How look-alike stars can still make their individual mark
Glaiza de Castro
STARS ARE supposed to possess unique looks and personalities that make them stand out from the stellar throng—but, it can’t be denied that, through the years, celebrities have emerged who look uncannily like each other.
To their credit, many of these look-alike talents have succeeded despite this in making their individual mark on the entertainment scene.
It’s harder, of course, for newer stars who look like a more established luminary to snatch their own share of starshine.
Some have had to undergo makeovers, or deliberately pursue different types of roles, like a dramatic talent going into comedy instead, just to avoid being unfairly compared to an “older” star.
On the local scene, for example, Angel Locsin lookalike Glaiza de Castro had to adjust her “projection” to finally get big roles on her own, and not be regarded by talent casters as a “less expensive” alternative if they couldn’t afford Angel’s services!
In Hollywood, pretty much the same “backstage drama” is taking place between young fave Jennifer Lawrence and her look-alike, the even newer talent, Shailene Woodley.
Her problem isn’t just that she looks like Jennifer, she also plays similar roles—like, Lawrence did “The Hunger Games,” and Woodley was the young female lead of “Divergent”—sounds and looks familiar, right?
—Well, you really can’t “blame” Woodley for first tyring to make it “like” Lawrence. But, now that she’s become a star in her own right, we hope that, like Glaiza, she now makes it a point to do drastically different characters so people will forget how she first tried to make it in Hollywood.
Long-term goal
—So, how is that long-term goal panning out? On the minus side, the “Divergent” film series was such a hit that Woodley will again play the lead role of Tris in 2016’s “Allegiant” and 2017’s “Ascendant.”
But, she’s also starring in a film, “Snowden” (by Oliver Stone), in which she projects “differently.” And, she’s the star of a limited TV series, “Big Little Lies,” with Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon. —That’s more like it!
Other stellar lookalikes in Hollywood: We thought that Amy Adams was one of a kind—until Isla Fisher made her appearance. Angelina Jolie? Some insiders think that Megan Fox is her younger copy.
Taylor Lautner? He and Kris Humphries share the same “signature” jawline and chin. Penelope Cruz? —Paz Vega.
Carrie Underwood? —Emily Osment.
Other “visually” referential faces and talents: Zac Efron-Ian Somerhalder. Jessica Chastain-Bryce Dallas Howard. Alice Cooper-Steve Carell. Helen Hunt-Leelee Sobieski. Cameron Diaz-Helena Christensen.
Scarlett Johansson-Amber Heard. Jada Pinkett Smith-Zoey Saldana. And Tina Fey-Sarah Palin—or, is it the other way around?
