Genuine movie stars possess what Jung had called “numinous” personality, one so dazzling that it evoked the goddesses of antiquity.
The expression: “the strange, numinous beauty of this ancient landmark.”
According to this view, stars possess a strong religious or spiritual quality, indicating or suggesting the presence of divinity.
This may be the reason why Garbo was referred by some to as “The Divine” (“La Divina”).
That Little Something Extra
James Mason expressed that notion in the George Cukor’s 1954 musical drama, A Star Is Born, while he talks about Judy Garland: “She’s got that little something extra.” He quotes actress Ellen Terry for credibility. The scene takes place while he is watching Garland perform the lengthy number, “The Man That Got Away.”
Mythic Screen Roles
The mythic quality may be a result of playing an extremely powerful screen role, which indelibly associates an actor with a larger-than-life character in a popular movie, seen by large audiences.
John Wayne in The Searchers, or True Grit
Charlton Heston in The Ten Commandments
Peter O’Toole in Lawrence of Arabia
Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Terminator
Stallone in the Rocky franchise and Rambo series
Tom Cruise in Top Gun
Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth
Range
Most durable movie stars did not disappoint or surprise ther viewers. Once they found their “niche” (be it a genre, a part, or an image), and apt mode of projecting and delivering it, they stayed with their narrow sets of screen roles for as long as audiences found them desirable.
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