JerkyFlea: August 1999

Let's see, we've had three items about celebrities who still have their hair, so it's about time for another who doesn't.  Yes, I actually have another one.  In fact, I have three this month and figured I should space them out to build the anticipation (just all a-tingle now, aren't ya?).  Anyway, you probably don't know who VIRGINIA HEY is unless you are A) a sci-fi devotee, B) a "Road Warrior" fanatic, or C) Australian.  Why?  Though well-known as an Australian model, Virginia first hit it big internationally as "Warrior Woman" (yes, that's the character's actual name), the good, bow-wielding blonde Mel Gibson falls for in "The Road Warrior" (see the picture at right).  After taking other film roles and modeling gigs over the last several years, she is making a reappearance stateside in the Sci-Fi Channel series "Farscape" as the bald, blue alien, Zhaan.  If you think you were surprised to find out that the character is bald and blue, imagine how Virginia felt.  Heck, don't imagine, just read what she said about it in an interview with UltimateTV:

"Isn't it extraordinary what they've done to me?" the Australian-born actress says. "Especially my bald head. I certainly wouldn't have done it on my own. 

"What's funny is the casting agent didn't tell me I would have to shave my head or be blue. I went through six months of auditioning first. Then Matt Carroll, the producer, said to me in the second-to-last audition, `So, how do you feel about being blue?' And I said, `Huh?' He knocked me off my feet for a couple of seconds and I thought, `Well, yes, that could be an attractive look.' Not knowing exactly what they had in mind. `Yeah, I could deal with being blue.' 

"And yet it wasn't until much, much later that the makeup artist told me I would have to shave my hair off. Oh, boy. At first I said, `No, no, no.' But over time, I've grown rather pleased with this look."

Before	After

FLEA'S CALL:   Believe it or not, I think this was a good idea.  This isn't a one shot film role, so it doesn't really matter that losing the hair and would prevent her from getting any additional parts in the immediate future.  Since it's a series, she's got a bit of security (especially since it's on the Sci-Fi Channel, so no one is expecting spectacular ratings anyway), so why not do it?  I wish Virginia the best of luck with the new series and hope her sacrifice pays off for her. 

Especially, since she did look pretty darn good when she DID have hair and eyebrows...

We're heading into the fall TV season and usually that not only means new shows, but also new hair for at least a few actresses.  This fall being no exception, I have several items that fall into that category.  Let's start with DEBRAH FARENTINO.  Debrah stars as the mom in the new FOX series, "Get Real".  I guess to look the part, she has traded her previous shoulder-length locks  that she had as recently as ABC's mini-series "Storm of the Century" for a very short shag.  The new style ranges from 3-4 inches all over, exposing the ears, while keeping some length in the back.    While not the shortest new 'do of the fall season, it's as short as I can ever remember seeing Debrah's hair.
 

Before	After

FLEA'S CALL:   You know, based on all of the purely technical reasons, Debrah should be able to easily wear this style.  However, in my humble and purely subjective opinion, it doesn't.  I'm not sure if it's too short, badly styled, or what.  My best guess is that since Debrah has classic and elegant features, she looks better in styles that compliment those attributes.  The trendy, messy look just doesn't flatter her the way a bob or other simple style would.  And is it really necessary for a TV mom to be trendy?  Heck, I don't know about you, but I like the fact that my mom is about as trendy as chicken salad (Note to Editor: check with Research to see if chicken salad is trendy).

Continuing on our "new hair for fall shows" trend, we next come to MARISKA HARGITAY, who is, on a completely unrelated side note, Jane Mansfield's daughter (And if you don't know who Jane Mansfield is then look it up.  You're already online, for Pete's sake.  How hard is it to use a search engine.  Do I have to do everything for you people?  Sheesh.  But, yet again, I digress).  You probably remember Mariska for her brief role as the receptionist on "ER" that fell for Dr. Greene.  Back then, she had hair about midback with bangs, which was fine for her character, a new arrival from West Virginia (or was it Tennessee?  Or Kentucky?  One of those.  Whatever).  However, this fall, she stars in the new spinoff "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and thus needed a style befitting her role as a NYPD detective (or prosecutor).  The result is a neck-length shag with grown out bangs.
 

Before	After

FLEA'S CALL:  Ok, I'll buy the fact that she needed something a bit more sophisticated for the new character (though, Angie Harmon on original "Law & Order" has great long hair and she portrays a prosecutor).  You can't tell me, however, that this is an improvement.  For one thing, Mariska looks better with bangs.  Second, given her round face shape and strong jawline, the length should be below her chin.  Basically, the cut just isn't flattering on her.  It's always frustrating to me when someone has a great hairstyle and then makes the mistake of adopting one or more of the current styling cues (e.g., no bangs, shag) that are the exact opposite of what works best on them.  Oh well, she's got an entire season for the style to evolve...assuming, of course, the show makes it to next May.

The next big tidbit I have (Big tidbit.  There's an oxymoron to add to your collection) about the fall TV season is on MOIRA KELLY.  Last fall, Moira was in a short-lived series on CBS called "To Have and To Hold".  In it, though she portrayed an attorney (I think), she was also the romantic lead, thus  requiring her character have a softer edge.  As such, Moira kept the wavy shoulder-length style she wore prior to joining the series.  Well, though that show didn't make it, Moira bounced back to join the cast of the NBC series "The West Wing" premiering this fall (and written by the same guy who does "SportsNight", an excellent show in and of itself).  In the new series which is set in the White House, Moira's character is, I believe, the press secretary...or maybe a lobbiest.  In any case, the new role apparently demanded a new, more serious (whatever that is) 'do and so Moira lopped all of the waves off into a very short crop.  Like Debrah Farentino, this pixie is the shortest I can remember seeing Moira's hair. 
 

Before	After

FLEA'S CALL:  Ironically, I almost did a story on Moira last fall about the fact that she had grown her hair out.  After checking around a bit, I discovered that she had worn the style for a while, but I just hadn't seen her.  I still almost reported on it since I thought it really looked terrific on her, but due to the lack of a decent photo and since it wasn't really news, I skipped it.  Now, I have to report that she chopped it all off.  Not only that, but it may be conceivably the most unattractive cut they could have chosen for Moira, while still leaving her with some hair.  I don't think you need me to point out that it isn't remotely as flattering as her previous style.  Frankly, I'm at a loss as to why she needed to change it at all or at least hack it this short.  Don't get me wrong (as Chrissy Hynde would say), it's not that Moira can't wear short hair.  It's simply that THIS short hair just isn't her.  Heck, I don't think it's anybody.

Virginia Hey pictures courtesy Virginia-Hey.Com, Debrah Farentino pictures courtesy The Debrah Farentino Site, Moira Kelly photos courtesy CBS and NBC.

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