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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to think that the ability to move your face is quite crucial part of acting

29 replies

Butterflyoncaffeine · 08/08/2026 12:04

So many faces don't move and so don't convey any emotion as they bloody should.
Absolutely hit me in a face in one Criminal minds episode where the face of the field agent did not move at all. At all. I am now annoyingly spotting it more and more.
Imho it's part of acting to be able to move your face! Some may be just shite actora though....

It's like weird army of Steven Seagals(who, however, was 5*) 😭

AIBU to think that the ability to move your face is quite crucial part of acting
OP posts:
dogproblems1 · 08/08/2026 12:09

YANBU but I also understand when aging actors get botox, when you're an a public figure all of your flaws get ripped apart and having wrinkles can stop you from getting roles. They can't win

MrsShawnHatosy · 08/08/2026 12:13

It’s easier for male actors to age naturally than female actors. Ever heard of a female actor being called a silver vixen?

Butterflyoncaffeine · 08/08/2026 12:16

dogproblems1 · 08/08/2026 12:09

YANBU but I also understand when aging actors get botox, when you're an a public figure all of your flaws get ripped apart and having wrinkles can stop you from getting roles. They can't win

Yeah I get the pressure but it's not even "aging" actors anymore.

OP posts:
Skippyasyermuni · 08/08/2026 12:17

But then actresses also need to put up with the other way. Jessica Alba had a scene in Fantastic Four where she is meant to cry, she did, and was told by the director to do it again without doing any of that as it made her face ugly. They added the tear in post production.

PollyBell · 08/08/2026 12:18

Nicole kidman?

NotAnotherScarf · 08/08/2026 12:18

Personally I think an ability to speak and not mumble is equally as important. I have turned off so many films/tv series over the last few years because actors don't actually speak loud enough (and no I'm not deaf)

INX · 08/08/2026 12:19

It's not just actors either.

Where I live in London, it makes me wonder how some kids manage to read their parents/teachers expressions at all, as they only seem to have one!

VestibuleWeaver · 08/08/2026 12:20

Christa Miller is a good example of this. Her face is so constricted, even her enunciation is impeded.

MrsShawnHatosy · 08/08/2026 12:20

NotAnotherScarf · 08/08/2026 12:18

Personally I think an ability to speak and not mumble is equally as important. I have turned off so many films/tv series over the last few years because actors don't actually speak loud enough (and no I'm not deaf)

Agree, we have to have the subtitles on all the time.

PerdreLeBleu · 08/08/2026 12:25

I always feel sorry for lip readers when people have lip fillers. Filled lips don’t move and the speaker can’t enunciate properly. Their mouth just flaps open and shut like a muppet with no movement in the lips.

Bearssaidhearegenerallyverywelldressed · 08/08/2026 12:32

I've stopped watching things where the actors have had a lot of work done, I find it too distracting. I understand why they feel pressured to do so but it's so off putting to me.

Butterflyoncaffeine · 08/08/2026 12:33

NotAnotherScarf · 08/08/2026 12:18

Personally I think an ability to speak and not mumble is equally as important. I have turned off so many films/tv series over the last few years because actors don't actually speak loud enough (and no I'm not deaf)

I have subtitles on. But I think that's mkstly sound issue with production than actors themselves.

OP posts:
Butterflyoncaffeine · 08/08/2026 12:37

It's not aging though. The fillers, lip filkers, unmovable brows, etc are very much present in younger gen.
And so many "same faces". Is there just like 1 plastic surgeon in Holywood?

It just ruins it a bit imho

OP posts:
Unknownpublisher · 08/08/2026 12:37

Can't watch anything with actors who have messed with their faces. I just can't take the character seriously, especially if it's a gritty role where that character would absolutely not have had any cosmetic procedures! Makes the character unbelievable.

TempestTost · 08/08/2026 12:45

Yeah, it's getting bad.

I actually really noticed the other day when an older, and very beautiful, and talented, actress had forehead wrinkles. It was not a bad thing. She had a normal, and beautiful, face, that emoted.

GOATYOAT · 08/08/2026 13:01

I agree. I spend all my time asking myself what they have done to themselves instead of watching the film. Nicole Kidman, I am looking at you

AppropriateAdult · 08/08/2026 13:20

I find it hard to watch as well - there’s something very dehumanising about a frozen forehead or over sculpted cheekbones, and it takes me out of the story. I wish older actresses didn’t feel they had to do it - it so rarely looks better than their natural face.

Sartre · 08/08/2026 13:24

MrsShawnHatosy · 08/08/2026 12:13

It’s easier for male actors to age naturally than female actors. Ever heard of a female actor being called a silver vixen?

This is the case for men and women generally. Men are hot when grey and wrinkled, women might as well crawl into a grave.

outerspacepotato · 08/08/2026 13:36

I agree. When the facial muscles don't move, they seem like people reading lines and it really detracts from the show. The prevalence of major plastic surgery and the sameness of the faces is also a bit uncanny valley now. People used to look so distinctive and that's going away in a lot of film and TV.

RachelGreep87 · 08/08/2026 13:54

Not really. Nicole Kidman will always be captivating. She pretty much plays the same character in everything, but it works.

Pistachiocake · 08/08/2026 14:00

You are right. But I suppose if everyone gets needles, then it would become the norm not to move a face, so would no longer seem weird?
My friend, who is autistic and struggles to read facial expressions, was making this point the other day-it's always been the norm for most humans to communicate with expressions, and discussing how it could change humanity if we can no longer do that.
He made the point that when you get a text, because there's no tone, though you can read the words, you might not get the meaning/sarcasm behind it. Might become like that with expressions, because we won't be able to read faces any more!

NotAnotherScarf · 08/08/2026 22:46

Butterflyoncaffeine · 08/08/2026 12:33

I have subtitles on. But I think that's mkstly sound issue with production than actors themselves.

But I watch lots of TV..I have spent over 2 weeks of my life with no sleep watching NCIS and never had to repeat a line over and over like I recently did with an film with Tom Hardy

Echobelly · 08/08/2026 22:52

I've watched some interesting videos on YouTube about this celeb face thing with women that comments about botox lack of expressiveness. And also how that standard Insta face (no lines, bit puffy lips, hollow cheeks) is a face that aims to look good in a still on a phone screen where the exaggerated features 'pop'. But it's a 'surface not a presence', which I think is a really good way of putting it - the face doesn't have animation and personality like, say, Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly. And it's not great for acting.

LasVegass · 08/08/2026 23:10

I’ve noticed that instead of moving the eyebrows up in surprise (‘cos frozen), they do this weird, exaggerated open mouth, as they can still open their mouth.

Bernadinetta · 08/08/2026 23:33

Assumed this was going to be about Charlize Theron as Calypso in The Odyssey