Karen Allen Goes From Knitting In The Berkshires To Indy 4

SHE WAS Boone's girl Katy in "Animal House," and this was enough to cement her in the collective conscience of a certain kind of male. This male was 13 when the National Lampoon comedy was released, in 1978; what he has retained in his mind's eye about Karen Allen are the freckles and long brown hair and big eyes, at once inviting and a little cool.

So what happened to her? It as much to ask: What is the trajectory of a culture that has gone from Karen Allen to Jessica Alba?

Hers was a naturalistic beauty that seems synonymous with the 1970s and so missing these days, in what is advertised on screen as young and beautiful. She was simultaneously materially attractive and subtext: In "Animal House," when Boone catches her post-coitus with their English professor, it made sense; a girl like that would go off with older men, abandoning the boyfriend for needing his toga.

Did she quit Hollywood or did Hollywood quit her? We mean, after 1981's "Raiders of the Lost Ark," and that nakedly classical opening salvo: "Indiana Jones. I always knew someday you'd come walking back through my door." There was, less remembered now, 1984's "Starman," in which she played another loner tough girl -- this one visited by an outer-space creature (Jeff Bridges).

But at some point she went to go knit in the Berkshire Mountains. There was also a marriage followed nine years later by divorce, and single motherhood that would, in concert with the dwindling Hollywood career and the shock of 9/11, prompt her to quit Manhattan permanently for the Berkshires.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[loki]

In this world of bleached blonds, plastic surgery and fake personality, it sure is nice to see just a naturally beautiful woman.

[Hagrid]

I totally agree.
She has always been a beautiful lady and a very good actress. . . memba her from Animal House?

[LiberalBuzz]

She seems more well adjusted than any other actress I've read about in recent history. Has a firm grip on her life and where she wants to be. The extra moola never hurts either.

Good for her and nice to see she's in the new flick and I hope is isn't some short role either.

[heretical_eggs]

Someone at the L.A. Times didn't catch this. Karen Allen's boyfriend in Animal House was Boon sans the "e." Anyway, I always wanted to see Karen Allen and Debra Winger together in a film. I think their similar personalities and looks would have made something very interesting. Hey, they still could. The story ideas are endless for them.

[legalgirl]

She also played the ex-girlfriend of Bill Murray in "Scrooged" and was, as always, just wonderful.

[Tyrione]

Playboy used to have quite a run for natural beauties from the start of Hugh's career through about half of the 1980s. From the late 80s on it's been plastic and more plastic.

That's infected its way into Hollywood and beyond.

However, like all trends they come and go. Here's to hopin' this is one on the way in.

[Rockwell]

Ya know, I just can't get enough of that picture of Karen. I just want to pinch her cheeks and give her a hug.

[rpence]

A gorgeous woman and very appealing actress. The answer to why she has to make a "comeback" has everything to do with the double standard that keeps overweight, unattractive male stars in the spotlight while women are generally banished for aging and not staying "hot."

[Rockwell]

Karen has an approachable beauty. I'm very glad to see her back and you can tell she appreciates the opportunity and is having a helluva good time. You go girl!

[thundermummy]

Very cool that she is back for Indy. They should have brought back Short Round too. Shia LaBouef? Whatever, I hope the movie works and doesn't have too much CGI. It is either gonna be great or train wreck like the new Star Wars films. Either way, good to see Allen back.

[peachfuzz]

I always wondered what happened to her.

She does seem to have too much energy to be sitting around waiting for jobs.

And she doesn't seem LA material either.

Good for her.

[gomonkeygo]

I'm still in love the Karen Allen that I fell in love with because of Animal House. Or, more to the point, the type of strong, natural woman that I thought I saw as a teenage boy. With long brown hair. I've never understood why any man could drool over the airbrushed models/pop singers/celebs of today. I hope my teenage son will someday see a woman like Allen and have the same kind of emotional revelation that I had. Of course, we could just watch Animal House...