Why are there few dynamic roles for women in Hollywood?

Question

I was thinking about Daniel Plainview during lunch after seeing an ad for 'There Will Be Blood'. It got me wondering why there are so few dynamic characters like that for women in the movies.

It can't be sexism since there are many female producers and writers. Women pay to see films, too.

Why do we rarely see women playing intense characters?

Most of them are cutesy, fashionable or seductive.

Do you women get sick of being represented in mostly romance comedies?

Answer 1

There aren't enough women with real power in Hollywood.  There aren't that many female producers and writers, not compared to the amount of men who are writers and producers.

It's sad really, but there aren't many female character actors out there.  The reason being is that women are many times chosen for roles based on their look rather then their talent.

Also, of course the people who put out the films only want to back the types of films that have proven they have made money in the past.  That means we have the same five or six movies coming out time and time again.  

Sad really...

If you want to see this change you should back my movie.  :)

Answer 2

There's a lack of dynamic roles for anyone who isn't a white, straight male.  Look at the roles available to black actors - primarily criminals or reformed criminals, maybe an athlete.  Other minorities have it even worse.

Right wingers constantly complain about how evil and leftist Hollywood is, but it's an industry that caters primarily to young white men.  Everything is geared toward them.

Answer 3

Occasionally there will be a script involving a woman in a dynamic role floating around among the TV and film people. Many of them, however, get rejected by the suits. The writers of Cagney & Lacey had to battle executives relentlessly before they could get the show on air. The woman who adapted The Women's Room for TV had to do the same, and she only got a one-night special instead of the miniseries she requested, after much protest from the religious Right.

Answer 4

As an actor who is openly g*y I think it is annoying that there don't seem to be many dynamic g*y and L*****n characters written into films

Brokeback Mountain was fab but thats just one in a million.