Before she became the Black Princess, Ella Enchanted, 27, was best known as the beautiful and talented actress who plays Jane in the upcoming film, Good Time. Ella is also the face of Marc Jacobs’ new fragrance, Marc Jacobs Fantasy. With her delicate features, piercing blue eyes, and thick, curly hair, it’s no wonder she’s become such a romantic idol among Hollywood’s young and fashionable crowds. Who is the Black actress that kisses Robert Pattinson in Good Time? Let’s take a look.
Ella Enchanted
The daughter of a photographer and a painter, Ella Enchanted was born in London and raised in Paris. At a very young age, she began performing in musicals and plays and won several awards for her work, including the Young Artist Award. She then attended New York University’s Dramatic Arts program and later went on to earn a master’s degree in acting from London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. After several years of living in the Big Apple, Ella returned to London and began working as an actress in film and television. Most recently, Ella portrayed the titular role of Jane in the Good Time, a character she describes as a ‘streetwise and sassy girl’. On the film’s opening weekend, it grossed $19.4 million at the box office. While the film might not be everyone’s cup of tea, with its urban fantasy and allusions to Alice in Wonderland and Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind, it’s certainly a unique story that Hollywood seems to be embracing these days.
Romantic Rivalry
In addition to portraying Jane in the upcoming Good Time, Ella also recently portrayed the role of Elizabeth in the hit film The Great Gatsby. It was during the filming of The Great Gatsby that co-star and filmmaker Baz Luhrmann and Robert Pattinson first clashed on the set. The two had an extended onscreen rivalry as Gatsby and Nick Carraway, who is played by Pattinson, each attempt to woo the same woman, Elizabeth. Their fight scenes were so intense that they were sometimes prohibited from continuing on set. According to Hollywood insiders, the tension continued well after the cameras stopped rolling. According to Luhrmann, “He [Pattinson] would come from Sydney, Australia, where he was filming, and we’d have words. It was an unbelievable rivalry. It was great. I think he really liked the challenge.”
While Gatsby’s Elizabeth might be gone, Ella Enchanted’s Jane is definitely still around and kicking. With her irresistible good looks, sassy attitude, and impressive acting range, it’s no wonder Hollywood is falling over itself to cast her in leading roles. It seems that as soon as she steps on set, everyone wants to work with her. This includes director Baz Luhrmann, who has already worked with her on The Great Gatsby and is now back for more. Luhrmann directed Ella in the upcoming film adaptation of the Broadway musical, The Musical. Additionally, she will star in the lead role of Billie in the stage adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird. If this isn’t enough for Ella, she will also be seen this year as Cinderella’s fairy godmother in Gus Van Sant’s reimagining of Disney’s classic, Cinderella. With so many high-profile projects in the pipeline, it’s clear that Ella Enchanted will only continue to rise as an actress in Hollywood.
It’s a good time to be Jane. Or is it? Let’s take a look…
Romantic Opportunities
It wouldn’t be fair to say that Ella Enchanted’s entire adult life has been dedicated to romance, but it certainly seems that way. One of the few jobs she hasn’t held was dating. This is mainly because she doesn’t seem interested in a serious relationship. When she is seen on dates with different men, it’s usually photographed in a way that makes the viewer feel there’s an air of mystery and intrigue. Although she isn’t looking for a relationship right now, that hasn’t stopped her from fielding offers. According to reports, Ella has turned down numerous marriage proposals because she doesn’t want to settle down and be tied to one man for the rest of her life. This seems especially risky given that she was born and raised in a multicultural society and doesn’t necessarily see herself as belonging to one race or the other. This is something her publicist tries to emphasize when discussing her work in the media, “She’s an actress and writer, not a racist. She’s been in many diverse roles and enjoyed playing them all. She identifies more with the characters she plays than she does with her nationality.”
Although Ella Enchanted doesn’t see herself as belonging to one race or the other, Hollywood certainly does. The film and television industries are dominated by white people. When she does get cast in a film or television show that features a predominantly black cast, it’s usually for a one-off role or a cameo. This is something she doesn’t like about Hollywood. In an interview with Paper, magazine, Ella said, “I’ve only ever been asked to be in one-off roles or cameos, and that’s something I don’t like. I want to play a lead role, or at least have the option of playing a lead role.”
While Ella Enchanted might be used to fielding marriage proposals because of her unique beauty, it’s clear that she isn’t interested in settling down with any one man. This seems especially risky given that she was born and raised in a multicultural society and doesn’t necessarily see herself as belonging to one race or the other. Ella has already been in a couple of relationships that lasted for a couple of years, but that was it. She then went on to marry her longtime boyfriend, Michael Hutchence, of the British rock band, INXS, in 2000. They had twins, Bingham and York, in 2004 and divorced in 2015. Since then, she has dated several other men, including Robert Pattinson. It’s an increasingly popular choice among celebrities and the media these days. Is this just a publicity stunt or does Ella genuinely see herself as belonging to one race or the other? Is she a black woman who kisses white men and does it just for attention, or does she really feel this way?
Fame And Affluence
While Ella Enchanted might not want to admit it, fame and wealth certainly seem to be part of her DNA. Her late father was a famous photographer who worked with the likes of Yoko Ono and Barbara Hutton. She also comes from a very wealthy family. According to an interview with Paper, Ella’s mother was “inseparable” from her rich and famous family. As a result, Ella had access to a huge amount of money at a very young age. This is something she’s used to, as her publicist says, “[Ella] grew up in a society where women are valued for their looks and men respect them for their brains. That has remained her mantra.”
Despite all of this, fame and money haven’t necessarily made her happy. In fact, according to an interview with Paper, she admits that fame and wealth have brought with them their fair share of problems. Sometimes, it feels like everyone wants a piece of her. This is something she finds particularly challenging, especially since she doesn’t always feel like herself. Instead, she says, “[I feel like] an impostor sometimes. I don’t feel like I match up to the image that people have in their head of a beautiful black woman… I always have that nagging voice in the back of my head telling me that I’m not happy with what I have.”
This is why, whenever she does receive positive feedback, Ella Enchanted always tries to attribute it to someone else. This is something she’s done her entire adult life. The only difference is that now it’s attributed to her very public romance with Robert Pattinson. While her fans might see it as a positive that she’s found happiness with Robert Pattinson, it’s clear that Ella isn’t entirely convinced. This is something her publicist tries to emphasize whenever questioned about her choice in men, “She’s not trying to be a famous singer. She just wants to be her own person. She’s been hurt in the past and doesn’t want to be hurt again. That’s why she wants to find the right person. She’s not looking to replace anyone.”
It’s not that Ella Enchanted doesn’t want to be a famous singer. It’s that she doesn’t feel like one yet. It might be a matter of finding the right music manager who can help her discover her true voice and bring it to the attention of an A-list industry. But until then, she will continue to be the beautiful young actress who kisses white men for attention.