Taylor Glad Not In TF2

It looks like Rachael Taylor has taken the "I am an artist!" road when expressing her relief at not being asked back for Transformers 2, at least that is my read of the article posted on MTV.

As Maggie Madsen, the Aussie actress played a computer analyst who was just as much eye candy as she was tech-smart. And while that was a “great experience,” Taylor said, it’s “not quite what I want to do” and it would defeat the purpose of becoming a better actor “if I was just going to become a ‘Transformers’ girl.” (Is that like being a Bond girl, with less prestige?)

“There’s a line in ‘Bottle Shock,’ ” her current film in theaters, “how ‘from hardship comes enlightenment,’ ” Taylor said. “Bill Pullman is talking about wine — the grape has to struggle and the dirt has to be dry for the wine to be good — but that’s a lovely metaphor for all artists, actors, painters, candlestick makers. There needs to be struggle, conflict and evolution.”

To transform herself, she said, she needs to do roles that aren’t quite as easy for her as “Transformers” was (in which she retained her native accent). ” ‘Transformers’ was important and defining for me because it taught me about what kinds of movies I want to make and the kind of actor I want to be, and I have a long way to go before I become that actor,” she said.

Which means no more blockbusters for a while. “It’s in independent film where I’m closer to becoming that actor,” she said. “So I’m going to stick to that world for a while. I have to earn my stripes. I don’t believe in winning the sprint. I would prefer to win the marathon. So I dodged a bullet there. Or a robot.”

As long as there is plenty of Transformer action, not particularly concerned with who plays the hot blonde role (currently Isabel Lucas). I will miss the hot Australian accent. Kind of a bit thankless though as I seriously doubt she would have the opportunities she has now if not for Transformers. It’s not a talent thing (I am sure she has plenty), it is an "I saw you in such and such and thought you would be great for this" thing that drives much of Hollywood casting. Often one role opens the door to the next one. Something that Rachael would be very wise to remember.