norma shearer

DEFINITELY stylized her line readings... and her movements... her characterization are far from truth especially when she strayed too far away from the sympathetic woman.

But she KNEW how to listen sincerely. Genuinely. That's what makes her a great actress, despite her flaws.

Myrna Loy was completely realistic. She played dramatic and witty at the same time, with the same subtle undertones. Extremely extremely funny and emphatic without ever coming off as acting. However, one's not going to find much range in her array of work.

Audrey Hepburn was in class of her own. You believe it's her, never for one second do you doubt her tinkling cadence... but you also know that there is no one else in the world like her.

Jean Arthur, like Myrna Loy, has a gift of comedic timing. She can say a line like no one else could. her unique voice certainly helped. Unfortunately, she could never play the sexy vixen. But maybe only because she was never given the chance.

Ginger Rogers was a rare oddity. She could play the working girl with sass and charm AND heart. and she could dance as well as she acted. but she was never really a favorite of the audiences. not really, without fred anyway.

Judy Garland could be vulnerable in every sense of the word. Yet you could never doubt her tinsel strength in that tiny frame of a body. Her natural ability to emote made her a timeless diva... if not a superb actress. I just wish she was given more chances to display that talent in non-musicals.

Greta Garbo could say a gazillion things with a single look. She could feel and feel and feel. Her silent star training betray her in certain jerky movements, but you never doubt that they are fully instinctive. Her short short short short career leave nothing but regret for what could have been.