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The Many Faces Of Anna Faris, America's Most Talented Thespian

Remember when your mom warned you about your face freezing when you made silly faces? Anna Faris' mother made no such warning.

Anna Faris' career, encapsulated in a single image.
Anna Faris' career, encapsulated in a single image.

We spoke very briefly about Anna Faris on the podcast on Monday, when I talked about a series of publicity stills that were released in support of her movie What's Your Number?, which came out on DVD this week. Faris is a talented comedic actress who is almost always in horrible films, which is a shame, but she doesn't really have anyone to blame but herself, if the What's Your Number images are any indication.

Faris is funny in general, but she's especially good at one thing: creating an expression of comical shock and disbelief. It's a wonderful face that is used so often that her screenplays must have some kind of emoticon shorthand for it; it captures moments of a character's complete inability to grasp the ramifications of what is transpiring in front of her face, as the next few images (again, all from one film) should indicate:

The images above are all from What's Your Number, but the face is the product of fifteen years' worth of refinement and practicing it in mirrors, no doubt. Faris put it through the paces most exhaustively in the Scary Movie films, but she's also trotted it out in stuff like Smiley Face, Yogi Bear, The Hot Chick, and, well, go pick a movie from her back catalog and it's a good chance you'll find it in a scene or two somewhere in there. I think I like it because of the innate childishness of it.

For no other reason than because I found it funny, here's a not-even-close-to-exhaustive retrospective on what we can only call The Faris Face.

This one doesn't fit the theme, but it's cute so hey!
This one doesn't fit the theme, but it's cute so hey!
Rorie staff on Jan. 12, 2012 at 4:04 p.m.

I think this one is my favorite, just because of the hands:

Vorbison Jan. 12, 2012 at 4:04 p.m.

This is why I love Screened.

Dino_Sousaon Jan. 12, 2012 at 4:05 p.m.

Amazing stuff, Rorie

Ozoneon Jan. 12, 2012 at 4:06 p.m.
:o
Hectoron Jan. 12, 2012 at 4:06 p.m.

Lol...nice collection!

Hot_Karlon Jan. 12, 2012 at 4:07 p.m.

Why am I not surprised that you fit an Emma Stone picture into an Anna Faris article?

myketunaon Jan. 12, 2012 at 4:07 p.m.

The House Bunny, Rorie. Watch it. Love it. I always thought Emma was funnier than Anna in that one, but she has less scenes than Faris (starring role and all that).

@VinceNotVance: I encourage it. Rorie's love for Emma Stone (only eclipsed by my own) is what led me to subscribe in the first place (not really).

Fattony12000on Jan. 12, 2012 at 4:11 p.m.

I'm gonna cut you and break the shank off in your fucking kidneys, Rorie.

Great post btw.

nrh79on Jan. 12, 2012 at 4:14 p.m.

I thought I was never going to stop scrolling down.

FinalDasa moderator on Jan. 12, 2012 at 4:14 p.m.

Acting!

DeFon Jan. 12, 2012 at 4:15 p.m.
It doesn't really make sense but seeing all these pictures reminded me why I got turned off from watching movies a while ago ...
FoxMulderon Jan. 12, 2012 at 4:16 p.m.

She looks like a blow-up doll...

Godoton Jan. 12, 2012 at 4:21 p.m.

@Ozone said:

:o

:O

CashBaileyon Jan. 12, 2012 at 4:24 p.m.

So what's everyone favourite phase of Farris: pre lip job brunette or post lip-job blonde?

I have to go with pre, because that version of her was in MAY, and she was great in that movie.

PenguinDuston Jan. 12, 2012 at 4:28 p.m.

@FinalDasa said:

Acting!

Genius!

AssInAsson Jan. 12, 2012 at 4:37 p.m.

I'm in love :3

Smiley Face is one of my favorite films of all time. All time!

Hawkeyeon Jan. 12, 2012 at 5 p.m.

I like the article/post/whatever, but you are aware that one of your sentences literally just stops, right?

"I think I like it because of the innate childishness of it: it speaks more to the"

Dylabalooon Jan. 12, 2012 at 5:48 p.m.

Perfect.

Xaviersxon Jan. 12, 2012 at 5:55 p.m.

@FoxMulder: Agreed. She'd be great in a porn parody of Mannequin, except she's a porn blowup doll that only this one guy sees her as a real live woman . . . hilarity from start to finish.

boxing_hoboon Jan. 12, 2012 at 6:04 p.m.
Fucking amazing

Dig Deeper into Anna Faris

An American actress mostly known for her comedy work. She got her big break in the 'Scary Movie' film series. Since then has had lead roles in The House Bunny, My Super Ex-Girlfriend and most recently, Take Me Home Tonight.

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