What A Smile

I saw Zodiac on release in 2007, took note of the middle-aged, frumpy character she played. Only later did I read that was Candy Clark! Amazing change in her character "type." Impressive but a little sad, too.

...but about that smile. Good smiles are part of the instrument of interesting actors, and she's had one for decades. And also that great Texas voice...sometimes the accent is strong but often it simply gives her voice a very distinctive "twang and lilt."

That was apparent in her breakout, Oscar winning performance in American Grafitti, where given a big blonde wig that rather disguised who Candy Clark really looked like...her voice made all the difference.

Watch her first scene leaning in to the car window as Toad tries to pick her up:

Toad: What's your name?
Debbie: Debbie.

HOW Clark says Debbie (kind of an absent-minded afterthought -- "Debbuh") is endearing.

Later, she puts upbeat emphasis on certain words, again with an accent that melts butter without sound TOO Texas:

"I'll bet you're smart enough to get us some BREW."

"Do you still have your ponies? We could go for a RIIIIDE."

That smile and that voice carried Ms. Clark a long, long way in acting. One great movie(Graffiti), one cult art film ("The Man Who Fell to Earth"), a few noteable other movie roles(I think she's ten kinds of nutcase creative in "The Big Sleep")...and then a whole bunch of TV shows over four decades.