Who would make or would have made an ideal Cleopatra?

Producer Scott Rudin has bought the rights to Stacy Schiff‘s book Cleopatra: A Life and is working on a movie adaptation.  Rudin wants Angelina Jolie to star in it and has also confirmed that the adaptation is “being developed for and with Jolie.”

Schiff, the author agreed that “Physically, she’s the perfect look.”

Elizabeth Taylor was also the perfect look but, as it turns out, she was unconvincing as the bigger-than-life queen.  One colossal disappointment.  Of course, the lackluster dialogue and poor script flow may have had something to do with her rather clumsy performance.  As soon as she tumbled out of the smuggled carpet and started speaking, it was obvious she was not Cleopatra reincarnated.  She was most beautiful, most stunning, but inner passion and determination did not surface onto the screen.

She may not have been solid as the character she portrayed, but she and Burton were interesting to watch just because they were who they were--Dick and Liz.  The film is worth the four hours because of them and the scandalous romantic history which infiltrates.

In another version which was under direction by Cecil B. DeMille, Cleopatra (1934) starred Claudette Colbert.  Appealing as she has been in some dramas, her image is too sweet, her face a little too cute, and her smile too innocent for her to have been one's ideal image of a Cleopatra.

Susan Hayward, although too old for the 1963 version and too young for the 1934 version, had the combination of beauty, voice, mystery, and smoldering inner fire to have portrayed a cunning yet vulnerable queen.  Barbara Parkins is another actress who had those same qualities, though her persona did not have the intrigue of a Hayward or Taylor.

Hedy Lamarr was born in 1913 and was a few years too young for one version and not young enough for the other.  Her beauty and talent are undeniable, but it's hard to say if she could have tamed the role of Cleopatra convincingly.

The Marina Sirtis of twenty years ago would candidate well to portray the poised, self-willed, and quietly courageous queen.   How about a dark-haired Susan Oliver (sans green skin) or Stefanie Powers 40 years ago?

From the lot of famous actresses we have today, Angelina Jolie is as thrilling a choice as can be made (in view of the fact that Halle Berry can't act).  Hopefully, though, Jolie has learned something about accents since her days of Alexander. --
K.L.Kraemer

Lamarr,   Lollobrigida,         Lamarr

Darvi