‘Dark Angel’ star Jessica Alba says she felt ‘objectified’ in her career
Jessica Alba says she felt “objectified” as a young actress, typecasted as a “sexy, tough action girl,” due to her role in James Cameron’s “Dark Angel.” The “Sin City” actress claims to have been transformed through motherhood, focusing on herself and not what others wanted.
During a partial transcript released Tuesday from an interview in the new June Marie Claire, the former “Fantastic Four” star says her body always seemed to come first.
“I had a show that premiered when I was 19. And right away, everyone formed a strong opinion about me because of the way I was marketed. I was supposed to be sexy, this tough action girl. That’s what people expected… I felt like I was being objectified, and it made me uncomfortable. I wanted to be chic and elegant!”
Alba’s big breakthrough came after she landed the lead role in James Cameron’s science fiction TV show “Dark Angel,” and she donned a series of sexy outfits for the show, which ended in 2002.
The actress loved her years in the series, but admits it took her a long time to shed her image from sex icon to style queen.
Science fiction fans elevated Alba to stardom after “Dark Angel.” Her role as Nancy Callahan in “Sin City,” the half-dressed stripper fueled the reputation. She has also signed on to reunite with director Robert Rodriguez in “Machete Kills,” which may also require a scantily dressed Alba.
Despite the post-“Dark Angel” personas (see also “Good Luck Chuck”) Alba is now speaking more independently and asking to be taken more seriously and less as a sex symbol.
“There are some women who dress for men. I dress for myself. It took me some time to get here. Being a mom and feeling grown-up have helped. Now if I’m going to wear something short, it has to have a high neck or a little sci-fi toughness to it, an edge.”
Alba is set to appear in “A.C.O.D.” with Mary Elizabeth Winstead (“The Thing” remake, “Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter” and “Final Destination 3”) sometime later in 2012.