Actors as Characters in the Books You Read?

[Melissa]

Carrie wrote: "I can't say I have a go to actor/actress but for some strange reason lately when I've been reading the characters start to look like the people in Beauty and the Beast. For example I'm reading [boo..."

That's a bit funny. I've actually pictured Julia from the Abduction of Julia by Karen Hawkins to look like Belle from the series. ^^

[Cheryl]

Danielle I've not seen that movie, I'll have to rent it!

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

That's interesting, Carrie. I think the Beast as a human is one of the best looking Disney princes. I thought he was gorgeous!

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

Cheryl wrote: "Danielle I've not seen that movie, I'll have to rent it!"

--You definitely should watch this if you're a HR fan. It has a lot of the elements that I like in a HR, although the romance wasn't the focus in the movie per se.

[Kelly]

Dina wrote: "Wasn't Christian Bale in 'The Age of Innocence'? IIRC, he played Daniel Day Lewis's son. Granted, it was a very small part, but..."

I had Daniel Day Lewis in my head for Nathaniel from Sara Dontai's Into the Wilderness.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I so need to read that one, Kelly.

[Sharon]

Carrie wrote: "I can't say I have a go to actor/actress but for some strange reason lately when I've been reading the characters start to look like the people in Beauty and the Beast. For example I'm reading [boo..."

I don't know if you are aware, Carrie, but the voice of Gaston is performed by a (remarkably handsome) stage veteran named Richard White. He is amazing. http://www.flixster.com/actor/richard... I saw him perform as Gaston on-stage the first time I saw "Beauty and The Beast" live, and wish I had seen him as Erik in the Yeston/Kopit "Phantom." (I *think* I may have seen him as Lancelot in "Camelot" back in the early 1990s; he came into the tour as a replacement, but I can't find the playbill to verify.)

[[deleted user]]

I love my Victorian theatre history and have all kinds of old cabinet cards of performers of the era, so when I read HF or romance with actors or actresses, they're the faces I see. Mary Anderson, Minna Gale, Julia Arthur, Viola Allen, John McCullough, Lawrence Barrett, Edwin Booth, Maurice Barrymore, etc. It gives the mental movie in my head an extra-realistic look. :-)

[Cheryl]

Karla wrote: "I love my Victorian theatre history and have all kinds of old cabinet cards of performers of the era, so when I read HF or romance with actors or actresses, they're the faces I see. Mary Anderson, ..."

That sounds really interesting, where did you get the cabinet cards from?

[[deleted user]]

Cheryl wrote: That sounds really interesting, where did you get the cabinet cards from?

Mainly Ebay - I have a few peeps that I try to collect (like Lawrence Barrett), but there are TONS of scans online. Handsome guys and lovely ladies galore.

http://www.library.upenn.edu/collecti...
http://www.neiu.edu/~rghiggin/ephem/P...
http://digital.library.louisville.edu...

The NYPL Digital Gallery is packed with photos, but you have to know who you're looking for.

[Cheryl]

Karla wrote: "Cheryl wrote: That sounds really interesting, where did you get the cabinet cards from?

Mainly Ebay - I have a few peeps that I try to collect (like Lawrence Barrett), but there are TONS of scans..."

Thank you for the info, I'll check them out!

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

That's a great idea, Karla. I'll have to check them out. Thanks.

[Margaret]

I did this with my current work in progress. I kind of had fun with it and had the people on my blog give input too. I've noticed that with celebrities (especially women) they can look totally different in certain pictures. They picked Charlie Bewley for my hero and Michelle Williams for my heroine. Her picture was where she was on the red carpet with Heath ledger in a yellow dress. She looked so happy, thin and... amazing. Once I pulled those two pics apart and placed them together I thought I did have a pretty good-looking couple.

With my second WIP, which I've started the research and pre-writing planning on, I already know I like the idea of my hero being a mix of Matthew Bomer and Joe Flanigan. As for my heroine, I'm not sure yet. She needs to be normal. I've considered Gretchen Mol, Carly Massy-Birch, and Louise Cliffe but I'm not convinced any of them is quite right.Gretchen Mol comes the closest ~ as a brunette.

I think it's a lot of fun to pick pictures and link them to the characters in the book. Maybe it helps writers more than readers... because it feeds our imagination.

[[deleted user]]

Lee wrote: "I think it's a lot of fun to pick pictures and link them to the characters in the book. Maybe it helps writers more than readers... because it feeds our imagination."

I think that's true, that it's more helpful for writers than readers, because I sent off a draft to a friend to read, and I included some of the pictures I used, and she said she preferred to use her own imagination to come up with the faces. However, I need something like an actual face to make writing go a bit easier. Any little bit helps IMO.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

It's great when you can find pictures of actors in period clothes to use.

[Brandy *Ahviel*]

i don't know the name of the actor but he was the best mr. darcy with keira knightley. i loved him

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

Matthew MacFadyen. He is a very handsome man. :)

[Brandy *Ahviel*]

i think i will have to watch that movie when i get home this afternoon from taking my daughter to get her shots

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

That's a good movie to watch often. :)

[Kelly]

oh me too. I can watch that one over and over again.

[Brandy *Ahviel*]

i know there are some authors that hate to turn their books into movies, but i certainly would not mind if the "Wallflower" series did not get turned.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I wouldn't mind, if 1) I could do the casting, 2)approve the scripts, and 3)pick the director (s). LOL!

[Rebecca]

YES definitely! Helps me picture the characters better as I'm writing... Current novel is James McAvoy :)