Discuss: Why Does Everyone Hate Kirsten Dunst?
Filed under: Sony, Fandom, Newsstand, Comic/Superhero/Geek
Well, Spider-Man is back in the headlines and it's official: Kirsten Dunst will be back for another turn as Peter Parker's main squeeze, Mary Jane. Now this might sound odd, but I feel like I've spent a lot of time defending Kirsten Dunst over the years. Not to the population at large mind you, but when you have those discussions with friends or family or maybe even the occasional reader out there about the actors you like or dislike, Dunst always shoots to the top of the Yuck, I So Hate Her list. That's why, today, I'm here to ask the big question of all you haters out there: What did Kirsten Dunst ever do to you?
Do a quick search on the internet for Dunst and stories pop up about stints in rehab (and it didn't help that her name worked so well with drunk), body snark on a level that would make a mean girl blush, and just about every unflattering comment you can think of -- for goodness sake, some of the sleazier wags out there thought the proof of Jake Gyllenhaal's homosexuality was the fact that he was dating her. But today I will come out of the closet and proclaim: My name is Jessica and I like Kirsten Dunst.
After the jump: find out why, and my picks for her top five films...
I've always thought Dunst has been one of the few actresses who can be equally charming or heartbreaking depending on the role. She takes on characters that aren't an easy sell for sympathy; a bloodsucking tween, a corn-fed beauty queen, or soon-to-be beheaded monarch, and she scores each time. Not to mention, it isn't easy playing a seduction scene at the age of 11 with Brad Pitt, but she did it. I like Dunst because it's nice to see an actress who has some life behind the eyes, and isn't willing to play up the 'skank factor' just to earn some flattering ink from journalists.
But, I won't be wasting too much time feeling bad for Ms. Dunst; she already has three more films in production, and sooner or later the tabloids will find a new target. But I guess I will always defend her because there are just too many actresses out there that manage to earn praise for doing relatively little onscreen other than look hot and meanwhile Dunst tries to, you know, actually act, and she gets nothing but grief. It's a funny world, isn't it?
Dunst's Top Five (according to me):
1. Interview with The Vampire
2. Marie Antoinette
3. Drop Dead Gorgeous
4. The Virgin Suicides
5. Dick
As an added bonus (and as proof of the merits of Ms. Dunst), here is one of her many awesome moments from 1994's Interview with The Vampire -- and keep in mind the girl is only 11 years old. Not too shabby, right?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
6-08-2009 @ 9:19PM
hatramroany said...
Yeah, I have no idea why people hate her.
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6-14-2009 @ 9:27AM
rufus said...
she is an average actress.
6-08-2009 @ 9:21PM
Tony Montana said...
Lol you nearly sound like your coming out of the closet with "My name is Jessica and I like Kirsten Dunst:.
I think Kirsten Dunst is great. Shes a pretty good actress and shes quite attractive as well.
Maybe it's just the Englishman in me talking but I quite prefer the lady to the tramp and Kirsten Dunst is certainly a lady and not a tramp.
I hope to see her in more movies soon. A topless scene wouldn't hurt(yes thats the 23 year old in me talking lol).
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6-08-2009 @ 9:22PM
Argent said...
heh. i thought she was pretty darn terrible in 3 of the 5 movies you cite. truthfully, i just don't think much of he acting ability (she just plain stunk in the spider-man movies, imo), but that' simply my subjective view of her body of work.
i don't wish her ill and don't begrudge her getting more work, personally. i suspect she's just kinda getting clubbed because all of the hype surrounding her backfiring a bit. a few meaty roles where she knocks one out of the ballpark really just might make all the difference here (if scarlett johansson can do it...)
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6-09-2009 @ 12:41PM
Robobagins said...
Agreed. I also remember her on the press circuit for Spider-man 3 and she seemed so tired and depressed to be playing MJ again. If an actor or actress has no enthusiasm for a movie they're in, that hasn't been released yet, it kinda kills my interest.
6-08-2009 @ 9:22PM
Nailbunny said...
It's the teeth. I remember all of my friends (male and female) remarking on how distracting her weird teeth were during the Spiderman movies.
I personally have nothing against her.
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6-09-2009 @ 9:43AM
Mr.R said...
Ha! So true!
6-08-2009 @ 9:31PM
Alex K. said...
She's one of three actresses I'm in love with: The other two are Natalie and Scarlett.
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6-08-2009 @ 9:33PM
Bubbameister33 said...
She was an internet flavor of the month hate. Pretty soon people will start to hate Megan Fox.
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6-14-2009 @ 9:22AM
GM said...
I already hate Megan Fox, but she decided that for me by announcing she would love to see me and everyone like me "taken out."
6-08-2009 @ 9:38PM
Manok said...
Well I for one do not hate or dislike her. I think she's a good actress and attractive.
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6-08-2009 @ 9:41PM
mezzanine said...
I hate her because she looks and acts like my ex, who is a vile bitch.
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6-10-2009 @ 1:08PM
Dan said...
LOL. Thanks for that, you just made my day. I know the feeling too, brother.
6-08-2009 @ 9:42PM
Batzarro said...
People don't hate her, they just love love hating on her. I'd say she's slightly above average.
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6-08-2009 @ 9:44PM
Jay said...
I don't know. I hear it's because of her teeth (snaggle), but her teeth are fine to me.
I think it probably has something to do with how she always takes roles in which she plays kind of a bitch/ asshole. She's got this "I'm better than you" snooty attitude in a lot of her movies.
Perhaps if she was seen to be a cheerful person off-camera people would feel different about her as well -- she always seems grumpy, depressed, or just angry. Those things, as we all know, have to be taken with a grain of salt because you can't blame someone for being upset when cameramen are following you around, taking hi-res pictures of your every flaw.
She's cool. I didn't think she was the right person to play Mary Jane in Spiderman, but she's had some pretty good roles in some of my old favorites (Jumanji anyone?).
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6-08-2009 @ 9:44PM
Kushal said...
People are definitely unfair to Kirsten! In fact, I'm such a fan I made http://millidunsts.appspot.com. Although I have to ask, why didn't Bring It On make the list?
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6-08-2009 @ 9:58PM
Stan Winsome said...
Whatever- is anyone watching these movies for the acting?
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6-08-2009 @ 10:06PM
Chelsea said...
Chalk up another one for the "not getting the hate" list. I think some of the hate stemmed from her relationship with Jake Gyllenhaal, and some of it came from her appearances in a bunch of films that just plain blew (HOW TO LOSE FRIENDS...) or that didn't serve her talents (SPIDER MAN).
She's able to pull off comedy and lighter material in an effortless way that can bring Carole Lombard to mind. A lot of actresses can't do that. While she was a very talented child actress, her more dramatic work as an adult has been more hit-and-miss, and at times she comes off as an actress who needs to be directed a lot.
Speaking for myself, I'd really love to see what David Lynch would do with her.
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6-08-2009 @ 10:09PM
Darsh said...
I don't hate her, but she just bugs me in some roles. I loved Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind, but I absolutely hated her part in it. Maybe I'm supposed to. She also bugs me in the Mary Jane role, can't put my finger on it though. It's just not... natural.
That being said, I did enjoy her roles in Dick and Drop Dead Gorgeous. Maybe I just enjoy her when she's playing ditsy. She was a good child actor as well.
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6-08-2009 @ 10:12PM
Jason Harris said...
While I don't have a seething hatred for her, I don't much like her. I don't feel like she's added much to the movies I've liked that she was in (eternal sunshine) and has been a big drag in others (spider man). It's partially the fault of the character, but she was just SO annoying and unlikable in the Spiderman movies.
Most of her starring roles are throwaway crap (Marie Antoinette, Wimbleton) and it's telling that the bulk of the stuff you list is 10 years old. Or that people talk about Interview With The Vampire as one of her best roles. You don't see people talking about Jodie Foster's child roles as her best, and that's because she's done well as an adult.
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