by Adrian Foo
Fans of Maura Tierney
generally regard her as a great actress, and I suspect that many fans
intuitively recognize that there is also something special about her
that separates her from other great actors. The truth is that Maura
Tierney's acting is a lot more remarkable than people realize. In fact,
it is unique. This article deals with what makes Maura so special.
My own film viewing has been extensive enough to range as far back in time as Louis Feuillade's Juve contre Fantômas (1913) and as far afield as Djibril Diop Mambèty's Hyènes (Hyenas). Even though I pay more attention to directors than actors (directors usually being the real artists of the cinema), in the course of my film viewing I have seen all the actors who have established a reputation for greatness - from Garbo to Machiko Kyo. And yet, I was totally unprepared for my discovery of Maura Tierney. Her acting is so different from other actors and so purely possessed of artistic truth that she is virtually in a class by herself.
There are certain vital differences between what Tierney does and how conventional actors act. While one may still evaluate her in terms of conventional actors and find her to be a great actor, the full richness of her art requires us to look 'outside the box.' No one else has succeeded in doing, let alone attempted, what she is doing. I am not saying that everyone needs to look at Tierney's acting in this way, but I think that discussion of these 'vital differences' will lead to a deeper and richer appreciation of Tierney's art. The virtues of Maura are the same things that define my aesthetic sense - her acting is natural and true, inventive, graceful, and elegant in construction. In short, Maura Tierney is the most aesthetically pleasing actress I have ever seen.
Admittedly, this article is too theoretical for general consumption. Casual readers may want to stop here for what follows is a full-on, no-holds-barred excursion into film art, theory and history. But for those whose fascination with the art of Maura Tierney knows no bounds, read on to discover what makes her acting unique.
(Note: From this point on, for the purposes of simplicity, the word "actor" will be generically used without reference to gender.)
