I recently watched two very different movies and found that they both had one thing in common, a completely captivating lead female character. First, I saw Audrey Hepburn in “Funny Face”. This is a movie that I actually found relatively inane, and even dull. Without Hepburn, I probably would have switched off the television before the end of the movie. However, it was the anticipation of getting my next glimpse of Audrey that kept me glued. Those eyes just seem to stare into your very soul as you watch her, and as they do, it is as if they find something about you that is worthy of love. It is this ability to reach out beyond the flat screen that makes her so alluring.

My wife watched some of this movie with me. She knows somewhat of my feelings for Hepburn, but I don’t think she begrudges me them. She has an analogous feeling for Harrison Ford.

Then, last night, I watched “Something about Mary”. I consider this the second funniest movie I have ever seen. It is hilarious to watch as all these guys find Mary so irresistible that they will do anything to have her. And Cameron Diaz makes this part believable. Here, as in Audrey’s case, it is the eyes. But with Cameron the projection is less soulful, but more joyous. There is a sense of fun about Audrey, but Cameron seems to be more comfortable with humor. Of course, playing in a comedy certainly would accentuate this side of her.

Of course, eyes are not everything. Both women have an athletic sense about them. They each have a sense of presence. Both are beautiful. If I had any complaints about them it was their thin-ness. Which I found gave them both an etherial quality, a fragility. But the fragility cut two ways for me. Watching them was like drinking coffee from a precious china cup. The coffee goes down well, but every time you set the cup on the saucer, you are afraid of taking a chip out of it.

I do not usually watch movies for the eyes of the female star. It is normally the wit or humor or drama of the work that rivets me. I consider Something about Mary the better film by far. But If you want to watch a great movie in which Audrey Hepburn stars try “Charade“. It is both funny and entertaining.