Willa Holland acting too old
Willa Holland, 14 year old actress on The OC, is a beautiful girl but is being portrayed as too old - and sexual - for her age. Is this realistic? Well, this is what the TV Squad crew is asking:
Since The O.C.’s winter break last November, we’ve been getting flooded with previews and teases of the return of Kaitlin Cooper, Marissa’s younger sister. Jimmy and Julie Cooper shunted her off to boarding school in the first season so they had one less thing to worry about. The actress who played her was a redheaded 10 year-old, but with Kaitlin’s return came a new actress: fourteen-year-old Willa Holland. While there’s no denying Ms. Holland is a very cute girl who will, I’m sure, grow up to be gorgeous, she’s just that - a girl. Yet FOX has insisted on promoting her as a sex icon in their ads. Whether they’re scenes of her stripping and running into the ocean in her underwear, or of her "prowling" and hitting on every male cast member, they’re all tasteless.
Now, I’m not playing the "holier than thou" card, or being completely naive; we all knew who the "hot girls and guys" were even when we were in grade school. Plus, the dream of being all grown up is definitely a large part of that pre-adult era The O.C. is exploring. We all fantasized about what we would be like and do when we were adults. Willa apparently thinks she’s already there, something that Fox categorically denies. That said, there’s better "dreams" to give the masses of underage viewers than yet another wannabe shell. The responsibility and weight of this matter should fall solely on the network’s shoulders though. It’s not like I (or anyone should for that matter) expect epic, moving shows on the network. I mean come on, they’re the home of Married with Children and Stacked, among other gems, but I still held hope for some standards from them. I’d like to think that they’d have done their part to calm this disturbing trend of "plasticization," not promote it, but that’s something they were just not interested in.
What do you think?
Tags: willa holland, the oc
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POSTED IN: The OC, The OC Cast
25 opinions for Willa Holland acting too old
Shannon
Feb 2, 2006 at 10:31 pm
Willa Holland is only 14 years old in real life and yes, it is a little disturbing that she kisses Ryan Donowho (Johnny) who is 25 in real life but this portrayal of Kaitlin Cooper is somewhat realistic. I live in an Orange County beach city and not only here but in many other parts of the country young girls are acting like this. Newport, Huntington, and Laguna Beach are all areas filled with scantily clad girls that act way too old for their age. There are 14 year old girls dressing up as playboy bunnies for halloween and attending parties where drugs and alcohol are present. I have grown up and realized that I made some bad choices during that stage of my life, but I too dressed too sexy and went to parties with people twice my age. Whether society likes it or not, this has nothing to do with FOX. The writers are trying to portray an accurate image of many girls (and guys) in this area and in many instances hit the nail right on the head. Not everyone in Orange County is rich and beautiful, but many grow up way too quickly. FOX is not encouraging or condoning the type of behavior displayed by the characters of The OC, they’re merely trying to show (for the most part) what life is like for many teenagers in the beautiful beach city of Newport Beach, CA.
Adrianna
Feb 4, 2006 at 7:06 am
i think kaitlin has grown too fast. she was just a little girl when she left two years ago, but now she is like 16, i think. it’s not realistic. i think shailene woodley acted as kaitlin is better than willa holland. kaitlin should not date johnny as he is marissa’s friend. kaitlin is too young for johnny.
Ashley
Mar 21, 2006 at 8:05 pm
I think Willa is a very good actress and a model, in fact she is very pretty and mature for her age, I have seen her photos in her my space because everyone said it was “shocking” to see her there, I dont think so, since I have a 14 year old sister which is exactly like Willa. You might think this is a weird comment, coming from an 8 year old, yes I am 8 years old, and I loooveeee the O.C, but I guess in my family everyone is forced to grow up very fast. I guess if Willa got to kiss Ryan, she was just lucky!!!, I guess. I think people should let her live her life.Besides she is my number 1 role model and I admire her for everything she does. Besides, you should check out the project she is helping, the montana meth project. She is a very good person, perhaps, you should not judge her for how she acts.
Anne-Marie
May 31, 2006 at 11:46 am
People its a tv show. She acts as she’s told on there. There is a script. As of now I’m sure you realize that now Marissa is gone, they needed the sister to look more like her, and Willa looks alot more like Mischa does rather than the original girl.
I think people forget that girls at the age of 14 are maturing way faster than even girls did when I was that age, and that was only 9 years ago. Girls are having sex, and doing drugs at the age of 14! As sad as it is, it’s around. I don’t think FOX is promoting it, bc it’s already there. You can’t say girls are doing this and The OC caused it. That’s nonsense.
ashley/ OC CHIC
Jun 7, 2006 at 10:56 am
I love the OC!!! I am 13, but I act just like her.She is my idol. I hope to meet her one day.
And she doesn’t act to old for her age, I mean she did kiss a twenty-five yaer old, but that is just how the show goes
steph
Jul 9, 2006 at 7:32 am
shes 15 and acts how every other 15 acts whether you like it or not. she nor the character caitlin are doin nothing i didnt do nor my mates and im sure if you ask anyone else theyl say th same. let her live her life like were doing. in the oc caitlin is 15 and jonnys 17 thats normal a lad 2 years older is nothing o and about the drinking most teenagers will tell you they started drinking on the streets or at mates houses when they were 12 or 13. why is everyone acting like its a big shock.
Joedee
Jul 22, 2006 at 3:56 am
Willa Holland is a very mature girl for her age… I think that her even taking up the role as Kaitlin in the third season of the oc was a big step. She showed alot of talent for the things that she was asked to act, as of couse, she is perfect to be Marissa’s younger sister. I don’t really think her age is an issue… as she has said, she is up to playing the part and doing anything for the position. I think that if anyone has the confidence to do there best and take a step futher towards there goals then they should go for it, just like Willa.
maev
Sep 25, 2006 at 7:58 am
she’s a great actress…
she’s pretty…
katie holmes started young in dawson’s creek and her character was talking bout sex
no difference
mick
Sep 30, 2006 at 6:45 pm
yeah im 18 and i think she is hot and id just like to say id tap that
sean
Oct 22, 2006 at 6:56 pm
shes so hot and when i meet her im gonna jizz in my pants
zero
Nov 30, 2006 at 10:12 pm
the funny thingis that usually u get 22-30 year old actors playing high school kids, but she is actually the age she is playing ! hhehe
and she is really hot, it should be illegal. Its only current mentality that makes people think that she cant be a sexx figure at 15, of course she can! embrace life and its goodness i say, im 16 so im aloud to want to do her while 30 years cant? meh … seems stupid to me, but what ever
to sean and mick, my sentiments exactly
zero
Nov 30, 2006 at 10:14 pm
oh and she is the reason whyi watch the show and that other chick who speaks French,
Shes pretty good! usually the american accent ruins it but she does pretty well.
for yous who speak French,
J’aimerai lui péter le cul, la jolie jeune fille
Tre
Feb 3, 2007 at 1:14 am
who cares what willa does, she can get away with it.
And the person she is playin on the oc is what shes like in real life. In real life she gets pissed and smokes, and has a 17 year old boyfriend who’s in a band. She has photos on her myspace of her in her bra and undies and really sexual stuff on it like handcuffs on her with guys holding her just below her fanny.. All the girls i no are like the same, its normal, 15 year olds are more mature these days
Christian Mclaughlan
Mar 7, 2007 at 11:47 pm
Personally I don’t think they have gone to far because in the first season Ryan,Seth,Marissa and Summer were 15 going on 16 and they were having far more problems with that stuff as to Kaitlin.
Emma__x
Apr 13, 2007 at 8:59 am
I Don’t See Why People Are Stressin Bowt Her On Tha O.C It’s Her Job.
Yurr And Fair Enuff She Does All Them Fings On Tha O.C Like Drink And Smoke. She Does It In Real Life As Well. I’m 15 And Do All Tht It’s No Biggie.
Love Love
XemmaX
kristen belisario
May 27, 2007 at 12:32 am
ok well i went to middle school with willa but i was in 6th grade while she was in 8th. everyone bags about her and talks crap.i rhink everyone should shut up because you guys act like you know her when you know nothing about her.
mikayla
Jul 26, 2007 at 11:56 am
I think willa is not acting to old for her age the truth is, that is what her age acts like now. I know i do. If you searched 15 year olds facebooks or myspaces i bet over half would be the same.
sofia
Aug 29, 2007 at 7:00 am
im sofia and im portuguese and seriously im 15 years old and sometimes i act just like her, so, no i dont think they are acting in a bad way, they are just being real.
anonymous
Sep 30, 2007 at 4:31 am
Willa Holland is a gorgeous girl, there’s no denying it, but even I agree she is growing up too fast. Yes, we all know that fifteen year-olds aren’t perfect and make a lot of stupid mistakes, but I believe Willa is taking it a little too far. I’ve seen her myspace pictures, and they’re quite disgraceful. It made me lose a a lot of respect for her. Seriously, pretending to smoke a cigarette? Yeah, that is soooo cool. Not. Little does she know the cigarette does all the smoking, and she’s just the sucker.
Ritah
Oct 11, 2007 at 5:22 am
Willa is such a nut.I dont she acts well but on the other hand shes real.
Laïla
Jan 5, 2008 at 11:03 pm
kaitlin cooper is like many tennagers and Willa is doing it well !!!!!!!
amira
Jan 18, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Guys u just believe that myspace is really willa’s , no is not cause is not willa’s, its just a obsessed fan that acts, so willa is not like that.god you guys, just believe things
shelby
Jan 26, 2008 at 3:32 pm
she’s 16 now, she’s not acting too old.
Chuck
Sep 2, 2008 at 4:52 pm
I think alot of people forget that she grew up alot in England whos culture is so much different than ours. In England kids can drink around her age, and smoke too. I think she’s just a 14-17 year old girl acting just as they do and she shouldn’t be looked at any harder than any other girl her age. btw everyone who says she should act differently because she is a rolemodel for children should stop watching the oc and be a rolemodel to their own G*dD**m kids, and not let the tv do it for them. Sorry I don’t want to go on that rant. Also just a note she has calmed down dramatically since thoughs pictures she still parties but nothing like that
Sophie
Sep 21, 2008 at 3:34 am
If you really do have a strong think about it, the reason being for this “wild character” is because it brings something more intresting into the show. Willa may be fourteen but for many girls 14, younger or older they are doing the exact same thing she is. Alot of people like what willa does in the show as people do the exact same. From a adults perspective its very understandable why they find this inappropriate or she is acting too old. Im fourteen and i act older than what i am, Things have changed i can assure you that. Parents or others just dont know the meaning of a teenage life or what freedom is or the other inappropriate behaviour and thats because they had a completley different life to us. I personally do not have a problem with what she does. If she does fuck up her life, people notifyed her earlier and i guess that would have to be her fault for not listening. But chill out.
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