking on her doorstep, that might prove easier said than done but you have to adore her groundedness in the thick of all the media hooplah. This bubbly girl is creating a sweet commotion and believe you me, she is that lovable..:)
