Poor Kirsten
To my utter disappointment, Kirsten Dunst has just joined the ranks of troubled starlets seeking treatment. According to People, Dunst checked into the Cirque Lodge in Utah on Wednesday, joining fellow screen siren Eva Mendes there for some much needed rest. The couch cushions are probably still warm from Lindsay Lohan’s summer 2007 stint.
Dunst was one young actress that I thought had managed to somehow elude falling into this increasingly trite tale. For the most part, she stays out of the headlines, save for an ongoing interest in her love life. But even that has not been such a relatively “hot” topic since her very public relationship with Jake Gyllenhaal ended back in 2004.
Rather, what Kirsten is most notably recognized for is being a distinguished talent in sea of hollow young actress. It is what’s gotten her desirable roles throughout her considerably long acting career and what elicits respect from some notable Hollywood forces, such as the likes of Sofia Coppola. Furthermore, the actress has a pretty beefy film repertoire. With movies like Marie Antoinette, The Virgin Suicides, and the Spiderman trilogy under her belt, her acting chops are indisputable.
However, when a young starlet decides it is time for some self-healing, no amount of talent will keep her safe from the public’s very critical eye. And, accordingly, addressing this public–media and its consumers alike, takes some finesse. What is most crucial now is establishing that Kirsten will come back into acting and not be defined by this moment alone, for that would be an unfortunate distraction from a truly good actress.
What her people have done and what they need to do is continue to be honest and forthright. Admitting like they did in the People article that the impetus for making this decision likely stemmed from the crushing news of Heath Ledger’s passing is a smart move. Not only does it ground this somewhat surprising news in reality, it also helps it make very much sense. In fact, I would guess that many will find her willingness to put her life in check admirable and praiseworthy. Frankly, if Dunst can manage to go Utah and do exactly what she went there to do, something many of its previous guests have so clearly failed at, then this too shall pass.
