Wednesday 10 August 2011

LA Confidential: Basinger as Lake-a-like

We are all familiar with the character Lynn Bracken- a prostitute modelled to look like film star of the 1940s Veronica Lake. With Lake's famous peek-a-boo hairstyle, a lavish and luxurious home and beautiful gowns, Bracken looks every inch the movie star. Although it is clearly stated in the film that Bracken is modelled on Lake, I was shocked at how much she did not look like the chosen Hollywood goddess, but rather more like Rita Hayworth.

Not only does Kim Basinger have very similar features to Hayworth, but even the way stylists did her hair in the movie was more Hayworth than Lake. Aside from the fact Hayworth usually has red hair, her widow's peak was a little higher than you'd find in a peek-a-boo hairstyle, like the one used on Basinger.

Even at the end of the movie, when Bracken has left prostitution and her hair is clipped back, she looks more like Hayworth, especially from the film The Lady From Shanghai.
Kim Basinger as Lynn Bracken

Veronica Lake, the actress whom Bracken is supposed to be a lookalike of.
Rita Hayworth, whom I believe Basinger looks more like. Especially facially.

Bracken later in the film, where she is no longer emulating Lake. Still looks like Hayworth though.

Hayworth in The Lady from Shanghai.

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