Don't Stop Believin' ...

I know that it's superficial and unrealistic to idolize celebrities, however, I can't help but yearn to one day share some common attributes with a few of my favorites. Here are my top 5 (of right now) and why I love them. I realize that each of these people have less than desirable qualities or aspects that may seem contradictory to something I'm praising another one for, but that's the point, isn't it? If they were everything wonderful, I'd want to be just like them! Instead, I'd rather be Kayla Lane and aspire toward the same achievements as the following celebrated peoples.

In no particular order, my celebrity role-models:

1>>> Diablo Cody



Why I love her: Diablo Cody is one of few highly-recognized female screen writers. Her script, "Juno", was off-beat, quirky and absolutely true to Diablo's voice as a writer and personality. She has a great sense of humor in her scripts and her editorials and her interviews. "Juno" was well-written, and was critically acclaimed despite the odds -- and throughout all the celebrity buzz, Daiblo Cody has remained her same old, imperfect, slightly tawdry self. (Plus, I love animal print and red lipstick!)


2>>> Angelina Jolie



Yes, she's gorgeous. Yes, she's married to Brad Pitt. Yes, she makes great movies. But besides all that, what make Angelina Jolie a knockout for me is her commitment to utilizing her celebrity status as a launching pad for humanitarian work. She donates so much of her time and money to global relief without becoming an angry-clove-burning-guilt-tripping-riot-starting belligerent that greatly annoys me. She just seems to possess herself with an overwhelming amount of peace and decorum. Plus, I admire her huge family and penchant for global adoptions. Even when I was in elementary school, I always wanted to adopt children from around the planet. I would buy Cabbage Patch kids in all different colors and ethnicity. That menagerie was my idea of a perfect family, and it still is. Angelina devotes so much time to her children; I believe her to be a very excellent mother.


3>>>> Johnny Depp



No, I am not merely a fan girl who has only seen Pirates as well as Edward Scissorhands (to get me some street cred, right?) and claims that Johnny Depp is my favorite actor ever. I've seen 16 of his movies, and not just because he's amazingly gorgeous. Johnny Depp is great because right from the get-go he decided that he did not want to be a teen heart throb. He ditched Jump Street and chased roles that were quirky and creepy and a little uncomfortable. He never did the same thing twice, and he always stayed true to himself. He creates a character in such a way that an audience can not even imagine any other actor in the same role, or even break away from the illusion long enough to remember that the character's are not real, only figments of a talented artist. His career is steady and full on longevity. Johnny knows who to network with, has made some good friends like Tim Burton. The pair have acquired a symbiotic relationship of sorts. He is the muse to Burton's artistry. Johnny Depp is unabashedly himself, dresses in kitschy yet classy attire, and never fails to impress me with his art.


4>>>> Kate Winslet



Once again, the Angelina Jolie curse: Yes, she is gorgeous. Yes, she is talented. Yes, she is famous. But what else? Kate Winslet is a wonderful representation of the beautiful, curvy woman. She has always openly opposed Hollywood's standard of rail-thin beauty and has fought the press against airbrushing her photos to make her appear slimmer. She refuses to lose weight, and still looks gorgeous despite all the hell from critical press. Kate is so proud of her womanly curves that she even shot a nude scene for a film, free of fancy lighting, expertly placed bedsheets, or even Brazillian bare grooming. ... And she still looked fabulous. I must say, I am also very partial to Kate for she did play the starring role in my favorite (or maybe second favorite) movie of all time, The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Her talent and her curves and her "fuck you, Barbie!" attitude make Kate Winslet one of my favorite celebrities.


5>>>>> Tina Fey



Oh Tina Fey, how I love thee. She really is quite stellar. Absolutely articulate, witty, and bright with dashing good looks in a snazzy nerdy way that makes all the intellectual girls say yay! She started in improv (probably the most fun a human being can have on stage) and worked her way up as the FIRST head-writer of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. Ever. And that show has been around forever! Then she moved on to being a regular cast member, and basically shining as the crown jewel of the show. She departed to write and star in her own smart sitcom (oxymoron, right?) and in now highly successful despite not fitting the typical Hollywood mold. I love Tina Fey.




So where does that leave me? Basically, in a hodge podge of goals and aspirations that I wish to achieve and ways in which I wish to live my life. I hope I don't appear to be a stupid girl who's obsessed with celebrity. It's not about these people being famous. They just happen to each personify bits and pieces of my overall goal of living a life I've imagined. Sometimes it's helpful for me to see it manifested in someone else to know that I can achieve the same things.



>>>> Kayla Lane

Kayla Lane will be a highly successful writer, actress, and humanitarian. I will be a role-model for realistic body images in Hollywood, and definitely rock the Geek chic with my thick rimmed purple glasses and intellectual aura. I will be compassionate and generous with my time and wealth. I will travel the world and force open the eyes of people who would rather turn away from global tragedy. I will write screenplays of dark comedy, and Kafka-esque romance and political satire. I will never play the same role twice, and I'll make sure that women start to get a fair shake in Hollywood. Girls will no longer have to play only the damsels or the gossip girls. I'll write the roles that mainstream directors won't want to touch, but when they take a chance on me -- you might just be surprised. Maybe one day I'll be recognized for my work in writing and acting, and maybe one day I won't. Maybe I'll have a small loyal fan base, and maybe that will be all. I know that I'll be happy, as long as I keep chasing these dreams. Kayla Lane will be quirky, inspiring, witty, curvy, strong, inspirational, generous, talented, unique, entertaining, humble, compassionate, hilarious, intellectual, hard-working, successful, peaceful, and happy.