“It looks too painful”: Jessica Alba Was Asked to Change Her Crying for a Strange Reason by Fantastic Four Director
In the mid-2000s, Marvel’s Fantastic Four film series introduced audiences to a captivating portrayal of the iconic character, The Invisible Woman, played by the talented Jessica Alba. Alba, known for her radiant beauty and undeniable acting prowess, was determined to infuse a deeper layer of authenticity into her character’s portrayal. In an unconventional move, she embarked on a transformative journey by intentionally sabotaging her conventional looks for the role. The Fantastic Four films marked a turning point in Alba’s career trajectory. They offered her a departure from the conventional, unflattering roles she had been offered, allowing her to showcase her versatility as an actress.
Jessica Alba’s Unique Challenge in Portraying The Invisible Woman’s Tears
As recounted by director Tim Story, Jessica Alba expressed a desire to push her character’s appearance even further in the sequel of the Fantastic Four film. However, Story held the view that the Fantastic Four franchise was not suited for altering her looks drastically. Alba herself has candidly admitted that the filming process was at times less than enjoyable. She revealed that Story’s approach occasionally led to a disheartening experience for her, dampening her enthusiasm for the project. In certain instances, Alba attributed her negative sentiments towards the film to Story’s directorial choices, which left her feeling demoralized. The actor recalls a moment during her portrayal in Silver Surfer when the director remarked,
Also Read: Jessica Alba’s The Honest Company vs Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop – Which Brand Brings More Revenue?
“It looks too real. It looks too painful. Can you be prettier when you cry? Cry pretty, Jessica.” Alba added, “It all got me thinking: Am I not good enough? Are my instincts and my emotions not good enough?… And so I just said, ‘F**k it. I don’t care about this business anymore.”
The director’s insistence on a more aesthetically pleasing portrayal of emotion had a profound impact on Jessica Alba, causing her to reassess her own talents as an actor and her broader role within the film industry. The experience left her grappling with self-doubt, leading her to question the authenticity of her contributions and the value of her artistic abilities on a larger scale.
Jessica Alba’s Post-Fantastic Four Sequel Journey
Following the disappointing outcome of the Fantastic Four sequel, marred by conflicts between Jessica Alba and the director, the trajectory of Alba’s acting career did encounter a noticeable deceleration. While she did not entirely relinquish her involvement in the industry, her once robust momentum did experience a palpable slowdown. Despite her enduring prominence in the entertainment realm, the actress found herself ensnared in a series of box-office letdowns, a trend that seemed to shadow her cinematic ventures.
Movies such as The Love Guru, An Invisible Sign, and Good Luck Chuck became part of a consistent string of underperforming releases that chipped away at Alba’s box-office appeal. The collective lackluster performance of these films cast a shadow over her box-office draw, raising questions about her ability to carry projects to commercial success. Even her return to the familiar world of Sin City in the 2014 sequel, Sin City: Dame to Kill For, failed to reignite her box-office prowess.
Throughout this period, Alba was not just grappling with the decline in her cinematic achievements, but also dealing with the weight of public perception. She did not shy away from expressing her disillusionment with Hollywood’s penchant for judgment and the sense of inadequacy it imposed upon her. The actress openly voiced her frustration with an industry that seemed to dictate her worthiness based on box-office returns, creating a narrative that overshadowed her intrinsic talents and contributions.
Marvel’s box-office success Fantastic Four (2005) is available for streaming on Disney+.
Source: The Independent
