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Tony Award Winner Nina Arianda Will Star as Janis Joplin: Who Would Play Her Best?

SodaHead Celebs 2012/07/10 20:00:00
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The concept of making a Janis Joplin biopic has been kicked around for years now. But as of this morning, there’s a new version in the works starring Nina Arianda. Never heard of her? She’s not really a household name, unless your household happens to love theater. She’s actually a Tony-award winner for Best Actress in a Play for “Venus in Fur.” Now she’ll be donning tie-dye and bangles to play the gravelly-voiced rock star who died tragically at the age of 27.

nina arianda  janis joplin

But Arianda isn’t the first actress who’s been attached to the coveted role. In 2004, pop star Pink was set to take on the part. That version’s director, Penelope Spheeris, clearly figured the singer could connect with the character. Pink’s song “Unwind” was actually a tribute to her idol, Joplin. But Pink left the film and a mad search started for a suitable replacement.

Next, “New Girl” star Zooey Deschanel beat out Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears and Scarlett Johansson for the part. The She & Him singer spent years trying to nail the Joplin’s signature voice, but she probably would have been too adorkable to pull it off. This version fell apart, too.

When director Fernando Meirelles took over the project, he made an unlikely casting choice: Amy Adams. True, she was known to sing in films like “Enchanted,” but it was hard to imagine her taking on the persona of the hard-drinking, psychedelic rock star. So going with a relatively unknown actress might be the best choice. Moviegoers will be able to watch the flick without any preconceived notions of the actress. What do you think: Who would play Janis Joplin the best?
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Top Opinion

  • Wolverineland 2012/07/10 21:29:12
    Nina Arianda
    Wolverineland
    +5
    My vote would be for Lily Taylor. She has that plain Jane sexiness that Janis had and I think she can sing. lily taylor

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Opinions

  • caius m... mustang... 2012/07/26 18:31:30
    caius madison
    +1
    I think the girl playing her is too attractive to accurately portray her, but then again, there's always Charlize Theron in Monster.......
  • mustang... caius m... 2012/08/20 22:42:24
    mustangluver
    Yes, they never seem to choose a person that really resembles the real one..
  • caius m... mustang... 2012/08/21 21:01:07
  • Skye 2012/07/11 07:30:42
    Nina Arianda
    Skye
    Eh why not?
  • geneticmistake 2012/07/11 07:02:26
    Nina Arianda
    geneticmistake
    I've never seen her perform but she's from northern NJ like me so I've read about her in the local paper. She can obviously act based on her Tony award. Guess she can sing too if she's going to play Janis. Really sounding like Joplin ain't gonna be easy.
  • mustang... genetic... 2012/07/11 19:04:38
    mustangluver
    I am from Bergen County.
  • genetic... mustang... 2012/07/11 21:51:50
    geneticmistake
    +1
    There are more than a few transplanted BC residents in Florida. My father lived in New Port Richey until he died in 1995.
  • mustang... genetic... 2012/07/12 02:47:33
    mustangluver
    I have yet to meet anyone from my hometown of Hackensack.
  • Gene_In_Kabul 2012/07/11 06:59:06
    Zooey Deschanel
    Gene_In_Kabul
    +1
    I disagree with your choices, but as I had to vote before commenting, I voted Zooey. Only because the Deschanel sisters touch me WAY down inside. Tracy Ulman would kick the absolute crap out of this role. Easily.
  • sally 2012/07/11 06:15:33
    Nina Arianda
    sally
    She's an amazing actress. I've seen her in other things but my cousin got to see her in Venus in Fur and said she was phenomenal in that as well.

    P!nk has the voice but I don't think she has the acting chops. I also think that they don't need someone who can sing, they should do lipsyncing instead because no one can ever match the grittiness of Janis Joplin.
  • Wulfdane 2012/07/11 05:48:59 (edited)
    Amy Adams
    Wulfdane
    Not a good list, but if I am forced to choose from that one.....
  • Tiah 2012/07/11 05:28:43
    Nina Arianda
    Tiah
    Sure the others don't seem to fit the "image"
  • carlton999 2012/07/11 05:27:36
    Nina Arianda
    carlton999
    Elise Testone from American Idol has the pipes, they should see if she can act.

    Elise Testone
  • mikeeonly carlton999 2012/07/11 18:21:14
    mikeeonly
    She does have the sound.
  • BlondeAphrodite 2012/07/11 04:16:25
    Nina Arianda
    BlondeAphrodite
    just make sure she doesnt shower for a month
  • mustang... BlondeA... 2012/07/11 19:06:49
    mustangluver
    And you know Janis didn't shower how?
  • BlondeA... mustang... 2012/07/11 19:07:41
    BlondeAphrodite
    look at her hair
  • mustang... BlondeA... 2012/07/12 02:49:42
    mustangluver
    What about it? She had big, long hair. I just thought that was a strange thing to say unless you knew her personally.
  • BlondeA... mustang... 2012/07/12 04:23:13
    BlondeAphrodite
    her hair looked dirty her clothes were raggedy she looked homeless the end
  • carlton999 BlondeA... 2012/07/12 07:51:05
    carlton999
    Friends of mine did know her personally and you dont know what your talking about.
  • BlondeA... carlton999 2012/07/12 14:27:56
    BlondeAphrodite
    i dont have to know her to know that she looked dirty all you need are eyes
  • mustang... BlondeA... 2012/07/12 17:27:27
    mustangluver
    That's what the hippy looked like. So what would you call the pants down around the balls look? Or clothes 5 times too big? Or tons of tats and piercings?
  • BlondeA... mustang... 2012/07/12 18:57:13
    BlondeAphrodite
    YES! she looked like a homeless person THE END! This isnt a debate... if you could put her in a lineup with 12 homeless people shed blend in...
  • mustang... BlondeA... 2012/07/12 23:03:31
    mustangluver
    Not back in her day is the point. and you didn't answer my question. Oh and i did think it was up for debate..this is a forum.
  • BlondeA... mustang... 2012/07/12 23:05:37
    BlondeAphrodite
    i think those are trashy as hell too but i have seen thousands of homeless people that look just like she did there were people with clean hair back then... the girl whos gonna play her looks too clean to play her thats why i said she should stop showering thats all i meant
  • mustang... BlondeA... 2012/07/12 23:19:41
    mustangluver
    Well i read that she was always in the shower. I don't see her or anyone of my generation as dirty or nasty looking. The girls of today look like the girls of today..period. I'd take Janis before some tatted, pierced up, tits hanging out and skirt up the ass any day.
  • BlondeA... mustang... 2012/07/12 23:55:59
    BlondeAphrodite
    i still think janis is dirty looking this debate is over her hair was dirty she looks like she didnt shower i will not continue talking to a brick wall aka you
  • mustang... BlondeA... 2012/07/13 02:24:10
    mustangluver
    So block me. Because you say something doesn't make it true.
  • BlondeA... mustang... 2012/07/13 03:38:33
    BlondeAphrodite
    just cause you wanna argue that it isnt doesnt make it not... you aint worth my time
  • mustang... BlondeA... 2012/07/13 05:57:58
    mustangluver
    You don't know a thing about forums. Don't be where you're not qualified.
  • BlondeA... mustang... 2012/07/13 14:07:33
    BlondeAphrodite
    i wont give you the satisfaction of blocking you... sorry you aint worth it
  • mustang... BlondeA... 2012/07/14 07:38:07
    mustangluver
    You need to go back in the sandbox.
  • Diddley Squat 2012/07/11 03:57:23
    Nina Arianda
    Diddley Squat
    Incredible resemblance!
  • ~HopelessRomanticM17~ 2012/07/11 03:50:36
    Nina Arianda
    ~HopelessRomanticM17~
    I suppose this chick got the part for a reason.
  • tori 2012/07/11 03:06:00
    Pink
    tori
    +1
    Not only her attitude but she could probably emulate joplins voice the best as well.
  • Sybil 2012/07/11 01:40:49
    Nina Arianda
    Sybil
    +2
    I love Janis Joplin. No matter who plays her NO ONE can sing her. For one thing she drank a bottle of J.D. Before her concerts to help with that gravelly sound. Pick who they want but you won't find any voice to match and also to most she wasn't a pretty girly girl either. I personally think she was beautiful. I would deff watch though. Unless kristen stewart was cast lolol
  • mustang... Sybil 2012/07/11 19:08:44
    mustangluver
    +1
    I'm with you. Bette Midler was the only one that could do Janis note for note but she's too old now. The Rose was an incredible movie. I loved every single song.
    http://youtu.be/8jHZKwzceIM
  • Ishmael Sybil 2012/07/13 01:37:38
    Ishmael
    As I recall, Southern Comfort was her booze of choice. Listen to turtle blues sometime and you can hear her smash the empty SC bottle on stage.


  • Sybil Ishmael 2012/07/14 02:21:14
    Sybil
    Was it SC? I could have sworn I read it was JD. Ah well she was awesome no matter wich.
  • Alvin 2012/07/10 23:36:48
    Nina Arianda
    Alvin
    +3
    Maybe, but there is no one who can compare to Pearl

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