MovieChat Forums > Anne of the Thousand Days (1969) Discussion > Geneviève Bujold is Awesome in this Role

Geneviève Bujold is Awesome in this Role

posted 13 years ago by denise1234
10 replies | jump to latest

I think any aspiring actress should watch this performance, learn from it and learn well.

Learn to match body type and face so exquisitely to characters you choose to play. I tire of seeing women foisted into roles that they just *don't* match, with the moviemaker trying to hoodwink the viewer to suspend disbelief to accept an actress as 'devastatingly beautiful' or a femme fatale, when it is not at all credible.

If you can, demand good wardrobing, and if you have the opportunity to act in such a period piece, make sure you wear beautiful gowns with effortless aplomb.

Learn to use your face as expressively as your words.

Deliver lines with gusto when needed, and make it appear that these words come straight from your own soul and heart.

Learn the fine art of both blending in and standing out in the same scene when you play a significant role.

If the part demands it, be able to 'take a slap' well, on screen.

Ms. Bujold was simply fantastic in this film -- her portrayal stands up well to this day, and remains as fresh as the many years ago she played 'Anne'.

"I can't stand a naked light bulb, any more than..a rude remark or a vulgar action" Blanche DuBois

[–] TwittingOnTrender 13 years ago

How do YOU pronounce her name?

All my life I've said "Jen-a-veev" with a slight "zh" on the J, but since we watched this my wife has been correcting me, saying it's "Zhon-vee-evv", which I appreciate is the correct French pronunciation, but not necessarily how her name is generally pronounced.

Help settle a family argument, as they say!

No Guru, No Method, No Teacher.

[–] denise1234 13 years ago

TwittingOnTrender^

Well, I have always pronounced it 'zhen-a-veev', but I believe it is more properly pronounced 'zhon-vee-evv'.

But, what do I know, other than it is a very beautiful name ;)

I think that those who bear the name will tell you themselves how THEY would like it pronounced (btw: my true first name is a fairly rare name, frequently mispronounced, and I really don't care as it is difficult for many to decipher the pronunciation :)

"I can't stand a naked light bulb, any more than..a rude remark or a vulgar action" Blanche DuBois

[–] rogerscorpion 13 years ago

I think you're right.
Her surname, I think, is Bu-zhold.
Being a film buff, it amazes me that so many of my trekkie friends don't know that she was the original Janeway, on Voyager.
I'm compelled to point out, that they saw her in 'Dead Ringers'. Then, they go 'Oooohh, yeah!'

Carpe Noctem!

[–] denise1234 13 years ago

Oh, and let's not forget 'Coma', 'King of Hearts', 'The House of Yes', and 'Eye of the Beholder', to name a few more :)

"We would have been fine, if there hadn't been any.....mess"

[–] Missyrocks 12 years ago

I agree. Just re-watched after many years & she was wonderful. Everyone was. This was a great film.

[–] csu16387 12 years ago

I agree, her performance is remarkable. Her scenes with Richard Burton, particularly their final confrontation, are very memorable.

"I think we've out-sophisticated ourselves out of some of the pleasures of movies."

[–] Missyrocks 12 years ago

She was astonishingly good and I just read that she and Burton were an item in real life for a while. Makes it all the more interesting.

[–] chewtoy45 12 years ago

...she and Burton were an item in real life for a while.

Not according to his diaries.

"I think I'll have a large order of prognosis negative."

[–] gioconda 12 years ago

"Dead Ringers" is a overlooked acting masterpiece.

[–] spookyrat1 11 years ago

...her portrayal stands up well to this day...

Wonderfully played in her signature role for which she'll always be remembered.
I also really liked her in Obsession and The Trojan Women.