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| Jennifer on set of "Cake" as Claire. |
There's nothing film critic's, audiences, and Oscar voters lover more than transformation. Put a prosthetic nose on actress Nicole Kidman (2002) "
The Hours" as Virginia Woolf, and she finally wins an Academy award. Ugly up actress Charlize Theron (2003) "
Monster" as Aileen Wuornos, and she's finally kudos-worthy. As much as everyone enjoys watching people play against type roles, there is someone who appreciates it even more - the actor. "As performers we thrive on shape shifting, and cherish the opportunity to unexpectedly delve into characters outside our usual comfort zones," said Aniston. "That's what I've done in a hand full of films and that's what I did in
Cake," she continued.
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| Jennifer & "Cake" director Daniel Barnz. |
To that end, 2014 is a year marked by several such notable reinventions. While much has been made of Jennifer's going without make-up as a woman suffering from chronic pain in "
Cake", the real talk should center on her daring, raw performance - a portrayal that more than on film critic has called her "Monster". Aniston's transformation included gaining 20lbs extra pounds, wearing baggy clothing, going without make-up, and acting with pure emotion. Speaking of weight gaining - while weight gain or weight loss for any film role is a way to get attention - (2013) "
Dallas Buyers Club" actor Matthew McConaughey earned his first Academy award right out of the gate for his portrayal of rodeo cowboy Ron Woodroof a man diagnosed with AIDS given 30 days to live - the performance has to back it up. "I honestly thought I had it," said Jen in reference towards her performance in (2002) "
The Good Girl". "I told myself, 'If you ever get the chance to do a drama again you're going to do it right.' ". Aniston got that chance a little over a decade later when director Daniel Barnz had her as the first actress in mind for the role of Claire. Barnz comments of why he chose her for the lead in his film, "Of the zillions of Jennifer Aniston fans, I might be the biggest one of all. I've especially loved her more dramatic performances, and I can't wait to watch her tackle a role that has such a brilliantly funny voice and so much raw pain. She was the first actress that came to mind and I knew I had to cast her. I loved her in
The Good Girl, and (2006)
Friends with Money, but I felt her performances were overlooked because it's not that they didn't deliver, it's that the characters didn't have show her full range. That is something that she and I worked together on in order to draw out that range in her character for
Cake."
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| Jennifer on Jimmy Kimmel LIVE! promoting "Horrible Bosses 2 |
During the Toronto International Film Festival premiere, the entire cast of the film received a standing ovation, and later social media praised Aniston's performance which has generated a circuit of Oscar buzz. Even late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel commented about Jennifer's performance while she was on his show promoting "
Horrible Bosses 2". Kimmel said, [to Aniston] "I went to a screening of your film Cake and it was great! It really is an Oscar worthy performance."
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