Sorry, I really didn’t explain that well. I meant EMOTIONALLY wooden.
Yeah, she was really kick-ass in action sequences, for sure. But she was a cipher as far as her emotions. But a hot bod and athletic ability can carry an actress far in Hollywood, obviously. But a good actress she ain’t :)
Let’s put it this way: if I were a director bringing an important novel to the screen requiring an actress of dynamic range, she wouldn’t be on the list at all. But, if I had an action movie needing a woman upon whom all male eyes would be glued, she would be on the short list.
Just for comparison sake, both she and Ackle’s characters were products of the same bio-mechanical process and early childhood influences. To try to explain her in terms of being created a “soldier” and sort of an automoton as an excuse for her affect doesn’t really do the trick.
He came out of the same “tank” so to speak. He’s a good actor who can create a multidimensional character with nuances of menace, humor, etc. She isn’t. But she’s good at kicking ass.
I think the Goth chick would have been much better in the lead because even tho I don’t know her name, I still remember her character vividly after all these years.
The only reason I remember Alba is because she was the lead and her subsequent fame. Had she been a supporting character, she wouldn’t be memorable to me in any way. Aside from the physical stuff and a hot bod, she was a zero (emotionally speaking).
There were a LOT of good supporting actors in that series. And it had a really good and compelling storyline.