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By Angela Lee (Age 22, Austraila)
Hollywood was in shock when it was announced last month that actress Brittany Murphy had passed away after a cardiac arrest. Whether it was starring in psychological thrillers, comedies, dramas, romantic chick flicks, at age 32, Brittany was a talented and versatile young star gone too soon. This month, Portrait pays tribute to this much loved actress and looks at some of the highlights of her career.
Brittany got her big break in the 1995 film Clueless, a modern day version of the classical Jane Austen novel Emma, set in California. Here, Brittany played Tai – the new girl and somewhat ugly duckling that protagonist Cher (played by Alicia Silverstone), takes under her wing and gives her a makeover, transforming skater chick Tai into one of the most popular girls in school.
In this dark comedy about the antics of beauty pageants, also starring Kirsten Dunst and Denise Richards, Brittany played Lisa Swenson, a fellow beauty pageant contestant who befriended Kirsten Dunst’s character.
For those that didn’t take notice of Brittany after Clueless, they certainly took notice of her after her role in Girl Interrupted, where Brittany starred alongside Angelina Jolie and Winona Ryder. Based on a true story Girl Interrupted documents writer Susanna Kayser’s stay in a mental institution over 18 months during the 1960s. Brittany plays the role of fellow paitient Daisy Randone, whose problems eventually overwhelm her and she meets a tragic end.
Sidewalks of New York starred, and was written and directed by actor Edward Burns, and followed six New Yorkers who had inter-connecting relationships. (Think Love Actually.) The film was a comment on relationships, as much as it was a comment on modern day love. Brittany starred as one of the key six characters, playing waitress Ashley.
Summer Catch was your typical teen chick flick, where rich girl meets local boy. Local boy wants to get out of town but the only way that is going to happen is if he gets a sporting scholarship. Girl and boy fall in love and must face conflicting obstacles in their lives. Starring alongside Freddie Prinze Jr and Jessica Biel, Brittany played Dede Mulligan, who was quite friendly with Freddie Prinze Jr’s leading male character.
This is definitely not a film for the faint hearted or the young! Don’t Say a Word is an eerie psychological thriller, where Brittany played Elisabeth Burrows, a young woman suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. Even after all these years, hearing Elisabeth’s chilling catchphrase “I’ll never tell...” still has the ability to freak you out!
Starring alongside Drew Barrymore, Brittany starred in this heart warming film based on a true story, about a single mother who dreams of becoming a writer, but becomes pregnant at 15. Over the years, she struggles to keep her dream alive as she raises her son and deals with her on/off again drug addicted partner. Brittany played Fay Forrester, the best friend to Drew Barrymore’s character.
Semi biographical film loosely based on rapper Eminem’s life in poverty in Detroit, prior to making it big. Brittany plays Alex, a love interest to Jimmy aka B.Rabbit – Eminem’s character, and she supports and encourages him as he begins to take control of his life and potential music career.
It was this film where it was a case of art imitates life when Brittany met and briefly got engaged to co-star Ashton Kutcher. Just Married is a romantic comedy about Tom and Sarah, who meet and fall in love and soon get married. However, in this whirlwind romance, it isn’t until they reach the honeymoon in Europe where bad things keep happening to them, that their relationship is tested and they begin to wonder whether it was all just one big mistake.
Quite often it’s a responsible adult that is hired to look after the wild and carefree child. Not in this story. After spending most of her life living frivolously off the earnings of her deceased legendary rocker father’s money, one day free spirited Molly Gunn is left in debt when her manager steals her money. With no proper skills or experience, Molly ends up taking a job as a nanny for the young straight laced daughter (played by Dakota Fanning) of a music executive. In this film, Molly teaches the young girl Ray, how to be a child, and in turn, Ray teaches Molly how to be a responsible adult.
In this cute chick flick, Brittany played Stacy, a woman who snooped in her boyfriend’s Palm Pilot, only to find the contacts of all his ex girlfriends in there. They say curiousity killed the cat, and now Stacy is left wondering why her boyfriend still has their contacts, and so one by one she tracks them all down to find out what happened in their relationship with her boyfriend. This may have been a small film that didn’t become as big as it hoped, but there are quite a few familiar faces in it such as Holly Hunter, Ron Livingstone, Kathy Bates, Stephen Tobolowky (Glee, Heroes), Rashida Jones (Parks and Recreation, The Office, I Love You Man), and Dave Annable (Brothers and Sisters).
Based on the comics, Sin City is a dark yet clever film that explores the corruption that occurs in the depressing and sinister town of Basin City. The film has ensemble of characters involved in three different stories, and is a film that is definitely for mature audiences only! Brittany played the role of Shellie.
Love and Other Disasters was about an American intern at Vogue Magazine in the UK, who played match maker to her friends around her, yet failed to see what was right in front of her in her own love life. Brittany starred as the leading role of Jacks alongside Brothers and Sisters’ Matthew Rhys.
In this feel good animated movie about penguins, Brittany leant her voice to the character of Gloria. Did you know that Brittany also leant her voice to the film’s soundtrack, covering the songs Boogie Wonderland and Somebody to Love!
Another underrated film starring Brittany that is definitely worth the watch if you have the time. In The Ramen Girl, Brittany played Abby, an American girl stranded in Tokyo, Japan, after splitting from her boyfriend. Lost and trying to find meaning in her life, she ends up training to be a Ramen chef and is guided by a grumpy and tough Ramen master. The fusion between the Japanese and American culture makes the film really interesting to watch.
In 2009, Brittany starred in Deadline, Tribute, and Across the Hall and all three of these films are psychological thrillers. Additionally, prior to her sudden death, Brittany had also made another three films - Abandoned, and Something Wicked. Once again, these yet to be released films were also thrillers and really you should only check it out if you’re brave and mature enough to watch such films, because they are mind bending flicks! Brittany had starred in over 30 films in her career and as you can see she had a versatile rang from psychological thrillers to romantic comedies. She was a bright and talented actress who will be greatly missed. Rest in Peace Brittany.
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