Playing Matchmaker

Photos have turned into a major source of inspiration for me these days. One of the first things I do when I start a new book is print off pictures of my new hero and heroine. Sometimes the image I have in my mind is a celebrity, but in many cases it's just a regular folk. It's important to me that these people "go" together, that they look right side by side, that they complement each other.

That whole process has got me to thinking about how directors go about casting actors and actresses as couples in movies. There are some matches that seem perfect to me (think Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan) and others nothing short of disastrous (Harrison Ford and Anne Heche in Six Days, Seven Nights).

I thought it'd be fun to play matchmaker today.

So who do you think did it best with Viggo Mortensen? Maria Bello (History of Violence), Liv Tyler (LOTR) or Diane Lane (A Walk to Remember)?






































Gerard Butler? Thandie Newton (RocknRolla), Hillary Swank (PS I Love You) or Lena Headey (300)?







































Johnny Depp? Marion Cotillard (Public Enemies) Penelope Cruz (Blow) or Juliette Binoche (Chocolat)?





I'd post more but for the fact that downloading and arranging these photos is very complicated. Can you think of some on-screen couples that really worked for you? Any that you thought were disastrous?

Happy Thursday!
Helen