What Happened to the Leading Lady?

Once upon a time, the leading actress of a film was someone who oozed talent from their very soul. They didn't just play a character, they became that character. They were beautiful and pure and real.

Perhaps it's because times are changing, and with it the perception of beauty, and perhaps it's because I'm stuck in some time-warp, but the leading actresses of today leave very little to be praised and a lot to be desired.

Judy Garland is a perfect example of what a leading actress should be. Lets step back seventy years and see her as Dorothy Gale in what has became the most famous adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. She was a stunner, she poured her heart and sole into the role, and she became Dorothy.

By today's standards, especially in the world of film, our dear Dorothy is "fat". But by 1930s/1940s standards, she is just breathtaking. Do a quick comparison between her and Disney's Snow White (1937) and the resemblence is simply adorable.

You certainly wouldn't find those cubby little arms in films today!

Infact, today you'll find delightfully concave looking limbs, where orange skin is streched across a frame of bones and jutting hips are all the rage. The leading actress has very little to do apart from look "sexy", showing off as much flesh as possible and posing for over-photoshopped publicity photographs. A perfect example is screen diva and lads mags favourite Megan Fox.

Of course, there are exceptions, but they are hard to find and determine. The film industry seems to delight in "defining" beauty, and I feel it is now taking it to extremes. Everyone's perception of beauty is defined by what they see and how images are presented to them. I suggest bringing out all of the good old films of the pre-1980s and asking yourself what you think beauty is.