Anna Torv - a name we'd heard hide nor hair of in the States just three short years ago. While yet to still become a household name among the broader population, she has made a significant impact in the world of science fiction entertainment.
Plucked from relative obscurity by a team which included J. J. Abrams - a man with an eye for starlets in the making, turning Keri Russell and Jennifer Garner into virtual overnight sensations - Torv was cast to play the now beloved Olivia Dunham on the FOX sci-fi hit Fringe. She didn't have the smoothest of starts, however, with many believing the character too stiff, impenetrable and almost bored by the strange and unexplainable events she was called upon to investigate.
Fast forward to season three, Torv - along with the bulk of the cast - was given the especially trying challenge of portraying two different sides of her character. Of all the actors on the show, I believe Torv has made the most of this opportunity and set herself apart as the cream of a crop of dominant performers on one of the most inventively written series ever to find a spot on broadcast television - and for this, I believe she deserves a spot among the 2011 Emmy nominees.
Among her counterparts, John Noble - a brilliant actor himself, and an egregious oversight among the 2010 supporting actor nominees - is playing two very different sides of the same character, Walter Bishop. The same goes for Jasika Nicole's Astrid. While a challenge for any actor to play dual roles on the same show, at least their characters personalities are diametrically opposed to one another.
Torv's Olivia Dunham, on the other hand, requires a much more delicate touch. Both Olivia's are very much alike in their personalities, with only subtle differences aside from their hair color. Torv straddles those variances with judicious skill, essentially having to play a third and even a fourth version of the character.
Third and fourth character, you ask? In a sense, yes.
The brilliant, tortured and somewhat reserved original Olivia, while captive in the alternate universe, was forcibly given Fauxlivia's memories and gradually adopted that persona, burying original Olivia's memories and personality in the process. The heartbreaking scene where she came face to face with the alt-world version of her mother, who had died in our world when Olivia was young, had a tremendous impact as the moment when Olivia tragically gives herself over to Fauxlivia's mind completely. Even still, glimpses of Olivia would come out from time to time, as the story required, ultimately causing her to "awaken" and re-emerge as this world's Olivia.
Fauxlivia, a bolder and more playful version of her this world self, having deceived her way to our universe with Peter and Walter, was now required to evade suspicion by posing as our world's Olivia. There were moments, such as when she murdered the deaf man in "The Box," where she broke back to her Fauxlivia persona, but had to quickly turn it back on when Peter arrived unexpectedly, or when she failed to remember something that the real Olivia would have never forgotten.
Not only has Torv been required to play both Olivia and Fauxlivia, she has also had to manage Olivia transitioning to and from Fauxlivia, as well as Fauxlivia posing as Olivia.
A lesser actress would be hitting Fox up in advance to foot the bill for her post-season psychological treatment.
If this tedious character balance isn't enough, add to it that she's had to play victim, aggressor, counselor, temptress, murderer, and protector, running the gamut of almost every possible emotion in the process - not to mention spending countless hours filming scenes inside of a water tank. What other lead actress has had all this asked of her - within the span of 8 episodes, much less an entire season - and done so with such aplomb?
Here's hoping that the Academy rises above their snobbery towards sci-fi television and rewards Torv next year for a truly outstanding performance.
Jeff Kirkpatrick also writes reviews for Fringe at his blog "TV On My Terms" and on Twitter: TVOnMyTerms
I totally agree. She has been outstanding this season!!
I strongly agree with every word in this article.
She just never ceases to amaze me. This season she's been exceptional and if she doesn't get nominated for an Emmy this year, I'll lose faith in humanity.
I Agree 100% with everything you said. GREAT article!
AGREE 100% WITH THIS.
THIS! Anna Torv has been amazing; no one else on TV is doing what she's doing this season. I so hope she'll get a much, much deserved Emmy nomination. Be fair Academy!
I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment, but if the ratings for Fringe do not improve, there won't be a next year to worry over.
Great great article! Fringe is the only show I watch on TV and Anna Torv is the reason why I stayed with the show. She is simply amazing. I do hope she gets nominated and wins. Hands down to you, Anna!
Anna Torv definitely deserves an Emmy! This season has been crazy, and though she's always been great on the show she's really stepped up her game.
My 17 year old son recently started watching Fringe after I convinced him to give it a try. He has blown through the seasons. He loves Olivia because she is smart and real. We both believe that she deserves an Emmy for this season. She has grown to be one of my favorite actresses.
YES! Give Anna Torv that Emmy already! She has been so outstanding throughout all 3 seasons and even better currently. I watched her act firsthand and I must say she is phenomenal, being both professional, but still friendly with her cast members. Fringe deserves more attention than it is given right now. Such a shame. Long live Fringe!
I 100% agree. Let's hope the Emmie committee aren't too snobby to appreciate acting in sci-fi
ANNA REALLY DESERVES AN EMMY, SHE'S JUST AMAZING, I'VE NEVER SEEN AN ACTRESS WHO CAN DO THE STUFFS SHE'S DOING ! WONDERFUL ! THEY NEED TO NOMINATE HER FOR 2011 EMMYS ! SHE'S THE GREATEST ACTRESS EVER !
Hear, hear.
So glad she got the job and made it her own. (The issue of her being Rupert Murdoch niece clearly shown to be moot!)
I've always loved her, even in the early seasons when everyone else thought her too stiff (which I felt was just part of her character). On top of being amazing, she's beautiful. Fringe could suck lemons and I'd still tune in every week, if only just to watch her.
Torv and John Noble both deserve at least nominations. At least one of them should win. But it's a sci-fi show, so like animation, will get snubbed. Such a shame they're both extremely talented actors on the most well written and thought out show on TV right now.
Agreed! While I think the Emmys are nothing but bullcrust, I do think Anna has done a spectacular job of acting and at least deserves a nod.
I loved Olivia since the pilot and have also admired Anna for the same length of time. She puts me in a state of awe with how much she can express with just her eyes. And absolutely no words! JUST THOSE BIG, BEAUTIFUL EYES! I never thought Anna was a wooden actor. Olivia is the stoic one and Anna plays her wonderfully. Along with everything you brought here…exactly. 147% deserving of an Emmy. (John Noble, too, but that's also been a given since the beginning of the show.)
Whatever Anna did in Marionette needs to be added to this. I've never seen anyone express themselves with their face like Anna. She doesn't need to say anything, it's all over her face. Great performance.
Are you sending this to those who are in charge of nomminating because they need to read this. I've seen her other projects as well. McLeod's daughters, Young Lions (John Noble was in that one too), The secret life of us, Mistresses. She is a different person in every show, not like some actors who are the same whatever they play. And with Fringe I liked her from the start. I'm not sure why a lot of fans had a hard time with her. She portrays her character very believeable and natural.
I just posted the following on Jeff's (author of this article) website about the episode "Marionette" – sums it all up, I guess (she should get the Emmy!):
We're only just catching up with the latest Fringe episodes here in the Netherlands, so sorry for the late reply… I found your website while specifically googling to see if I was the only one who recognizes Anna Torv's exceptional talent. I mean: this lady can ACT!!!
You (Jeff) compare her feelings with being the victim of burglary. But I have seen the pain of "infidelity right in one's own home and bed" up close and I can tell you that the way she reacts looks so real it doesn't even seem acted! Sure Peter's intention wasn't to betray her, but on the receiving end (Olivia's end) this situation certainly must have closely felt that way; Anna delivers this exact emotion flawlessly!
Add to that her flawless transitions between the two Olivia's (one tainted by a harsh youth as a lab rat and the other a more jolly person altogether) and the complexity of being Olivia B pretending to be Olivia A (and vice versa!) with all the necessary nuances and you have yourself one BRILLIANT actress!
Give the woman an emmy already!!! She's just fantastic!
Just saw the nominations for Golden Globe, there is nothing Fringe on there. Really sad
I've loved Olivia and Anna for that matter since the first episode I saw. I never thought that ANNA was stiff or bored, she just did what she had to do – she played the role of OLIVIA. Quite wonderfully may I add.
I've always been fascinated with her ability to act with eyes. She can have a scene with virtually no dialogue, but her eyes will tell you everything ('Peter', 'Marionette' etc)!
My thoughts exactly.