Paquin Walks the Red Carpet |
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After winning an Academy Award® for her role in THE PIANO when she was only eleven-years-old, many a naysayer felt Anna Paquin's career was over and done.
However, showing up the curmudgeons who doubted her longevity as a cinematic actress, she has continued to enlighten audience-goers since making her film debut in 1993.
Ironically, rather than follow a secure course, Paquin has chosen a mix of familial and risqué roles, piecing together a body of work that is as surprising as it is sophisticated.
Most recently, Paquin can be seen on the big-screen reprising her role as Rogue | Marie D'Ancanto in the third adaptation of the highly successful comic book series: X-MEN THE LAST STAND.
Within the latest X-MEN installment, which explores the complexities of mutant life, Paquin is reunited with fellow cast members: Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Kelsey Grammer, Famke Janssen and Rebecca Romijn. As Rogue, her character flirts with the notion of being reborn as a human.
"With the cure (new concept presented in the current X-MEN), she has an option," says Paquin. "She can either be cured and change her life forever, or accept who she is and continue living with the feelings of isolation that accompany her mutation."
As X-MEN Producer Ralph Winter explains, "Rogue has the worst power in the entire mutant universe, period," She can't touch or express love. What is she going to do? This film answers the question."
For someone who was not officially trained as an actress, Paquin is something of a marvel within the industry. "(During shoots) I never think about acting-I just do it," says Paquin who rather than take the commercial –box office route to stardom has opted to take contributory roles in substantive films.
And while, along with the support of her parents (divorced when she was young), she has two agents, Gail Cowan in New Zealand, and the William Morris agency in L.A; none of these persons exert control over decisions Paquins makes regarding film projects. As Paquin explains, "In the end, it's my decision."
And covering a continuum of family to adult-oriented themed films, Paquin's insightful choices have included: FLY AWAY HOME (1996), in which she played half of the father (Jeff Daniels) and daughter duo that attempt to lead a flock of orphaned Canada Geese home; and Steven Spielberg's AMISTAD (1997), the story of the mutiny aboard a slave ship, to the dark and sultry HURLYBURLY (1998) with Sean Penn, Robin Wright Penn, Meg Ryan and Kevin Spacey, adapted for the screen-the film featured an ensemble cast portraying pseudo-Hollywood movers and shakers.
Further illustrating Paquin's inventive choices were such well-crafted films as: Cameron Crowe's ALMOST FAMOUS (2000, playing roadie-Polexia Aphrodisia) and Gus Van Sant's FINDING FORRESTOR (2000, playing the well-bred Claudia Spence who befriended an inner city boy from the Bronx and helped him meet the reclusive William Forrester played by Sean Connery).
And along the lines of warm-hearted films, Paquin also lent her voice to award-winning Japanese director Hayao 
Paquin reprises her X:MEN role as Rouge |
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Miyazaki's animated CASTLE IN THE SKY, giving life to the film's heroine, Sheeta
Since she began her career, Paquin has continued to select noteworthy parts. Just last year, she appeared in the highly praised Indie film, THE SQUID AND THE WHALE. Working once again with Jeff Daniels, rather than playing his daughter—this time, Paquin was a collegiate with whom he has a brief sexual interlude.
Despite repeatedly being called impassioned and enchanting—by both critics and directors—Paquin's has consistently maintained a modest stance whereas her career was concerned.
Demonstrative of her lack of pretense, Paquin is said to keep her Oscar® trophy (along with all her many acting awards) hidden in her sock drawer.
As she says, "An Oscar on display would make people ask me about it and that's the last thing that I want. It's kind of boring, really, and it's just a statue. It's not my personality, and I don't want to show it off."
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Paquin subsequently moved with her family to Wellington, New Zealand, one of the principal locations for Jane Campion's THE PIANO.
At the time of the film's casting call, though armed with little acting experience, Paquin went forth and auditioned for the role of Flora McGrath opposite Holly Hunter as her mute mother, Ada.
"Startling," is how Campion described Paquin's audition. "She was this tiny little girl, probably the smallest of all I'd seen, and extremely shy."
Following the shooting of THE PIANO and her parents' divorce, Paquin moved with her mother and brother to Los Angeles.
On the heels of her break-through role, she landed the lead in the
made-for-television movie, "Jane Eyre" and from that point forward, the parts continued to come.
Eventually, Paquin relocated to New York City where she took classes at Columbia University and took up performing on stage in both NYC and London in theatrical productions.
Yet, with a roster of upcoming film projects in development, on the big screen is where the time-resilient Paquin seems destined to be.
At present, Paquin has a pair of films in post-production, including: Kenneth Lonergan's (writer of ANALYZE THIS, ANALYZE THAT, GANGS OF NEW YORK) MARGARET— a drama in which Paquin plays a 17-year-old New York City high-school student who harbors immense guilt over her role in traffic accident that claims a woman's life. Matt Damon and Mark Ruffalo co-star; and BLUE STATE— a romantic comedy produced by her brother Andrew Paquin, is the tale of a disgruntled Democrat who pledges to move to Canada if George W. gets re-elected.
Perhaps, it has been Paquin's "glorious instincts" (a trait bestowed upon her by Holly Hunter—her co-star in THE PIANO) that have enabled her to transcend way-beyond the average career-life expectations that plague most child actors.
A fair tale ending?—Well, this we cannot say for sure, but it does seem that Paquin's intuitive sense has definitely aided her in distinguishing herself from the rest of her peers.
Anna Paquin on Matchflick
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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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