"Wow!" Amy Acker is brilliant

[ana8]

"Wow!" Amy Acker is brilliant


Every season, there are performances that make me go "Wow!"

I'm not talking about people I've loved from the moment they hit the small screen (like Adam Brody, Jennifer Garner, Gregory Smith, Lauren Graham or Jason Bateman). This column is about the actors who took their game to the next level this season. [This] brilliant performances left me in awe.

Amy Acker as Fred/Illyria on "Angel": I've always enjoyed Acker's cute, giggly Fred. But as Simon Cowell would say, if I'm going to be perfectly honest, I never really gave her much thought. Her performance as Illyria has been chilling. I never once thought she had this in her. She changed her voice, her movements, the whole way she carries herself. Her entire body was transformed. If I didn't know better, I honestly would have thought a different actress was playing the role. Seriously, they didn't even have to dye her hair blue. The full breadth of Acker's ability was demonstrated last week when she flip-flopped back and forth between Illyria and Illyria pretending to be Fred (it reminded me of the nuanced performance David Boreanaz gave when he was Angel pretending to be Angelus.) Of series creator's Joss Whedon's many talents, one may be his ability to recognize that this kind of greatness exist within his stars.

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[Willow02]

I totally agree. She is an amazing actress.

[bad_azz_slayer]

yes she is better as illyria she made her voice go about 10 times deeper lol i think amy has been wonderful this season but i do feel bad for her since that costume is soo tight it has to be hot lol

[Angels baby101]

I agree Amy is a very tallented actress to go from playing fred for 3 or 4 years to playing this totally new person then having to switch back to Fred she is very talented and i as well feel bad for her having to wear that outfit...

[LadyLavinia]

Honestly?

Amy Acker was good, but I got the feeling that she was playing a second-rate version of Seven-of-Nine from VOYAGER. And quite frankly, not only did Jeri Ryan filled the catsuit better, she was also a slightly better actress. I also noticed that Ms. Acker was impersonating Halle Berry's portrayal of Storm in X-MEN 2. Especially with the birdlike quirk of the head. C'mon Amy! Couldn't you have been a little more original?

And I was not pleased by the way Whedon allowed Ms. Acker's new character to dominate the series from episodes 16 to 22. Very shoddy of him.

[Lethe]

Honestly?

Amy Acker was good, but I got the feeling that she was playing a second-rate version of Seven-of-Nine from VOYAGER. And quite frankly, not only did Jeri Ryan filled the catsuit better, she was also a slightly better actress. I also noticed that Ms. Acker was impersonating Halle Berry's portrayal of Storm in X-MEN 2. Especially with the birdlike quirk of the head. C'mon Amy! Couldn't you have been a little more original?

And I was not pleased by the way Whedon allowed Ms. Acker's new character to dominate the series from episodes 16 to 22. Very shoddy of him.


Storm? You've got to be kidding me. Halle Berry and Amy Acker performed nothing alike. Sorry - don't see it at all.

[Xander]

I loved Illyria's awkwardness, I mean she/he/it was a giant evil demon, now its trapped in a tiny pretty shell, she's bound to find it awkward. I think she has been great this season, I love Fred but Illyria shows Amy's skills.

Joss said he wrote the change because he saw how well Amy did at their infamous Shakespear readings.

[LadyLavinia]

Storm? You've got to be kidding me. Halle Berry and Amy Acker performed nothing alike. Sorry - don't see it at all.

Check out their physical actions, sometimes. Especially when both characters quirk their heads. You'll see what I mean.

[Jacklyn]

LadyLavinia-Is it just me or do you have a problem with anything having to do with Amy and Fred?

I see no resemblence between Amy's phenomenal portrayal of Illyria and Berry's less then adequate portrayal of Storm.....Halle is just REALLY bad in both X-Men pictures...Amy is brilliant as both of her two characters.

[LadyLavinia]

LadyLavinia-Is it just me or do you have a problem with anything having to do with Amy and Fred?

I see no resemblence between Amy's phenomenal portrayal of Illyria and Berry's less then adequate portrayal of Storm.....Halle is just REALLY bad in both X-Men pictures...Amy is brilliant as both of her two characters.


Apparently, you have a problem with Halle Berry. At least Ms. Berry didn't copy a mannerism from someone else's performance, like Ms. Acker. And Ms. Berry can also boast several major acting awards like an Oscar, an Emmy, a Golden Globe and a SAG. Can Amy Acker?

And yes, I do have a problem with Amy. One, I'm sick and tired of people regarding her as the darling of Mutant Enemy. Illyria was NOT an original character. Jeri Ryan, Jolene Blalock and Laura Bertram have all portrayed similar chacters. All Ms. Acker was doing was impersonating them. Along with a physical quirk Halle Berry used in "X-MEN".

Amy Acker made a lousy leading lady for most of Season 5 and there are several other Mutant Enemy actresses who are more talented than she. So, yeah, I have a problem that she's receiving all of this accolade for nothing. Especially since Illyria's prescence on ANGEL ended up being irrevelant to the story.

[Emma Caulfield]

Amy's so talented!! The way she can play a character like Fred and the Illyria proves that ;)

[LadyLavinia]

Any competent actress could pull what Amy Acker did. Charisma Carpenter did the same in S4. Alyson Hannigan, Sarah Michelle Geller and Eliza Dushku have all proven this. What is the big deal about Amy Acker?

[Jacklyn]

You are correct-many actresses have played dual roles, but the reason why people appreciate Amy's turn as Fred and then Illyria is the polar opposites of the two characters. Others have done this as well, but that doesn't make Amy's accomplishments in this area any less.

[LadyLavinia]

You are correct-many actresses have played dual roles, but the reason why people appreciate Amy's turn as Fred and then Illyria is the polar opposites of the two characters. Others have done this as well, but that doesn't make Amy's accomplishments in this area any less.

Again, what Amy had done was nothing new. Both SMG and Eliza Dukshu did the same in a two-part episode during BtVS's Season 4. David Boreanaz and James Marsters have been doing just that, since BUFFY first began, with their portrayals of their characters' souled vampire, unsouled vampire and human selves. Tom Lenk has portrayed two characters on BUFFY. Alyson Hannigan has portrayed nice, sweet Willow, Dark Willow and Vamp Willow.

Even actresses like Jeri Ryan and Laura Bertram have done the same on their respective shows.

The reason why I resent all of this attention upon Amy Acker is that she has done nothing what someone else has done before her. Her interpretation was NOT that spectacular. And I especially resent the fact that Whedon had allowed her new character to dominate the show, especially since she's not the star and her character had really done nothing to serve the overall plot.

[Joan]

I think Amy's ablity to change between sweet, coy Fred and a more dominating character like Illyria is amazing.
I recently met Amy at a convention and at a fan's request, she did the 'You are not unpleasant to my eyes.' line of Illyria's. Seeing how easy she can change betweeen such polar oppsosites like that is definatley grounds for some kind of an award. She truly deserves it.

[Cordelia Chase*]

Of course she does! Amy is an unbelievable actor! Thats why Leery was brought in. To show what a good actress she is.

[LadyLavinia]

Of course she does! Amy is an unbelievable actor! Thats why Leery was brought in. To show what a good actress she is.

Amy Acker wasn't the best actor or actress on that show. J. August Richards was just as incredible in S5. So was Alexis Denisof. Both Charisma Carpenter and Stephanie Romanov were just as good, and made better leading ladies. And James Marsters surpassed them all. Again, it seems that everyone has caught Whedon's "Let's Praise/Worship Amy" bug.

[Archon]

Amy Acker wasn't the best actor or actress on that show. J. August Richards was just as incredible in S5. So was Alexis Denisof. Both Charisma Carpenter and Stephanie Romanov were just as good, and made better leading ladies. And James Marsters surpassed them all. Again, it seems that everyone has caught Whedon's "Let's Praise/Worship Amy" bug.

it sounds to me like you just dont like amy, which makes me wonder why you would post in a thread giving her props.....kinda off topic bashing isnt it?

but hey whatever, you got the right to your opinion, but I'd add that at least the American Academy of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror Films thought she did well enough to give her the 2004 Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series award (just food for thought)

[Lee]

I think its wicked that people have realised what a great actress she really is through Illyria :D
Im so proud, lol...

[No, I am Doyle]

I do like the performance that Amy Acker gives as Illyria (it really shows off that she has diversity), but I find myself missing Fredlekins.

[Lee]

Oh, everyone will miss Fred, I still do, its really sad to think that the cutest and sweetest of the Fang Gang is gone, but I still love Illyria! *swoons!*

[SimplyQueen]

I think Amy did a great job on Angel. As Fred she was a science geek who the team could easily trust and love. I mean really, would you want some stranger solving equations for you when you're trying to save the world? Lol. And as Illyria, is it THAT obvious? Angel and the team are in a war. Illyria is a DEMON who once RULED the world. Who better than to give helpful hints? Even if she doesn't mean to do so. She has the power and knowledge to add to the show. Pretty important characters. Amy Acker isn't the best actress, but she's still better than most. But hey, it's hard to be original these days, everything has already been done. That doesn't make them horrible if a few movements happen to be the same. It's kind of hard to make up movements for a million year old demon now taking the form of a human. Lol.

[LadyLavinia]

I think Amy did a great job on Angel. As Fred she was a science geek who the team could easily trust and love. I mean really, would you want some stranger solving equations for you when you're trying to save the world? Lol. And as Illyria, is it THAT obvious? Angel and the team are in a war. Illyria is a DEMON who once RULED the world. Who better than to give helpful hints? Even if she doesn't mean to do so. She has the power and knowledge to add to the show. Pretty important characters. Amy Acker isn't the best actress, but she's still better than most.

Most what? Most of the actresses from Jossverse? I'd highly disagree with that assessment.

[SimplyQueen]

Most what? Most of the actresses from Jossverse? I'd highly disagree with that assessment.

Most actresses in general. Not like the all-glorious stars who are in every movie and are payed millions. I'm saying acting, wannabes and actual stars.

[nerd4hire]

Illyria is kind of a Goddess, and Amy Acker fits the part perfectly. :thumbsup: Go Amy.

[destructo_girl]

I totally agree, I think Amy Acker is an extremely talented actress by being able to play such completely different roles and being able to switch from each one takes a very skilled actress/actor.

[Caritas]

Honestly?

Amy Acker was good, but I got the feeling that she was playing a second-rate version of Seven-of-Nine from VOYAGER. And quite frankly, not only did Jeri Ryan filled the catsuit better, she was also a slightly better actress. I also noticed that Ms. Acker was impersonating Halle Berry's portrayal of Storm in X-MEN 2. Especially with the birdlike quirk of the head. C'mon Amy! Couldn't you have been a little more original?

And I was not pleased by the way Whedon allowed Ms. Acker's new character to dominate the series from episodes 16 to 22. Very shoddy of him.

You are kidding me, right. Jeri Ryan is really not all that fantastic an actress. And personally I think Amy's more attractive as well, but yes, Jeri has bigger breasts.



I think Amy Acker is quite fantastic though. I thought the comparison to David's performance was fairly apt, but I think Amy's Illyria-as-Fred was much more convincing than David's Angelus-as-Angel. This may simply be because, though I love David, Amy is just the better actor of the two, in my opinion.

[Cordelia Chase*]

In my opinion, Amy is an amazing actor!!!!! The way she portrayed Illyria was awesome!!!!!! We were used to the geeky, goofy, hilarious, yet smart was of Fred! It was amazing how she can switch into the mood of Illyria. I love Amy Acker!

[SpikedBuffy]

Amy is an actress, and it's her job to be good.

She played Fred wonderfully, and shocked most people by her immediate switch into Illyria. That shows good skills; to move from one character to another, in the span of one episode, and still retain some qualities of the previous character.

Also, Amy has done well on other projects. She has reportedly been great in Alias, and I think she was even on Supernatural and played a good part.

[M-a-r-c]

WOW! Amy Acker is brilliant! fact.

I dont think any other actress could have played the transformation from fred to Illyria quite as well as Amy. She IS brilliant. (in my opinion, lol)

[alluring dejection]

Also, not only did she play the Fred we've come to love and adore as well as Illyria, but she also portrayed the crazy/unstable Fred in Pylea. She said herself she's had so many opportunities to play various characters on the one show alone. Now, I don't think Amy's the best actress on the show, but she's good nonetheless.

[Edmund Blackadder]

I've just read this thread and I have to say, I thought Amy did a remarkable job.

She played her character well and I truly enjoyed her.

I am not going to compare her to teh other actors that have been dropped because thats not the point of this thread.

Amy not only did what asked of her by performing characters that were worlds apart, she did them amazingly well.

[palabravampiress]

I just found this thread, too.

I was consistently impressed with Amy Acker's performances on Angel. I loved watching her slow transformation from girl-in-a-cave to Head of W&H's R&D department. Her performances during Fred's introduction were brilliant. Her performances during the episode centering around Fred's death were out-of-this-world amazing. The performances that she gave while shifting between Fred and Illyria so convincingly, however, was beautiful and brilliant.

I even showed it to my family last time they were in town (the episode in which Illyria plays Fred for Fred's parents). The moment of tension in which Wes confronts Illyria and she asks if he wants her to stop with Fred's parents' so nearby is, for me, one of the most memorable moments from the entire Buffyverse. It gave me chills. It also made me feel. I felt horribly sad because I missed Fred. I felt angry, too, at the way Illyria was posing as the woman she'd killed. I'm no actor, so when I judge a performance, I go strictly by gut reaction. Most performances don't make me feel anything at all. In the Buffyverse, many make me think, but few make me feel. Some, like SMG's portrayal of Faith in Buffy's body, make me think, "hey, that's neat; I'll bet she's doing a good job!" The fact that this performance actually elicited a strong emotional response from me makes it rare even for performances of this type. That rarity causes me me think it must have been a phenomenal performance, indeed.

[Entiel]

Well in my opinion Amy Acker did a great job through the series..I loved her as Fred and worshiped her as Illyria..I don't see a point in comparing her with other actors..she was really funny in her funny parts and well who can tell that wasn't touched by her performance in Wesley's death?

I love you.My love,oh my love... </3

[Crazy Flakes]

Amy Acker was just fantastic! I don't think she ever delivered a line poorly as Fred or Illyria, and they were both completely different characters. She was completely convincing and could play humor or drama without missing a beat, and few actors can do that. Plus, she really knows how to break your heart when she wants to...*cries at the thought of Fred and Wesley dying*

[Jaded Wolf]

I don't think anyone is trying to say Amy Acker is better than other actresses. Why can't a compliment be given without other people saying, "Who cares? Did you see what so and so did?"

Amy Acker did do a great job with the switch. I, too, was amazed at not only the physical transformation but also the whole personality type as well. I had a hard time at first that was still Amy Acker playing Illyria.

That is one of the MANY things I like about Joss Whedon. He can find these actors who can pull off multiple roles and make you believe they are completely different even with the same actor.

P.S. Who cares who has won Grammy's, Oscar's, etc. Most of those award shows are invalid and pointless. They're catered to big names instead of actual good-quality films. I don't waste my time with award shows anymore.

[LadyLavinia]

Amy Acker is a very good actress. The problem is that I'm not a fan of the Fred Burkle and Illyria characters.