Actresses Playing Prostitutes Very Popular Lately

Why are so many actresses playing prostitutes in movies lately? Lindsay Lohan may have tongues wagging over her decision to play a porn star, but many young stars (and a few older ones) are playing employees in this other sex profession. So from Megan Fox as a saloon girl to Jessica Alba as a call girl in a deadly position, here's a look at the actresses trying to follow in Julia Roberts' footsteps by playing prostitutes:

Megan Fox - Megan Fox brings the heat while packing heat as one of the actresses on this list whose role as a prostitute is highly unlikely to win her any critical acclaim. However, the love interest of scarred bounty hunter Jonah Hex definitely brings the sex in a corseted costume reminiscent of what the prostitutes of the old West may have worn (although I doubt any of them looked like Megan Fox).

Jennifer Love Hewitt - She's not going to be starring in a wannabe summer blockbuster like the other brunette beauty above, but Jennifer Love Hewitt will likely win some love in her role as a former homecoming queen working as a prostitute to help her family through the recession in the summer Lifetime movie 'The Client List'. Jennifer Love Hewitt's career may not be as on the up as those of some of the other actresses here, but I can't help but hope she pulls this off and recovers from 'The Ghost Whisperer' cancellation.

Kristen Stewart - Kristen Stewart is one of the actresses here who has already played a prostitute in a movie. In 'Welcome to the Rileys', she stars as a stripper/prostitute that is taken under the wing of a grieving man played by 'The Sopranos' star James Gandolfini. Her independent flick didn't get anywhere near as much coverage as the movies in the 'Twilight' franchise, but it's nice to see that Kristen Stewart is at least trying to moonlight as a serious actress.

Jessica Alba - Jessica Alba has also played a stripper in the dark graphic novel flick 'Sin City', and her role as a prostitute in 'The Killer Inside Me' is also looking graphic and not-so-pretty. In the dark modern film noir movie, she'll be playing a prostitute involved with a serial killer into violent S&M. Jessica Alba is one of the actresses here that seems least likely to play a prostitute, and it's definitely hard to picture her in a crime movie as stark and bleak as this one (she seems more like a 'Pretty Woman type). However, if she can pull it off, perhaps we might start seeing her considered as a more serious actress.

Amanda Seyfried - Like her 'Jennifer's Body' costar, Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried took the plunge and decided to play a prostitute. However, out of all the actresses that have played or will be playing prostitutes on this list, her role in 'Chloe' is definitely the steamiest. In the movie, she's hired by a woman played by Julianne Moore to tempt her husband in order to determine if he's being unfaithful. But, fortunately for all red-blooded males, she ends up getting it on with the older redheaded actress as well.

Vanessa Hudgens - This Disney star looks to leave HSM behind next year as another of the actresses here that it's hard to imagine playing a prostitute. However, she'll be doing exactly that in next year's 'Sucker Punch', a movie described as "Alice in Wonderland with machine guns". Vanessa Hudgens will be playing a foul-mouthed prostitute in the bizarre action flick set during the 50's about a girl in a mental institution (Emily Browning) who imagines a wild world far beyond that her evil stepfather has confined her to. Sounds like a good move on Ms. Hudgens' behalf.

Gina Gershon, Bai Ling, and Scout Taylor-Compton in 'Love Ranch' - This amazing-sounding movie stars Dame Helen Mirren as the madam that opened the first legal brothel in the U.S. (it's based on a true story), and it features actresses like Gina Gershon, Bai Ling, and Scout Taylor-Compton playing the prostitutes that work there. How in the world is this movie only in limited release?!

So why are so many actresses playing prostitutes lately? Well, sex does sell, and all of the actresses here will get plenty of press for their provocative roles. And it also seems that some actresses (hopefully not Megan Fox) think playing a gritty role like a girl that gets paid for sex is a good way to prove that they've got what it takes to become a serious actress and take on more serious (award-worthy) roles. Whatever the reason, I doubt too many male audiences members will be complaining about this trend (oh, and here's an article about past actresses that have played prostitutes in movies; seems this trend has been going on for sometime now and won't be dying any time soon).

SOURCES:

http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2009/07/13/vanessa-hudgens-plays-a-teen-prostitute

http://www.nationalenquirer.com/vamessa_hudgens_sex_shocker_prostitute_zac_efron/celebrity/66951
www.wikipedia.com
www.imdb.com