Models in Movies

Mary Helen Berg’s March 18 Outtakes profile of the model Ariane pays lip service to a disturbing trend in the film business.

Ariane’s stilted performance in “The Year of the Dragon” was soon followed by the spiritless screen debut of another Asian-American model in a leading movie role, Sari Chang in “China Girl.”

Their wooden performances in these high-cost Hollywood productions imply that the industry would rather promote the careers of fashion models than fill its films with seasoned Asian-American talent. Ironically, powerful--and, yes, good-looking--actresses such as Kim Miyori, Jude Narita and Diana Tanaka are relegated to the Equity-waiver houses, while newcomers are cast in these rare, high-profile ethnic roles.

This suggests that Hollywood prefers to portray Asian women as glamorous, mysterious clotheshorses whose rigid emotions betray an empty interior life. And independent productions featuring gifted Asian-American actresses are too scarce to combat big-budget endorsement of this dehumanizing stereotype.

I encourage Ariane, like any other actress, to follow her dramatic ambitions. But Hollywood should let her compete for roles based on her ability to act, not on her Mirabella covers.

ROBERT PAYNE

Studio City