Happy Birthday Suit: Annette Bening

"Why don't you run outside 
and jerk yourself a soda."

Like Cate Blanchett, as discussed earlier this month, Glenn Close, and the recent Jessica Chastain, Annette Bening was one of those rare actresses working nowadays who actually got a "late" start in Hollywood.  Then, again, for her generation, breaking into films in one's late 20s, was still not quite yet a rarity.  One of her contemporaries who signaled the return to early debuts was Sharon Stone (but not early by today's standards).  But, both embodied a glamour that was a throwback to the 1940s.  They each had a toughness and confidence about them that the men in their life found fascinating and irresistible.  Stone built a career on her breakout role as Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct, where Bening tended to drift to characters who were more neurotic.  But, the way she seduced future husband Warren Beatty (and became the woman who "tamed" the infamous playboy) as Virginia Hill in Bugsy was a mesmerizing example of how she could effortlessly conjure up old Hollywood with an Ida Lupino exotic, yet simple beauty and sultry, husky voice.

"The lady or the loot?"

A good part of Bening's 20s were spent in the theatre.  She graduated from ACT in San Francisco and earned a Tony nomination for Coastal Disturbances.  She also dealt with an eating disorder.  Having confronted and sorted out such a major issue in her life before the limelight is a testament to how well she negotiated through the movie business.  Here's a woman who reached success fairly quickly at an accelerated age, but then chose marriage and family over career just when things were getting hotter.  She infamously backed out as Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer was purfect, but I imagine Bening would have been equally memorable), and also left the just-add-water-hit Disclosure due to separate pregnancies.  Yet, despite what might have been, Bening's talent and extraordinary patience perhaps gave her the career she had in her 40s and 50s that she might not otherwise have had if she had peaked too soon.

The Bening Attacks!

Bening has been nominated four times for Oscar.  A strong argument has been made that two of those times she not only lost to Hilary Swank, but was probably runner-up.  A fictional "rivalry" was concocted the year Swank narrowly missed out on a third nomination when Bening was recognized for The Kids Are All Right.  She also narrowly missed the award against Natalie Portman.  One might consider that she would have two additional nominations were it not for 1991 and 2006 being extremely competitive years.  Noting Bugsy had pulled in a hefty ten nominations, Bening scored a Golden Globe drama nod (always a notable precursor), and she delivered the goods, one might imagine that Bette Midler stepped in her way to join the company of Clarice Sterling, Thelma & Louise.  She also hosted Saturday Night Live around the release of the then highly anticipated Running with Scissors, but its poor showing at the box-office wouldn't help amongst the tough competition which included an unnominated Maggie Gyllenhaal (Sherrybaby) and Beyoncé (for the multiple-nominated Dreamgirls).

Why so glum Bening?  You're a standout in a sub-par film? 

Bening continues to plug away.  This year she has supporting roles in Ruby Sparks (from the team that brought us Little Miss Sunshine) and Kristen Wiig's Imogene, playing a Jersey Shore-type mother.  She also has a bit role in a Sally Potter movie due out next year, as well as the lead opposite Ed Harris and Robin Williams in the romantic comedy drama The Look of Love.  Other possible projects include Lullaby, another one of Ernest Hemingway's lovers, and Catherine The Great.  Today, one of my favorite actresses turns 54.  For a really great recent writeup on Bening, check out Nat's eloquent valentine to her over at The Film Experience.

Check Out Other Happy Birthday Suit(lesses):

Jennifer Aniston     Ellen Barkin     Drew Barrymore     Annette Bening     Jessica Biel     Juliette Binoche     Cate Blanchett     Helena Bonham Carter     Cher     Glenn Close     Claires Danes     Geena Davis     Kirsten Dunst     Jennifer Garner     Jennifer Grey     Kate Hudson     Holly Hunter     Angelina Jolie     Ashley Judd     Keira Knightley     Jessica Lange     Andie MacDowell     Eva Mendes     Rosie O'Donnell     Lena Olin     Michelle Pfeiffer     Natalie Portman     Emma Thompson     Uma Thurman     Rachel Weisz     Debra Winger     Renée Zellweger

Jennifer Aniston #1     Nicole Kidman #1     Rachel McAdams     Julia Roberts     Winona Ryder