Kirsten Dunst has been acting since she was just six years old and despite boasting a career that spans over 30 years, the actress feels as though she’s “never been recognised” in the film industry.
In a recent interview on Sirius XM’s In-Depth With Larry Flick, Dunst said, “I’ve never been nominated for anything. Maybe like twice for a Golden Globe when I was little and one for Fargo.”
While Dunst’s claim isn’t completely true – her IMDb listing states she’s been nominated for 68 awards throughout her career – she hasn’t won many of the prestigious titles that seem to catapult stars into global headlines.
“Maybe they just think I’m the girl from Bring It On,” Dunst added. “A lot of things I do people like later.”
“Remember when Marie Antoinette [came out] – y’all panned it? And now you all love it. Remember Drop Dead Gorgeous? Panned. Now you all love it,” Dunst said.
She’s got a point. It’s easy to forget all the cracking films Dunst has been in over the years.
Apart from 2015’s award-winning series Fargo, Bring It On and her years as a child star in films like Little Women and Jumanji, Dunst has appeared in classics like The Virgin Suicides, Dick, Crazy/Beautiful, Spider-Man, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Wimbledon, Elizabethtown, Melancholia and the list goes on.
Dunst even made a cameo in an episode of Black Mirror as a Callister employee, for Christ’s sake!
“I just feel like, ‘What did I do?’” she said during her Sirius XM interview. “I am so chill. Maybe I don’t play the game enough.”
Does being a famous actress in 2019 involve ‘playing a game’ with the press to make headlines and campaign for award nominations? Luckily for Dunst, it doesn’t bother her too much.
“I know that all you have is your work at the end of the day. And that’s all people really care about,” she said. “I’m intelligent enough to know that and have perspective.”
In 2008, Dunst was treated for depression at a centre in Utah. She went public with her mental health struggles in order to squash rumours of drug and alcohol abuse, and told the media, “Now that I’m feeling stronger, I was prepared to say something. Depression is pretty serious and should not be gossiped about.”
Whether the world is recognising her incredible acting career or not, Kirsten Dunst deserves acknowledgement for working her arse off for so many years and managing to stay refreshingly honest despite the mounting pressures that Hollywood presents.
If you, or anyone you know is struggling with mental health issues contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or ReachOut for support.