https://padlet.com/201412375/mq57dor5ctdzjmc2 Exploration into the star image of Hollywood and Theatre actor Kevin Spacey en-us 2022-11-02 15:06:16 UTC 2025-11-13 08:57:52 UTC hello@padlet.com 201412375 https://padlet.com/201412375/mq57dor5ctdzjmc2/wish/2377611231 Kevin Spacey made his beginnings in theatre in 1981 but it was his role in Jonathan Miller's production of Eugene O'Neill's Long Days Journey into Night in 1986 which gave him his break. ]]> 2022-11-09 22:46:50 UTC https://padlet.com/201412375/mq57dor5ctdzjmc2/wish/2377611231 201412375 https://padlet.com/201412375/mq57dor5ctdzjmc2/wish/2377614474 Spacey made his first film appearance in Mike Nichol's Heartburn alongside Hollywood heavyweights Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep. He only played a minor, unnamed role - listed as Subway Thief on IMDb ]]> 2022-11-09 22:51:47 UTC https://padlet.com/201412375/mq57dor5ctdzjmc2/wish/2377614474 201412375 https://padlet.com/201412375/mq57dor5ctdzjmc2/wish/2377622073 Spacey made his Hollywood breakthrough with his Academy Award winning performance in Brian Singer's The Usual Suspects (1995). From there he was propelled into stardom, becoming a household Hollywood name after roles in Se7en (David Fincher, 1995), L.A Confidential (Curtis Hansen, 1997) and his second Academy Award win: American Beauty (Sam Mendes, 1999). ]]> 2022-11-09 23:02:41 UTC https://padlet.com/201412375/mq57dor5ctdzjmc2/wish/2377622073 201412375 https://padlet.com/201412375/mq57dor5ctdzjmc2/wish/2377643313 Having reached the heights of fame in the mid to late 90s, Spacey was of course a subject of public curiosity. Yet he was 'famously private' and would 'deflect... questions about his personal life' (Rollo, 2018. p72.). This was combined with a rumour within the industry that led to a controversial article on his suspected homosexuality. ]]> 2022-11-09 23:33:01 UTC https://padlet.com/201412375/mq57dor5ctdzjmc2/wish/2377643313 201412375 https://padlet.com/201412375/mq57dor5ctdzjmc2/wish/2377656461 Esquire journalist Tom Junod attempted to break Spacey's poorly kept secret in an article claiming even his mother knew Kevin Spacey was gay- drawing on the industry rumours and common suspicions in a seeming attempt to sabotage Spacey's upkept purely-professional-actor star persona. The Washington Post reported that in response Spacey 'called the magazine "dishonest and malicious," saying that "Esquire has made it abundantly clear that they have now joined the ranks of distasteful journalism, and this mean-spirited, homophobic, offensive article proves that the legacy of Joseph McCarthy is alive and well."'. Though brushing off the article as libellous in an effort to save his image, this left an everlasting stain on his career, and he was dubbed 'by public relations CEO Howard Bragman [as being in a] "glass closet". ]]> 2022-11-09 23:50:40 UTC https://padlet.com/201412375/mq57dor5ctdzjmc2/wish/2377656461 201412375 https://padlet.com/201412375/mq57dor5ctdzjmc2/wish/2377666192 Following the now well known rumour of Spacey's homosexuality, he took on what is arguably his most famous role and the role that won him his only Best Actor Academy Award at the 72nd Academy Awards in March 2000. In light of Spacey's current modern day image as a suspected sexual abuser, this film is the first but not only scenario in which the lines between actor and role are blurred. Spacey's role in the film includes an obsession with his daughters underaged friend and subsequent sexual encounter with her, the film also presents the role of a closeted gay man in the form of Chris Cooper's Colonel Fitts. ]]> 2022-11-10 00:01:35 UTC https://padlet.com/201412375/mq57dor5ctdzjmc2/wish/2377666192 201412375 https://padlet.com/201412375/mq57dor5ctdzjmc2/wish/2377680657 Spacey began to diversify his portfolio in the 21st century, continuing his theatre and on screen acting, delving into the Royal Shakespeare Company in the former and more comedic roles in the latter such as Horrible Bosses and Austin Powers in Goldmember (playing a cameo role as himself playing 'Famous Dr. Evil', another example that feels somewhat ironic in light of newer information). He also delved into the popular Superman franchise as Lex Luthor in Superman Returns and later appeared in popular video game franchise Call of Duty. These accolades boast his identity as an actor of immense popularity through his appearance in many genres and mediums of pop cultural importance. ]]> 2022-11-10 00:16:40 UTC https://padlet.com/201412375/mq57dor5ctdzjmc2/wish/2377680657 201412375 https://padlet.com/201412375/mq57dor5ctdzjmc2/wish/2377697881 Several sexual assault allegations come to light from multiple sources, the main being fellow actor Anthony Rapp who claims Spacey forced himself onto a 14 year old Rapp when he was 26. Spacey responds in a statement posted to twitter apologising for drunken behaviour and coming out as gay (https://twitter.com/KevinSpacey/status/924848412842971136). In the days following many more co-workers and associates claim many other counts of sexual assault and inappropriate behaviour. Spacey is dropped by Netflix as well as other studios and properties and the final season of House of Cards is postponed. ]]> 2022-11-10 00:31:35 UTC https://padlet.com/201412375/mq57dor5ctdzjmc2/wish/2377697881 201412375 https://padlet.com/201412375/mq57dor5ctdzjmc2/wish/2377702721 Kevin Spacey's most notable role before the allegations of sexual assault was that of the lead role of David Fincher Netflix series House of Cards in which he plays countlessly devious, fourth-wall-breaking politician Francis Underwood. ]]> 2022-11-10 00:35:49 UTC https://padlet.com/201412375/mq57dor5ctdzjmc2/wish/2377702721 201412375 https://padlet.com/201412375/mq57dor5ctdzjmc2/wish/2377706154 Following sexual assault allegations and investigation by UK and US police, Spacey faces multiple trials in both countries. He begins to post short videos to his YouTube channel on Christmas Eve of the years 2018, 2019 and 2020 in which he eerily appears as his House of Cards character Frank Underwood, yet speaks to the viewer in vague terms about his current star image crisis. Stating 'I know what you want, you want me back' and 'some believed everything and have just been waiting with baited breath for me to confess it all' in the first video, and in the second 'the next time someone does something you don't like [...] you can kill them with kindness' ]]> 2022-11-10 00:38:41 UTC https://padlet.com/201412375/mq57dor5ctdzjmc2/wish/2377706154 201412375 https://padlet.com/201412375/mq57dor5ctdzjmc2/wish/2377729185 Within the last few weeks of the time of writing (November 2022), Spacey has reappeared in the news again, this time with reports of his New York case raised by initial accuser Anthony Rapp being dismissed. He still faces trial in the UK in 2023, yet will make his return to film in Michael Zaiko Hall's Peter Five Eight due to be released in January 2023. ]]> 2022-11-10 00:56:41 UTC https://padlet.com/201412375/mq57dor5ctdzjmc2/wish/2377729185 201412375 https://padlet.com/201412375/mq57dor5ctdzjmc2/wish/2377741664 The immense controversy that has befallen Spacey's career gained the attention of academics in the field of star studies, particularly Dylan Rollo]]> 2022-11-10 01:06:54 UTC https://padlet.com/201412375/mq57dor5ctdzjmc2/wish/2377741664 201412375 https://padlet.com/201412375/mq57dor5ctdzjmc2/wish/2377743746 2022-11-10 01:08:41 UTC https://padlet.com/201412375/mq57dor5ctdzjmc2/wish/2377743746