Rose McGowan’s been on quite a tear lately. She was widely commended for exposing a gross wardrobe note for an Adam Sandler film. Rose felt safe in doing so because she didn’t want the role anyway, but her agency dropped her as a client within a week. Rose seemed okay with that news, for she’s fed up with Hollywood, saying she “didn’t take a vow of silence when I joined the industry” and likening the experience to the Mafia.
For many years, Rose played along with the sexpot image she got stuck with, but enough was enough. I still side-eye her for sleeping with her married director and (maybe) using him for roles, but that was several years ago. Rose has matured, and she’s working on her own terms. Speaking of which, have you seen her extremely NSFW “RM486” video? I’m not quite sure what to make of that one, but Hollywood Reporter thinks Rose is “forging new territory with her mind while utilizing the same body that seemingly belonged to her employers a short time ago.” Sure, but people are watching to see her toplessness. Rose also spoke with the paper about how they are a huge part of the problem:
What she brings to directing: “Well, it’s not a man’s voice coming out of my mouth. So I would say yes. And frankly, my taste level is higher than what I was put into as an actress. And I realize that I was a part of that. I tried to make their idea of the small thing I was allowed to be better than what it was. I tried. I always thought, ‘God, if someone actually gave me a three dimensional part I could knock the hell out of this. But as it is, I’m trying to bring you, you shmuck, to home base. You haven’t done a lot for me.’ And so what I get on the side is abuse on sets. What am I doing this for? It literally came down to what am I doing this for? Who am I doing this for? Cause I am no longer willing to take a man’s limit of imagination and be of service to it. Not unless it’s better. Not unless it’s smarter. Not unless it’s stronger. And they can. That’s the thing – they can. They’re comfortable because you can be lazy and get by here. You can sell a script that is lazy. But that’s not good enough. And it shouldn’t be for the male viewer either.”
Does she care about burning bridges? “No. I don’t care. I could care less [sic]. It’s them that should be worried. It’s the people that have perpetrated acts against me that should be shaking in their boots right now. And I hope they are. Also, THR and Variety are the only things that some people in this town read, as far as newspapers go, and there are a lot of things that go on in your papers that are really a part of this problem. A lot of it. You report on women on what they wear before you report on what their accomplishments are. You guys are a part of this problem. I feel sorry for so many people in this industry who are living such a bullsh*t existence, because they should be better as humans.”
Artists will soon take over: “I literally feel pity for a lot of the stupid idiots that I have to deal with. This is art, but people aren’t treating it as such. It is art – it’s supposed to be, that was the whole point. We move people. So don’t you, reading this, want to be a part of that movement? Don’t you want to be the artist in your own life? And I do believe there are artists storming the gates and technology is storming the gates of Hollywood. They’re rattling it and people here seem to doubling down on this Mad Men era bullsh*t and it needs to stop. Because you’re not doing anybody a favor, least of all you. So that’s what I think.”
[From Hollywood Reporter]
“I could care less” doesn’t mean what Rose thinks it means. Other than that, she makes some solid points. Those points are lost underneath all the times she says “bullsh*t” and “stupid,” but hey, she’s feeling passionate and fiery. Rose doesn’t care what people think of her anymore, so I don’t even want to argue about how she thinks fashion coverage is a huge part of the problem. Kaiser has talked about the #AskHerMore movement before. I think actresses who want to stop being asked about “who they’re wearing” should stop accepting free dresses. Anyway, Rose just wants to talk about her “art.”
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet & WENN
She barely resembles her former self. Hollywood is full phonies and bs, yet she changed her entire appearance to be part of it.
In her defense, haven’t her cosmetic changes been the result of a combination of factors, including a car accident – not just unnecessary vanity? Obviously, some work has been done for the sake of having it, but not all.
@Matador: She did indeed have the surgery for the car accident, but she did more than get rid of scars. She had cheek implants and lip enhancements and the usual breast implants. It’s her life, but she was so pretty before. I saw her in the Preachers Wife and honestly didn’t know it was she. @Imo: Sorry girl, I call it as I see it. Like Jennifer Gray, she lost her natural look and movie roles bc of surgery.
Nancy
Way to focus on what Rose was actually trying to say. You just proved her point.
But her point is that Hollywood is full of phonies and people who only care about ascetics and that she is so above that and all those people who care are ruining the art and are beneath her. Yet she has had major work done and it wasn’t all corrective so really does she have a leg to stand on? No! She doesn’t. If she was focused on the roles and the lack of 3-deminsional characters for women ok but she didn’t.
Also i have to ask can a woman who slept with a married director for parts in a movie get on a high horse about much? Is she part of the problem or solution? To me she seems like part of the problem.
And women like Mindy kahling, Tina fey, Amy Poehler, Kristen wig, shonda rhimes, Amy Schummer etc are part of the solution. They aren’t sleeping with directors for roles, they aren’t complaining about the lack of women they are just writing the parts. It is small and there is still a huge problem but throwing a hissy fit and filming a topless video isn’t a solution.
Sorry but all this did was make me roll the eyes and think well honey if you’d gone to acting classes instead of thinking the sex pot thing would last forever maybe you wouldn’t be in this mess.
I’m a woman and I don’t like how Hollywood writes women for the most part but I’ve also found it is easy especially now to find voices and portrayals I do like, it’s sadly limited but based on box office success this summer those limited represented on screen groups are what people want to see.
@K
Preach. You took the words out of my mouth.
But Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Amy Schumer, first off are comediennes, and second, they did not submit to the male idea of beauty and transform themselves to accommodate it. I find it hard to swallow when an actress who found stardom and recognition by being a sex kitten, now resents it and bad-mouths what go her where she is. She was not a fanastic actress. She made herself what men wanted to look at, reaped the benefits, and now complains about it. Where was her integrity 5 years ago when she looked like a completely different person? She didn’t have any. She was willing to succumb to their demands if it meant payday. She might be grossed out by all of it now, but she should be as hard on herself as she is on those who made those demands, because like you say, Poehler, Schumer, Fey did not succumb to the pressures to get plastic surgery, have giant implants, and be every guy’s wet dream. I actually find her dissing everything she did of her own choice, unappreciative and hypocritical. She knows if she isn’t that great an actress, which is why she chose to play the hollywood hand. Many actresses don’t try to be a sex pot and are good with themselves. Why should we feel sorry for her for choosing her own path, making bank, and now saying “I’m too good for all that.” She made her own choices. I’m sure she was pressured, but she still chose to do what she did where others stand by their conviction and do not. And as far as Hollywood fearing her now, that’s laughable. She sounds like any other fired employee who gets all loud and billerant and makes threats, but they actually don’t have a leg to stand on.
@nancy I was going to say the exact same thing. She did an episode of L&O and I didn’t recognize her. She def took the plastic surgery to a Hollywood level and not in a good way (Meg Ryan, Micky rourke)
I have seen that episode of L&O:SVU in reruns several times. I am always taken aback when Olivia Benson remarks that McGowan’s character “is beautiful,” like she was overwhelmed. I know McGowan played a femme fatale, and she seemed attractive, but not stunningly beautiful, as the character was supposed to be.
Thank you for calling out “I could care less”.
Actually, subconsciously I think that’s exactly what she means. She’s very bitter (not without justification though!).
I’m with you on the concept, “you don’t have to talk about your fashion choices, when you pay for them yourself”. If you accept free clothes, do the walk/talk.
Thank you! It costs those companies a lot of money to dress these stars and many of these dresses cost (not retail) for more then people’s cars these celebrities aren’t paying for them so they can say their names or drop $15,-25k for a dress for one evening.
Isn’t fashion art? When you talk about what/who you’re wearing, you are promoting that designer’s art.
Yes fashion is art so yep you’re promoting art great point Willa.
But the actress/artist should not have to be reduced to a mannequin for the evening to expose someone else’s “art” to the wider public. In essence, unless she is very careful about her image, that happens to many actresses but not to actors. Because image and beauty are not SO tied together for men as they are for women.
It’s easy to damn the actress, but free publicity is a tempting, double edged sword. You want people to remember your name when you’re ‘up and coming’ but not just for a costume at an awards show. Men do not have all these ‘problems’; they just shower, wear free sh*t and let their work shine. Women are judged on so much more. Hate the game, not the player. (Especially when she only fully understands it – and who’s really in charge – the longer she’s in the business…)
I thought “could care less” rather than “couldn’t care less” was just how Americans say it? When editing for UK book editions, I get told to leave it in dialogue rather than correcting, cos it’s the most common way of saying it?
I’m going to look this up! There are varieties of British English in which people say “they was” not “they were” – and, while incorrect in terms of Standard English, it’s actually just a difference in grammar evolution in various regions. Many other examples, too.
Ah no no no no! Stick with what’s correct – “could not care less.” Unless you’re writing dialogue for an uneducated person…?
– signed, an American communications professional and former editor
Well, presumably authors may want to reflect actual speech patterns rather than correct grammar? It all goes to characterisation.
But – I honestly had thought that to be accepted US usage, I’ve seen it so often!
“Could care less” is one of my pet peeves, and I always correct it.
Actually, Sixer, I think you’re correct, I have literally never heard a single American every day “I couldn’t care less,” even educated/well-spoken ones. It’s always mildly bothered me that “I could care less” means the opposite, but I assumed it was just one of those phrases that came about through extreme sarcasm.
ETA, annnnnd I’m correct, “I could care less” is a part of American lexicon that came about through sarcasm. Rose is using it correctly. Now I think the Gnazis who correct it are more annoying than those saying it as “I could care less.” And since its a Yiddish phrase, grammar nazis are being extra anti-Semitic by correcting it! (Sarcasm, again. 😉 ) http://blog.dictionary.com/could-care-less/
Thanks for that!
Okay, I support her mission statement, and I like her song, but I’ve found her unbearably smug lately. She was on a podcast where she was supposed to have a sit-down conversation with Mary Harron (the gist is that the podcast plunks down two famous strangers and they talk about whatever). But she completely dominated it, barely giving Harron any voice-time, interrupting, going on and on and on about her cult upbringing and how her parents were “true artistes” and how she’s essentially some arty genius. The same thing happened on Marc Maron a couple of weeks ago. She speaks in platitudes that are ultimately meaningless, and seems incredibly self-involved for somebody that speaks so much about supposed equality.
I want to like her, but she always appears so in love with herself and her story. Like she’s always talking about how great an actress she was, and how she never phoned it in. And it’s like, “Girrrrl, did you SEE seasons five through eight of Charmed??”
Gah.
I agree – I listened to her on I think the Nerdist podcast, and didn’t come away liking her very much, for the reasons you mentioned.
That said, she does have some good points, and I give her credit for speaking up, and for branching out into directing and producing.
Yeah, she may be making points, but somehow it doesn’t ring authentic. I’m feeling this change has everything to do with her and making noise to get attention and have directors and producers who never considered her take notice. I’m feeling like this is calculated.
But hey, good luck Rose.
I think she just grew into her voice. Most people are both less aware and less confident in their thoughts in their twenties. Plus she has far less to lose now having aged out “love interest/sexpot” roles, which is not to imply cowardice on her part, its hard to stand up to power when they are still courting you.
I agree with you @Miagirl. To me, it sounds like a former pinup actress who has now reached her 40s, who can’t play that game any more and wants to be taken seriously. If she wasn’t 40 and her looks were of a younger person, I wonder if she would be saying the same thing. I think this whole artist thing is b**ll anyway. I get Hollywood needs to change their views on women and up the caliber of movies, but c’mon get real girl.
Eh… she’s biting the hand that feeds. That never goes over well.
Exactly.
I agree with a lot she is saying, but she is starting to sound a little bitter.
Her career wasn’t succesful anyway, so it’s not like big roles are on the line, when she’s speaking her mind.
Unless you are comparing her to male actors (who tend to have greater visibility, more profiling roles and far more longevity) she had a very respectable career. Not Julia Roberts career for sure but steady work for many years., which is way more than most actresses get.
Oh please, her career was over after she messed up her face. I know she had an accident, but she had WAY more not necessary plastic surgery. I once saw her guest starring on Law and Order SVU, this is kinda her career now.
Lol. Except that wasnt your initial assertion. You claimed her “career wasnt successful anyway”, which you are now having trouble defending hence the switch of focus to her accident.
There might be a lot of truth behind what she says…..but I’d bet she’s exhausting!
That’s how I feel about her too.
Yeah, about that video. Art? Not so much. More like a waste of time.
I think it’s great she’s talking about it and being honest (I guess…?), but it’s going to take more than Rose McGowan to change the shallow beast that is Hollywood.
Hollywood will always be shallow, thats the whole business. deep movies and ugly actors/actresses dont pull audiences.
Hollywood will only change if audiences change and we are all shallow to a big degree, we put good looking people on pedestals all the time and most famous people wouldnt be famous if they werent good looking.
unless there is a fundamental change in human attraction it wont change, we will only see more male nudity, it will become more equal in that regard.
She’s very obnoxious, but her point is valid. The hand wouldn’t have fed her if she wasn’t profitable someway. That’s why I say I own nothing to my old bosses.
“Rose doesn’t care what people think of her anymore…”
That’s easy to do when no one thinks of her anymore. It’s easy to “quit” Hollywood when your career is already (mostly) over. When a Jennifer Lawrence or an Emma Stone does something like this, then it’ll mean something.
I like Rose even more now. Her new video was some pretencious arthouse tho.
She has never had much of an acting career anyway for years.
On a side note, she is looking more like her old self again. She looks great in those photos.
I am not dismissing what she is saying wholesale, some of her points are valid; but can anyone clarify what she is trying to say about newspapers? She was talking to The Hollywood Reporter, right? So which newspapers is she discussing? If she is referring to the LA Times, she is off base, it is one of the few truly good newspapers left.
That whole comment has me scratching my head.
The sounds an awful lot like “Well I don’t want to be in your club anyway”. Yes, Hollywood is absurd and misogynistic. But the truth is that Rose was perfectly happy to be a part of it, including getting parts via her married director. He got smacked down hard when he wanted to cast her as Red Sonja. For someone that’s talking about standing up to the system she has no real awareness of her own part in it.
I still think she’s super pretty, but she has to work on her personality as well as in how she’s coming across.
You can say harsh truths without sounding arrogant or bitter.