Jessica Biel Stuff

» Jessica Biel - New 'IT' Girl or Box Office Curse ...
07/29/07 12:55 by Rory Linseed for SuperModelCalendars.com

When and why exactly did Jessica Biel become the 'It Girl?'

Perhaps it was when she rebelled against the system and had the foresight to bail as the wholesome preacher's daughter 7th Heaven after three years of steady, but uninspired work. A spread in Marie Claire might have done the trick. But a very revealing spread in Gear Magazine was a clear indication that Ms. Biel was going to control her own destiny, on her own terms -- until she came back for guest spots on 7th Heaven, presumably to pay the rent.

She did secure two movie roles during her 7th Heaven run as Peter Fonda's granddaughter in Victor Nunez's Ulee's Gold, which was actually a terrific movie suffering from an awful title. She also appeared as Jonathan Taylor Thomas' love interest in the ever-memorable I'll Be Home for Christmas (1998).

Not exactly 'IT girl' material. The stir created by the Gear Magazine decision did little in the near term to lift her fledgling film career. Roles in Summer Catch, The Rules of Attraction, Blade: Trinity, Cellular and Elizabethtown couldn't have helped either as each of those were money-losing studio write-offs that combined did a whopping $135 million at the box office. To put that in perspective The Simpsons' Movie (August 2007) did $141 million in two weeks.

Maybe it's just her resiliance, appearing in one bad movie after another and getting up off the floor to secure the next role. Perhaps it's her versatility as an actor, moving from Action/Sci-Fi (Blade) to romantic comedy (Summer Catch) to serious period piece, The Illusionist and making each one believable, though not Academy worthy.

Many are convinced that it was her short-lived relationship with Derek Jeter.

We're not exactly sure what 'it' is. However, if you've ever seen her in an interview, she does come off as very smart, real and unassuming - quite refreshing given the haughtiness, fake giggles and forced stories we see in interviews with other current starlets.

Her most recent career decisions have also been decidedly un 'IT like.' Her role in NEXT as the romantic lead alongside Nicholas Cage was bold and not badly played but the movie was panned mercilessly and not surprinsigly, tanked at the box office.

It appears as here streak remains in tact as the much hyped buddy comedy, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry has been skewered by press worse than anything in recent memory, this side The Benchwarmers. Biel plays the film's romantic lead, representing the two men against the insurance company, with whom Sandler falls in love.

"I'm really enjoying doing movies. I like being someone else for three months. That's what I wanted to do for so long," says Biel.

Let's hope she still has a choice after her latest stinker. Eight straight flops has got to have casting agents and directors taking note.

At least she's consistent.