.contact us |.about us
News > International News ... ...
Search:
    Advertisement
Feature: Actor-politicians face many pitfalls
( 2003-10-10 14:40) (Agencies)

From Bollywood stars to a deposed Philippine president, actors-turned-politicians warned Arnold Schwarzenegger that if he doesn't get his lines right as governor of California, he may be booed out by a fickle public.
Feature: Actor-politicians face many pitfalls
Former Philippine President Joseph Estrada's action hero past helped win votes.  [AP]
"The pitfall is if you do not perform in the movies, it's just acting. But in politics, it's real life," said Joseph Estrada, who should know -- he was ousted as president of the Philippines in massive protests and is now standing trial on corruption charges.

Speaking from a detention facility in Manila, Estrada advised Schwarzenegger to work at bringing his on-screen heroics to the tangled reality of politics.

"The so-called learned people, with all their master's degrees, have no monopoly on leadership," Estrada said Wednesday in a telephone interview, citing actor-turned-California governor-turned-president Ronald Reagan as his own inspiration.

"That's how I got the cue," he said.

A long list of Hollywood actors have made the transition to politics. Action stars have fared particularly well: Former professional wrestler Jesse "The Body" Ventura, who acted with Schwarzenegger in the films "Predator" and "The Running Man" was elected governor of Minnesota after serving as mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.

Clint Eastwood of "Dirty Harry" fame was elected mayor of the California coastal town of Carmel in 1986, although he served only two years before returning to acting and directing.

Feature: Actor-politicians face many pitfalls
Schwarzenegger is seen during campaign appearance in San Bernardino, California, October 6, 2003. [Reuters]
In Bollywood, India's Bombay-based movie mecca, which churns out 800 films a year, many actors have crossed from film to politics -- but the going can be tough.

India's most popular star, Amitabh Bachchan, won a seat in Parliament in the 1980s, but did not finish his five-year term, resigning in the wake of corruption allegations.

"There was too much mudslinging," said Komal Nata, editor of the Bombay movie trade guide Film Information. "He realized he was not cut out for it and he'd rather face the cameras and act."

Supernatural

Some Bollywood actors have stuck it out -- and found their on-screen personas and built-in fan bases to be major assets, especially for those who play Hindu gods and goddesses, whose supernatural powers appeal to voters.

Nandamoori Taraka Ramarao, known for his portrayals of Hindu gods, was twice elected by huge margins as chief minister of Andhra Pradesh state in the 1960s. Actress Jayalithaa, who frequently plays goddesses in Tamil-language films, is serving her second term as the top elected official in Tamil Nadu state -- winning re-election even while appealing a corruption conviction stemming from her first term.

Action star Shatrughan "Shotgun" Sinha is one of two Bollywood actors in India's federal Cabinet. He was demoted from the Health Ministry this year after prolonged criticism that he didn't show up for work and was seldom seen in Parliament.

Around the globe, actors and actresses have traded one form of limelight for another, with mixed success.

Feature: Actor-politicians face many pitfalls
Hard times: Booed out of office, Estrada now awaits trial on corruption charges. [AP] 
Actress Eva Peron was the virtual co-ruler of Argentina when her husband, Juan Peron, took power in 1946 -- a role chronicled in the popular musical and film, "Evita." Her husband's third wife, Isabel, a former cabaret dancer, became Argentina's president in 1974 but was ousted two years later in a coup.

Italy's most attention-grabbing actress-turned-politician was former porn star Ilona Staller, known as "Cicciolina," who was elected to Parliament in 1987. She failed in a political comeback last year, winning only 1.5 percent of the vote in the mayoral race in Monza, outside Milan.

Film director Franco Zeffirelli won election to Italy's Senate in 1996, with the party of current Premier Silvio Berlusconi.

Many Italian stars have failed in political bids, among them Gina Lollobrigida, who lost a European Parliament election in 1999.

In Egypt, singer Fayda Kamel won a Parliament seat in 1971 and has been re-elected ever since. Fatma Girik, a Turkish film star in the 1960s and 1970s, was elected mayor of a key Istanbul district, and Ediz Hun, a 1970s screen heartthrob, was elected to Parliament.

Danish comedian Jacob Haugaard was elected to Parliament in 1994, promising to support the rights of impotent men, put God back in churches and improve the weather. After four years in office, he accomplished little and did not seek another term. Now, he's back in the comedy business.

The pitfalls for actors-turned-politicians are that voters mistakenly believe the screen image is real, said actor Amin Hajee, who played a mute temple caretaker in the Indian film "Lagaan," nominated for a best foreign film Oscar last year.

While that may win votes, it can backfire.

"An action actor could be a mouse in real life," said Hajee. "What he portrays is not what he is. A film star can be a successful politician. So can a janitor. They just need to be responsive to the people."

 
Close  
   
  Today's Top News   Top International News
   
+WHO: Bird flu death rises to 15; vaccination recommended
(2004-02-05)
+Solana: EU ready to lift China arms embargo
(2004-02-05)
+Nation tops TV, cell phone, monitor production
(2004-02-05)
+Absence ... still makes China hot
(2004-02-05)
+Hu: Developing world in key role
(2004-02-04)
+WHO: Bird flu death rises to 15; vaccination recommended
(2004-02-05)
+Solana: EU ready to lift China arms embargo
(2004-02-05)
+US court clears way for gay marriages
(2004-02-05)
+Pakistan nuke scientist asks forgiveness
(2004-02-05)
+Sharon ready for referendum on scrapping settlements
(2004-02-05)
   
  Go to Another Section  
     
 
 
     
  Article Tools  
     
 
 
     
  Related Articles  
     
 

+California recall vote enters final hours
2003-10-08

+Actor-turned-politician Arnold
2003-10-08

+California picks actor as next governor
2003-10-08

+Schwarzenegger celebrates
2003-10-08

+Austrians cheer native son Arnie, papers puzzled
2003-10-09

   
        .contact us |.about us
  Copyright By chinadaily.com.cn. All rights reserved  
主站蜘蛛池模板: 91欧美在线视频| 久久乐国产精品亚洲综合| 狠狠爱无码一区二区三区| 四虎在线观看一区二区| 国产91在线九色| 国产精品无码专区在线观看| AAA级久久久精品无码片| 成人在线激情网| 久久久久亚洲AV成人片| 日韩视频一区二区在线观看| 亚洲国产成人精品激情| 欧美黄色免费看| 人妻体体内射精一区二区| 精品无码人妻一区二区三区品| 国产三级片在线观看| 骚包在线精品国产美女| 国产精亚洲视频| 2020国产精品永久在线| 国内精品国语自产拍在线观看55 | 中文字幕久久综合| 日本免费新一区二区三区| 久久综合久久美利坚合众国| 欧美一卡2卡3卡4卡5卡视频免费| 亚洲欧洲高清有无| 波多野结衣系列痴女| 伊人久久大香线蕉综合网站| 精品国产一区二区三区av片| 另类人妖交友网站| 美女扒开粉嫩尿口的漫画| 国产aⅴ精品一区二区三区久久| 青青青青青青久久久免费观看| 国产成人久久精品一区二区三区| 免费观看无遮挡www的小视频| 国产男女爽爽爽爽爽免费视频| 俄罗斯乱理伦片在线观看| 国产精品林美惠子在线观看| 4hc88四虎www在线影院短视频| 国产精品视频全国免费观看 | 日韩在线视精品在亚洲| 久久综合九色综合网站| 最近2019中文字幕mv免费看|