Homage or chance?

Actresses shaving their heads for a role has become something of a trend in the New Century. If Roger Ebert were still around he might add this to the next edition of his book “Ebert’s Little Movie Glossary: A Compendium of Movie Clichés, Stereotypes, Obligatory Scenes, Hackneyed Formulas, Shopworn Conventions, And Outdated Archetypes” – one of the most treasured items in my film reference collection. In recent years we have seen the bald heads of Kristin Stewart, Karen Gillan, Charlize Theron, Natalie Portman, and Tilda Swinton among many others.

I can’t begin to guess what the impulse was that began this tendency or why, after so many women have done it, it is still considered “brave” and “edgy.”