by JohnR » Wed Apr 20, 2005 4:38 pm
My vote goes to Charlene. She has, to me, a compelling presence; the camera likes her and it's hard not to watch only her when she's on screen.
I disagree about her only being able to play cute and light comedy roles. In fact, it's her often hyper-cuteness that makes many people not value her as an actor. If you watch her in Just One Look and, especially, Funeral March, she pulls off serious roles with ease.
My theory is that she's naturally bubbly and as a result has gotten type cast that way. I can see James Yuen secretly dumping sugar into her lunch on the set of My Wife Is 18. But then check out the contrast during the scenes at the "flat" party when she realizes why she was invited, and afterward when she lets her pain out; she can do serious roles.
I hope other directors will see this and give her some more challenging roles; I think she's up to them.