By I have an obsession and want to tell the world about it.
Never has a woman so swiftly captured my heart as Noomi Rapace. Not even my teenage crush on Buffy, a.k.a. Sarah Michelle Geller, compares.
A girl crush, at least for the hetero female population, usually consists of equal parts attraction, and a desire to be that person. Rapace has become an international star, and will soon be a household name if the rumour mill proves to be truthful, all because of another woman: the incomparable Lisbeth Salandar. Salandar is the main character of Steig Larsson’s best-selling Millenium series and the adapted trilogy; she is the girl with the dragon tattoo. In the eyes of the public, Rapace knocked the performance of the beloved character out of the park, becoming forever intertwined in our minds with the ass-kicking, name-taking hacker that stole my heart. Read after the jump to find out why I am smitten, and why you will be too.
I have an obsession and want to tell the world about it.
Never has a woman so swiftly captured my heart as Noomi Rapace. Not even my teenage crush on Buffy, a.k.a. Sarah Michelle Geller, compares.
A girl crush, at least for the hetero female population, usually consists of equal parts attraction, and a desire to be that person. Rapace has become an international star, and will soon be a household name if the rumour mill proves to be truthful, all because of another woman: the incomparable Lisbeth Salandar. Salandar is the main character of Steig Larsson’s best-selling Millenium series and the adapted trilogy; she is the girl with the dragon tattoo. In the eyes of the public, Rapace knocked the performance of the beloved character out of the park, becoming forever intertwined in our minds with the ass-kicking, name-taking hacker that stole my heart. Read after the jump to find out why I am smitten, and why you will be too.
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The Millenium series is a many-splendid thing–great acting, excellent story, Swedish aesthetic–but it is most notable for giving Lisbeth unto the world–the pint-sized recluse with an incredibly huge chip on her shoulder. Those willing to delve into the foreign series will find out why. The original title for the first book in the series was Men Who Hate Women. While political intrigue and criminal thrills keep the story moving and entertaining, the focus on systemic mysogyny and sexual abuse is ever present. Recent films like Eastern Promises and Red Riding have gone down similar, retributive paths, but with a male lead to guide us. Lisbeth doesn’t let anyone fight her battles, and emerges the victor.
Lisbeth’s journey nears epic proportions but stays within the realm of reality; add to that notable, quotable side characters, like Lisbeth’s kickboxing gf Miriam Wu, or The Girl Who Played with Fire’s villain, the neandrathalic Neidermann, and you have the recipe for a catching craze. I fell victim earlier this year when I got my hands on the Swedish series. The final chapter of the film trilogy, the Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest is playing in North America now.
While the role of Lisbeth is being reimagined as we speak–David Fincher is filming the North American adaptation with Rooney Mara in the role of Girl–Rapace has rode her newfound exposure to roles in popular projects like Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes sequel and may be seen cracking more smiles than anyone thought possible in the Adam McKay/Will Ferrel production, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters. (Seriously, I think she only smiles once in the whole Millenium film series.) Rumour also has it that Ridley (Scott) wants Rapace for Ripley (badass), so those not already fantasizing about this woman are about to start. Some of these may not seem like the weightiest roles after an Oscar-worthy performance, but we’ve seen foreign actresses do worse in Hollywood before doing much much better (I am looking at you, Penelope Cruz). I, for one, would pay to see Lisbeth in space.
Like Noomi’s SLIH predecessor, Lizzy Caplan, you may be surprised at the simple beauty of a girl so lately bathed in goth glory. She smiles, wears dresses, and doesn’t look like she would kill a man with her stare. After being so blown away by Rapace in her star-making role, I can’t wait to see what other facets the actress has to offer.
Let me begin my 2nd opinion by merely stating this: I begged Siobhan and Sean who was to do the official second opinion if I could chime in on this. If you've never seen this actor's, yes actor not actress, fiercely raw portrayal of Lisbeth Salandar in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and its subsequent sequels then just looking at the images above you may be forgiven if you come to the conclusion that she's mildly attractive but hot may be another matter altogether. At first glance, in full Salandar role she looks to be just like any other goth girl with heavy mascara and an attitude in tow. Nothing particularly special, if you haven't seen her portrayal in those movies. But if you have seen her in those movies as I have that initial first impression will be shattered in a million pieces.
Unlike most actresses out there with roles that either highlight or enhance their already good looks, Noomi's beauty is hidden behind that artificial front of goth wear. But it is through her skill, through her balancing act of fierce strength and vulnerability that her character portrayal steamrolls you, that will make you do a double take and endear her to you. There is nothing more attractive, nothing more beautiful, to me, than a woman confidant and sure of herself. Noomi Rapace delivers this with her performance in spades and then some. Do yourself a favor gentlemen, if you haven't seen her work yet in the Millenium film series, go buy them on Blu-ray and thank me later for making you add them to your collection. While they're not perfect films (is there such a thing?), it will most certainly cement Ms.Rapace as not only worthy of the "hot" mantle but of a brilliant actor to boot. Siobhan's obsession is most certainly not misplaced here. – Francisco
Third Opinion:
You all didn't think you could get away from me that easily, did you?
I wasn’t sure about Noomi Rapace at first. I finally sat down to watch The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo in order to write this piece, and I came through the other end thoroughly convinced that Sweden isn’t entirely a lost cause (just kidding, I love Sweden). Noomi kicks ass, looks good in spikes, and plays a character that is a mystery I cannot wait to get to the bottom of. Looking a smidge like Kristen Bell in the right light doesn't hurt either.
With her (figuratively) melting faces off in the third Millenium installment, frontrunner for female lead in the Alien prequels, and the Gretel to superhunk Jeremy Renner’s Hansel in Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, Rapace has me desiring a closer look at her dragon tattoo. – Sean
Previous Some Like It Hot Installments: