4. Uma Thurman
When you stop to think of Uma Thurmans career, its easy to see it through rose-colored glasses. Thats because her most defining work has been VERY defining. Chalk it up to the power of Quentin Tarantino. Her sole Oscar nomination came for her turn in Pulp Fiction, and people have loved her ever since. Just when we thought she was a thing of the past, she roared back onto the scene in the Kill Bill double-feature and reminded people just how adeptly she can handle Tarantinos particular brand of crazy. But in-between those two, and ever since, Uma has had a series of misfires that miraculously havent tarnished her name the way they would have many other actresses. The list is almost too long: Batman and Robin, Prime, My Super Ex-Girlfriend and the first Percy Jackson movie are among the few that are even recognizable. Her filmography is cluttered with projects better left forgotten. And somehow, she ended up on NBCs most hate-watchable show, Smash, and came out on the other side with an Emmy nomination.
Is there hope for her yet?: This is a complicated one. First off, the Emmy nomination can only mean good things. Often times, when actresses realize the creative benefits of television, they can land a great role on a cable series (see: Claire Danes reemergence from relative obscurity). So, now that Uma has found success on television, there is a chance she could come back for more. Also, rumblings have been made for years now that her and Quentin Tarantino will reunite for a third installment in the Kill Bill series, which can only mean spectacular things. Now, for the bad news. Upon inspection, Umas upcoming projects incite the ultimate facepalm. First up is Playing for Keeps, in which Uma stars as a soccer mom alongside Gerard Butler and Jessica Biel, whose resumes dont exactly encourage me. After that is Eloise in Paris (yes, the childrens book series), Girl Soldier, a message film about child soldiers, and Movie 43, co-starring Umas fellow list-members Kristen Bell and Anna Faris. That last one is the sole promising prospect, if only because if its bad, Uma can hide behind the rest of the huge cast.
My suggestion: Uma should convince Quentin Tarantino to fast track Kill Bill Vol. 3 as soon as possible, and keep an eye out for a leading role in a dark cable comedy. It worked for her doppelganger, Toni Collette, so maybe itd work for her, too.