Nurith NupurCatherine Keener
The Oscar-nominated actress actually started out as a casting director in Hollywood! She once relayed her keenness to foray into acting to her one of her superiors, and she soon found herself with a minor acting role in a movie. The struggle was all too real for the aspiring actress, as she was often deemed too plain and unattractive to play lead roles. The criticisms hit hard on Keener, she was even discouraged enough to stop pursuing the craft at the time. The actress was mature enough to let go of it, and insists, “Well, for one thing, I like being a supporting actress. I like to come and go in the film. The interesting characters are very few if you want to be the lead, and they depend on you being beautiful. Since I’m not interested in those parts, the pressure’s off, in a way. I’m not cast for my physicality. I find that playing so many characters in so many films is a way to be in the moment.” She has since found her niche in playing characters in independent and mainstream ventures alike.