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Born Liliane Rudabet Gloria Elsveta Sobieski , on Jun 10, 1982, in New York, USA . Reportedly 5' 9".
On the upside, she looks like a younger, cuter Helen Hunt; on the downside, she looks ... well, like Helen Hunt.
Quite honestly, like most people I never would have heard of her if I didn't accidentally catch a few mintues of Joan of Arc, the TV miniseries that attracted a lot of attention a while back when it beat out a number of other, regularly popular shows in the ratings. (People were surprised that it got any ratings; that it was at the top of the ratings was unfathomable.) And while she was pleasant to look at there, it wasn't until I saw her with a lot less on at the Emmys that I decided to put her on The Iconophile.
Cute as she might look in chainmail, though, I don't foresee an especially huge career for Leelee unless she gets offered a film role with some nudity in it à la Uma Thurman's career boost in Dangerous Liasions. I know that sentiment's become something of a cliché on this site, but in Leelee's case it's especially true since (1) she needs to break out of the typecast of playing kids and goodie-good characters as quickly as possible while she still has a little heat going for her from Joan of Arc, and (2) she straddles the fence between plain and beautiful — everyone liked her as a peasant girl because she was appropriately plain but somehow still attractive; cast her in a sexpot role with her clothes on and she's likely to come off as attractive but still too plain to warrant her being the movie's sexpot.
Which is not to say that Leelee isn't attractive. Far from it. But there are different kinds of attractiveness, and in the Olympian world of the silver screen, the only type anyone remembers is the one filmmakers love to show stopping people dead in their tracks and causing traffic accidents à la Salma Hayek in Desperado. Leelee's beauty, on the other hand, is of the more terrestrial variety; chances are you'd never notice her if she walked in to a supermarket you were in, whereas if Salma made an entrance, the place would shut down. (Roll your eyes all you like, but I've seen this happen.) So at the core of what Leelee has going for her isn't so much her physical beauty (she's cute when she's dolled up, but not drop dead gorgeous) as her air of mercurial sensuality and, more importantly, her charm. And that charm rests largely on her seeming precociousness, an advantage she can only have while she's a teenager. The moment she enters full adulthood there'll be little to keep her from being Helen Hunt — that is, a sometimes plain, sometimes attractive Everywoman. Which is all well and good, but short of a regular role on a popular TV show that takes advantage of that quality, it's not the sort of thing that usually makes a career outside of the independent film circuit.
In any event, get an eyeful of her now, because if her next few movies tank, they'll probably be the last we ever see of her except in the new releases section at the video store. (Leelee may have a lot of talent, but I don't think she'll do very well in typical teen flicks, and it's a rare movie calling for attractive teen actresses that isn't a typical teen flick.)
Also sprach Golem.
(More recent commentary below)
Afterthought
At what age will Leelee's celebrity hair kleptomania be more disturbing than cute?
Finally, a Wardrobe Malfunction Worth Seeing
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
From Janet Jackson to Tara Reid, the trouble with “wardrobe malfunction” hooplah is that the boob in the spotlight is never one most of us want to see. That is, until Leelee Sobieski took the stage at the Directors Guild of America Awards to announce the winner for daytime TV.... Read more
Back to TV
Monday, January 17, 2005
Look, I love Leelee Sobieski. And I love Greek mythology. And I’m happy to see Leelee back on the tube. But I’ll believe in a Kevin Sorbo comeback before I believe that the upcoming Hercules miniseries on NBC will offer anything more worthwhile than some cleavagey Leelee-in-a-tunic shots.... Read more
American Idole
Wednesday, September 4, 2002
Deep down, I think even critics of this page knew it was just a matter of time before Leelee Sobieski’s top at long last came off on the big screen — she’s been trying to break into the limelight for too long and with too little success not to.... Read more
Moment of Clarity
Sunday, July 7, 2002
Now that the smoke’s cleared from all the bombs Leelee Sobieski dropped on Hollywood last year, we all have time to reflect on just what it was that the critics all saw in Leelee that the rest of the U.S. did not, and why the buzz that surrounded her when Joan of Arc aired has pretty much disappeared.... Read more
Uprising
Sunday, November 4, 2001
Say what you will about TV’s Uprising, but Leelee Sobieski looked pretty good in it ... pale, pudgy face and all.... Read more
Leeleepalooza
Monday, October 15, 2001
At this moment there are more Leelee Sobieski flicks being dropped on theaters than bombs over Kabul. Ordinarily I’d say that still doesn’t change anything as far as Leelee’s career goes anymore than a new Janeane Garofalo theatrical release is likely to make Janeane a major player, but I’m beginning to think that the constant mention of her name on TV through the trailers and talk show appearances is starting to weave “some pig” over her stall whether or not any of her new films do well at the box office.... Read more
Before You Email Me...
Tuesday, September 25, 2001
A lot of people have been emailing me objecting to my little comments about Leelee Sobieski, the complaints usually centering on one of two themes: (1) How dare I suggest that Leelee is anything less than drop dead gorgeous? (2) How dare I suggest that Leelee’s career will be more familiar to video renters than moviegoers unless her top comes off?... Read more
LEELEE SOBIESKI’S FILMOGRAPHY
* Titles in red feature Leelee in the raw *
Film
- Night Train (2009) .... Chloe
- Public Enemies (2009) .... Polly Hamilton
- Acts of Violence (2008) .... Olivia Flyn
- Finding Bliss (2008) .... Jody Balaban
- In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale (2007) .... Muriella
- Walk All Over Me (2007) .... Alberta
- 88 Minutes (2006) .... Lauren Douglas
- In a Dark Place (2006) .... Anna
- Lying (2006) .... Sarah
- The Optimist (2006) .... Lolita
- The Wicker Man (2006) .... Honey
- Heavens Fall (2005) .... Victoria Price
- London (2005) .... French Woman
- L’Idole (2002; aka “The Idol”) .... Sarah Silver
- Max (2002) .... Liselore Von Peltz
- The Glass House (2001) .... Ruby Baker
- Joy Ride (2001) .... Venna
- My First Mister (2001) .... Jennifer
- Here on Earth (2000) .... Samantha “Sam” Cavanaugh
- Eyes Wide Shut (1999) .... Milich's Daughter
- Never Been Kissed (1999) .... Aldys
- Switch (1999) .... Amber Hodges (Cheer Squad)
- Deep Impact (1998) .... Sarah Hotchner
- A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries (1998) .... Channe Willis
- Jungle 2 Jungle (1997) .... Karen Kempster
Made for Television Movies/Specials
- Hercules (2005) .... Deianeira
- A Horse for Danny (1995) .... Danny
- Reunion (1994) .... Anna
Miniseries
- Les Liaisons dangereuses (2002) .... Cécile Volanges
- Uprising (2001; NBC) .... Tosia Altman
- Joan of Arc (1999) .... Joan D'Arc
Television
- F/X: The Series: “Evil Eye” (5/10/1998) .... Tanya
- NewsRadio: “Arcade” (10/23/1996) .... Girl
- Charlie Grace (1995) .... Jenny Grace
- Grace Under Fire (1993)
LEELEE SOBIESKI-RELATED ARTICLES
- Leelee Sobieski Makes Branding Herself Enjoyable! And, Ladies Take Note: “I’m Straight”
The New York Observer (Nov 13, 2007)
Is Leelee Sobieski Hollywood’s latest contribution to New York’s late-night party scene?
- Rising Star: Leelee Sobieski
Us Weekly (Nov 12, 2001)
The 19-year-old college freshman and promising actor is wise beyond her years
- Leelee Sobieski
Venice Magazine (Sep 2001)
With three major films this fall, the teenage temptress of Eyes Wide Shut comes of age
- Movieline's Young Hollywood Awards
Movieline (Jun 2000)
Here are the five actors and five actresses we've chosen as candidates for the Superstar of Tomorrow category in our upcoming Young Hollywood Awards. See if you agree with our choices. [EXCERPT]
- Leelee Land
Movieline (Mar 2000)
Tall drink of water Leelee Sobieski will make a cool million for her next picture — and she's only 17. Here, our precocious Emmy-nominated cover subject discusses why she dislikes being described as an 'actress', why she thinks Jeff Goldblum is sexy and why she dirty-danced with that other Joan of Arc, Milla Jovovich.
- Etc.: Leelee Sobieski
Harper's Bazaar (Oct 1998)
With roles in both Merchant-Ivory's A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries and Stanley Kubrick's top-secret Eyes Wide Shut, teen actress Leelee Sobieski gets a head start in Hollywood.
- Leelee in Lala Land
Details (Aug 1998)
Leelee Sobieski grows up fast in Eyes Wide Shut
LEELEE SOBIESKI-RELATED LINKS
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