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A first look at Paul Bettany as "Da Vinci Code's" sinister Silas.
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Yet another actor aspiring to be albino.
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"Da Vinci Code" fans can finally assess director Ron Howard's choice to portray the lethal albino monk Silas: pale British thespian Paul Bettany. This pic, taken on the "Code" set, shows a less-than-threatening Bettany working with the crew. Though Bettany does not actually have the inherited deficit in pigment production known as albinism, it doesn't take a dermatologist to see that fair-skinned Bettany is better cast as Silas than in a biopic of sun addict George Hamilton.
To their credit, the film's producers appear to have conservatively recreated the appearance of albinism. Bettany's blond hair has been dyed platinum, but unlike some evil albino roles, the makeup artists have retained his normal flesh tone rather dousing him in jarring clown-white paint. In the book, author Dan Brown writes that Silas' "irises were pink with dark red pupils," exploiting the common misconception that people with albinism have red eyes. Though it is not clear from the photo, I hope no Satanic red contact lenses will be employed.
In January 2005, NOAH, an albinism advocacy group, asked the film's producers to consider keeping Silas scary, but to drop the albino aspect. Clearly, the producers decided keep the sharp shooter pale. While the studio has given no official word, sources associated with the film have suggested that Silas will be made more sympathetic than sinister. Bettany, a strong technical strong actor, may have the talent to pull this off. If director Howard manages to depict this gun-toting, self-flagellating, murderous monk sympathetically, as far as this film fan is concerned, he'll have earned a second Oscar nomination.
In related news, after nearly 30 years of evil albino movie characters, 2005 looks to be the second year in a row that no major releases feature a villain with albinism. Perhaps Hollywood is getting the message that the stereotypically evil albino is better suited to the retirement home rather than movie screens.
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