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Who is Dagny Taggart?

Posted by sdesapio 11 years, 3 months ago to Entertainment
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Beautiful, tenacious, and fearless, Dagny Taggart has inspired women and men alike for over 50 years.

As Atlas Shrugged Part 3 heads to production, some major decisions still lay ahead. For the past several months, we've read all over the web everything from "Taylor was PERFECT!" to "Samantha IS Dagny!" to "You should have case [INSERT NAME HERE]!"

Now it's time for you to tell us directly. Who is Dagny Taggart?

Taylor from Part 1? Samantha from Part 2? If you had to pick someone else, who would it be? Beyond her ability to embody the character of Dagny Taggart, what else should be considered when casting Dagny? Should she already be an advocate of Ayn Rand's ideas? Should she have at least read Atlas?


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  • Posted by RD43 11 years, 3 months ago
    Taylor Schilling and Grant Bowler WERE Dagney and Hank. They were instrumental in creating a fascinating mystique in Part 1 that somehow was lost in Part 2. A strong capitalist at 69 years of age, I must have watched Part 1 a half dozen times, mesmerized each time by the strength of each character as they dealt with their individual demons; the physical attractiveness and softness of Taylor in the tender moments; the vibrant, energetic, steel-hard portrayal of Rearden by Grant. BOTH should be brought back for Part III. Please note, too, that pairing Taylor with anyone other than Grant will not work.

    Taylor and Grant ... PLEASE!!!
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  • Posted by crb0011 11 years, 3 months ago
    Taylor was best, no doublt about it. When she looked at James and told him, "if you try to block me from building the Gault Line, I will crush you," There was a fire in her eyes that Samantha never came close to. I thought Sam was bad choice when I first heard she'd been chosen. It almost seemed they were more interested in showing off her chest than anything else. I liked the rest of the part 1 cast, too. I can forgive the occasional actiing lapses that some critics complained about, and Hank and Antonia were just fine. Nice to see Grant Bowler has he own show on TV at present
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  • Posted by JEbrom 11 years, 3 months ago
    I like Samantha Harris, Taylor looks like I'd imagined Dagny but the fact that Taylor didn't chose to reprise the role makes me think that she is NOT Dagny. The all mighty $$ seems to be her deciding factor and Dagny isn't about that. Principles,.... I don't know the whole reason why Taylor didn't do part II so if I'm wrong please share...
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  • Posted by thedailyclark 11 years, 3 months ago
    Bring back Taylor Shilling! Even though she is on the new Netflix series, I still think the producers could still bring her back on board. She just looks and acts the part.
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  • Posted by kn1ghtride 11 years, 3 months ago
    Taylor from part 1 is also the choice of our household. She was energetic, and exactly what I envisioned when I read the book. The chemistry she had with Grant Bowler for the role of Hank was also really great. I am going to have to agree that the part 1 cast was best.
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  • Posted by hockeydad 11 years, 3 months ago
    What is your reason for making part 3? Is it to make a great movie, then go with the best actress who will read for the part.
    If you are making this to change minds, get someone who believes in the principals of Ayn and can act.
    If it is between Taylor and Samanta, go with Taylor.
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  • Posted by ddobbins 11 years, 3 months ago
    Camilla Belle would be a good choice! Taylor was wonderful, and Samantha was great actress too. But Camilla exudes class, and I think this is what the movie needs.
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  • Posted by jcritch 11 years, 3 months ago
    Andrea Tantaros!!!!!!!!!

    Mary Katharine Ham!!!!!!

    Any of the lovely ladies of Fox News!!!!

    Michelle Malkin
    Lacey Chabert
    Patricia Heaton
    Sarah Michelle Gellar


    See if you can add Charles Payne as one of the financial folks in the John Galt camp!!!
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    • Posted by SteelPengwin 11 years, 3 months ago
      Ladies of Fox, I never even thought of that! In that case, I ALL IN for Megyn Kelly! Talk about a fiery beautiful woman!
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      • Posted by Ob1 11 years, 3 months ago
        I think you folks are on to something with any of the lovely conservative FOX ladies out there, Pamela Geller, Mary Katherine Ham, or Michelle Malkin. ( listen, if they're going to start by tweaking Eddie's character from the beginning, forget how they looked in the book) Why not consider Monica Crowley, or either of chicksonthreright?

        For that matter, I think Michael Moore fits Wesley Mouch! He would probably think Mouch's script sounded perfectly reasonable! (There are any number of lefty talking heads who might take the other antagonist roles without realizing the irony - They should pronounce it "MOOCH") Bwaaahaaa)
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  • Posted by jburritt2016 11 years, 3 months ago
    Taylor from Part 1 was a perfect fit. After seeing Part 1 then seeing Part 2, there no comparison.
    I would like to see Taylor in Part 3. And, I really like the first Reardon better too!
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  • Posted by ohiocrossroads 11 years, 3 months ago
    Being a fan of classic movies, I think of Hedy Lamarr or Florence Marly or Jane Greer or Alida Valli. They all would have been excellent choices, but this can never be.

    A modern actress cast from this classic mold would be Kate Beckinsale.
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  • Posted by Aristocrat 11 years, 3 months ago
    Taylor Schilling and Grant Bowler made the perfect combination of Dagny and Hank. The ending will suffer without them even though the story will carry it if they are not available. Hopefully Taylor is available and Grant can break away from Defiance long enough. Can't wait to see it.
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  • Posted by tcorm 11 years, 3 months ago
    Penelope Cruz or (dye her hair darker and then it could be) Keira Knightly. Dagny was a thin woman, not blonde if my memory serves me correctly, and beautiful - but strong. Her strength made her slight and dashing character an interesting mix and why she gained attention in some respects. Make her everything Rand intended her to be.
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  • Posted by Randy9 11 years, 3 months ago
    I thought Samantha was a good actress, just not a better Dagny than Taylor. Taylor just carried herself the way I imagined Dagny,even the way she wore her clothes and her expressions. Same for Hank's character, that Grant better personified Rearden. As PP said, asp1all around. Lillian, Taggart, even Eddie. Was just glad to see part 2 though. But what do I know? I'm just moocher level.
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  • Posted by Bumpy_Stucco 11 years, 3 months ago
    The actress in Part 1 was okay, but struck me as too young to be believable as COO of a major railroad. The actress in Part 2 was completely wrong for the part. She was perpetually worried, timid, frightened. Dagny should be strong, level-headed, decisive, occasionally a bit angry or impatient. She should be of medium height or a little taller, slender but not svelte. Her voice should be a bit deeper than average for a woman, suggesting strength, but not gruff or masculine. Above all, her gaze should be direct, piercing, cold. Blue eyes best. Deep brown hair, shoulder length is best; definitely not blonde (unless the book says otherwise).

    I believe I read somewhere that Angelina Jolie was once cast as Dagny, but that ship has sailed. Someone like her would be good.
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  • Posted by cbudden 11 years, 3 months ago
    I liked both Dagney's. Although in Part One I didn't like it when Dagney said to Hank, "I'm gambling your new metal can do what you say it will." I don't think she said that in the book. Dagney wouldn't "gamble" on anything. She would know whether he had a good product or not. But that was maybe a minor writing quibble on my part. I still liked both of them for different reasons.
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    • Posted by Randy9 11 years, 3 months ago
      Likely not an actress issue, but writer. I didn't have a problem with it. She doesn't claim to be something she's not so she has to assume Rearden metal is what it is supposed to be . I think she had one of her engineers look at it first. Maybe I'm wrong.
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