Playing a continuum of supporting players, Alicia Witt, 31, attracts attention with her glamorous mane of red hair, sassy attitude, and keen ability to envelope wide-ranging roles in virtuous style.
"I like to play any character that allows me the freedom to explore it and teach the audience something they didn't know, and show them a journey they identify with... or be inspired, or moved, " stated Witt in a filmcritic.com interview in 2000.
Yet some may wonder whether her career, thus far, has been the result of happenstance a deliberate planning.
Certainly you have seen her on either the big or small screen.... Perhaps, you spotted her opposite Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock as the opportunistic (and scantily clad) June Carter in TWO WEEKS NOTICE; or as the attitudinal daughter, Hadley Wolfmeyer to Joan Allen's booze swilling suburban housewife in THE UPSIDE OF ANGER; or in the episode dubbed "D-Girl," as the high-profile film development executive, Amy Safir, flirting with Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli) on HBO's "The Sopranos"
But in case you have missed her in other films and television shows, you can catch her in Queen Latifah's latest comedic go-round, that of LAST HOLIDAY. Cited as being a first-rate date movie, the light-hearted film has been receiving critical praise (two thumbs up from Ebert & Roeper) for its alluring cinematography and warm-hearted sentiment.
Directed by Wayne Wang (MAID IN MANHATTAN, ANYWHERE BUT HERE, SMOKE), LAST HOLIDAY tells the story of Latifah' character, Georgia Byrd, a shy cookware department store employee who, upon learning she only has three weeks to live, decides to spend her life-savings on a last vacation extravaganza. While definitely a supporting component of the film, Witt turns up Ms. Burns the mistress of an up-to-no-good retail tycoon played by Timothy Hutton.
After seeing LAST HOLIDAY you may wonder why Witt, who has professionally acted in both film and television since the age of 9, continues to take on less than stellar lead parts. Possibly, the answer may be that she is so good at embodying quirky, offbeat and slightly disruptive characters that she elicits attention regardless of whether she is front and center or slightly in the shadows.
For those who remember the long-running television sitcom CYBILL (CBS 1995-1998), Witt's big coming-out-role was playing Zoey Woodbine, the new-age daughter of Cybill Shepard's divorce character, Cybill Sheridan. Demonstrating her talent for creating an intelligent, well-rounded character; this is something Witt has continued to do throughout her career.
Not interested in being typecast, Witt has chosen to take on a sundry of roles in both independent films and mainstream productions. From cult Gen X films, BONGWATER and URBAN LEGENDS to art-house selections the likes of: BODIES, REST & MOTION, CITIZEN RUTH and PLAYING MONA LISA.
"The whole trick is to completely avoid stereotyping. The truth is, I'm nothing like any of these characters. I'm completely different," Witt has been quoted as saying in interviews.
In spreading her talents around, Witt has been fortunate to work with some of the industries most innovative directors including: Mike Figgis (LIEBESTRAUM), David Lynch (DUNE and "Twin Peaks", the television series), John Waters (CECIL B. DEMENTED), Allison Anders (FOUR ROOMS), Cameron Crowe (VANILLA SKY), and, in her latest release, Wayne Wang.
Born 1975 in Worchester, Massachusetts, Witt, considered a child prodigy during her formative years, made her first public appearance reciting Shakespeare at the tender age of four-years-old on ABC-Television's "That's Incredible." Discovered by director David Lynch. who viewed her television debut, he later cast her in his feature film, DUNE and then crafted the role of Gersten Hayward for her in "Twin Peaks", the television series.
Feeling a sense of urgency, Witt who was home-schooled during her high school years, passed her GED at the remarkable age of 14 and then, the following year, up and moved to Hollywood to pursue her acting career full-force.
Yet dispelling the notion that she is a candidate for Mensa, Witt relays, "If you're an actor and you have a good head on your shoulders, which I do, there's a tendency for people to assume you must be incredibly bright. Which I'm really not; I'm just not stupid."
Along with her acting, Witt has been fortunate to have many complementary talents including: being both a classically trained pianist and, for the short film GIRL'S LUNCH, a credited screenwriter (short film GIRL'S LUNCH). In fact, upon her arrival in Hollywood, it was by playing lounge piano in an upscale LA hotel bar that Witt was able to first earn her keep.
From Witt's perspective, "There's just something amazing about acting. It's a great life! It gives you so much freedom. You can write and read and play the piano... and pursue other things."
Though Witt may not have yet gained an above the line acting credit, to her notable credit, she has continuously garnered acting roles for the past 11 plus years. Accompanying her steady stream of acting, she has repeatedly drawn critical kudos from critics, including: Sundance Film Festival's Special Jury Recognition award in 1994 for Technical Acting (FUN); Independent Spirit Awards' nomination for Best Debut Performance (FUN); U.S. Comedy Arts Festival's Film Discovery Jury award in 2000 (PLAYING MONA LISA), as well as, the media (listed as one of Esquire Magazine's "Women We Love")
Creating a memorable portfolio of work Witt's film fame may come with the upcoming crime thriller, 88 MINUTES, starring Al Pacino as Jack Gramm, a college professor, who moonlights as a forensic psychiatrist for the FBI.
After receiving a death threat that says he has only 88 minutes to live, Gramm must use his own investigative skills to narrow down the possible suspects. To Pacino's Gramm, Witt plays both his teaching assistant and love interest.
Understanding Witt's motivation to habitually take on eclectic roles, Witt has said, "You get to explore psychoses without actually going nuts."
In light of her body of evidence, it sure seems as if Witt has made extremely conscientious and ingenious choices as to the direction in which she prefers her acting career to go.
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A capsulized profile on an emerging talent, i.e., actor/director in the film world and a snippet as to why he or she is destined to soon become a household name.
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| Nancy Simon |
A Chicago-based freelance writer and film enthusiast, Nancy has an insatiable curiousity and knack for picking out talented, promising individuals.
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