What was the appeal of Alicia Silverstone?...

[Phentex]

I started watching American Woman on Paramount TV because I like 70's themes. It started off okay but I find the lead actress (Alicia Silverstone) to just be terrible in this role. I'm not alone, if you read any of the reviews. She seems very unnatural in the role... the way an inexperienced actor performs. Even the child actresses in the show are better actors.

I wonder why they chose her? There are Lifetime actresses that coulda blown this outta the water.

[oberliner]

1. She was perfect for Clueless

Sometimes certain actors are ideal for only one role and can't really be effective beyond that.

[CrispyQ]

2. "You guys, you see how picky I am about my shoes & they only go on my feet!"

Cher's response, when her friends gave her a hard time for being a virgin.

I loved that movie!

[oberliner]

8. Kudos to Amy Heckerling for that screenplay

She was quite a trailblazer - one of very few women who got the green light to write and direct in Hollywood at the time by the men who were calling the shots.

Here's a great article about the sexism she has had to deal with over the years:

True Confessions of a Female Director

https://www.theringer.com/2017/2/16/16042696/amy-heckerling-fast-times-at-ridgemont-high-clueless-female-directors-ee9568144c24

[CrispyQ]

12. I had no idea she did "Fast Times!"

Thanks for that great link! I really enjoyed the article.

[More_Cowbell]

13. Jane Austen should get a little credit, too :-)

Since it was a takeoff on Emma. A very successful one.

[Phentex]

5. She has done more than that...

and she was good in that role but I think you're right. Her career never took off in a big way.

[oberliner]

9. What other performances of hers did you think were good?

[Aristus]

3. She had an appealing screen personality and beautiful lips.

That was enough for me.

[Phentex]

4. Well, yeah but

now there has to be some acting involved.

I agree she was great in Clueless.

[Aristus]

6. She is a good comedic actress.

She was also very good in Blast From The Past.

[dewsgirl]

7. I remember the first time I ever saw her, she was in the Aerosmith

Video, "Cryin". She was stunningly beautiful. Then Clueless, Execess Baggage and I loved her as Eve in Blast from the Past.
She kind of disappeared after that. I haven't seen her in the new show, I honestly thought she retired from acting to raise her children.

[avebury]

10. I liked her in Beauty Shop with Queen Latifah. nt

[CatMor]

11. She was also very good in the movie The Crush ..

with Cary Elwes.