Thanks Ragnar!!!!

Cheryl Brooks ;) :P

I agree with both of you. This is no ordinary role and the third Dagny is the most critical. Whoever receives the role needs to typify Dagny, not just look like her, or read words from a page.

what about a redhead? That's me!

ha ha Zivah, I feel the same way. I have molded my life after Dagny as I was only 12 when I first read the book. It's been my sharpen the saw ever sense and I'm close to the age of Dagny in part three.

the irony: this thread is supposedly a conversation among Objectivists of one flavor or another, heh. Yep, most of us prefer Taylor in an ideal universe- (whatever they do, we hope they choose someone other than Samantha Mathis, the right qualities were not there in the lifelong tragic facial set, sorry) My personal ideal would be Amanda Tapping ( SG-1) , but there too may be out of reach- mentioning as a type of actress to search out for this part. Hope they find someone with the same fire, steel & good looks, with a REAL GRASP of Dagney's character!

She's pretty much left Hollywood to raise a family in Texas and has an afternoon radio talk show. Occasionally I see her on FoxNews.

I vote for Samantha Mathis.
Taylor did a good job but I feel that Samantha showed the weariness that Dagney started to feel.
Besides, Taylor is quite busy with her new series..
Wasn't one change enough?

I feel both Taylor and Samantha have portrayed Dagny well, but in different ways. Taylor was closer to the character I imagined as I read the book. However, I feel Samantha brought more depth to the character. To me, either would be preferable to introducing a 'new' Dagny. If however, a new Dagny is required, than that individual should have, at minimum, read the book. It would be more Rand-like to cast someone who lived the philosophy, but a strong portrayal trumps that card.

My first experience with Samamtha was in "Broken Arrow" where she played the park ranger with John Travola and Christian Slater. She had one chance to fire her pistol in the whole movie and she closed her eyes when she pulled the trigger. That brought a laugh, as it always does when actors and actresses try to do something they have no experience with.

why do you think that?

I think Galt has already been decided upon.

TAYLOR SCHILLING ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Gotta add my vote for the original cast of Part 1. They had a much better understanding of the characters they played. The second Dagny came across as rather a victim, something I never got from the book.

My husband and I totally agree.

Go with Taylor for Dagny

Yep, I'm pretty distressed that she's leaving NCIS! I think she'd be Quite Good as Dagny; they seem to prefer blondes tho'...but that's an easy fix. Also Yes to her fitting better than Taylor or Samantha! Dagny has Chutzpah, I'm just sayin'.....

AMANDA TAPPING! Played such a similar dynamic character to Dagney, as Major Samantha Carter in STARGATE 1. She would be a brilliant choice. Of course, Taylor Shilling my first choice. Sorry the Part 2 casting for her was all wrong, own it & move on.

My wife, she is a 28 yr business owner, veteran advocate of Ayn's ideas and is beautiful. She has 2 teenage sons who are following in her capitalistic, entrepreneur footsteps. She replays Atlas 1 & 2 to remind my boys of Ayn's ideas and has a passion for getting these ideas to the public forefront; plus she can act.

Taylor Schilling and Grant Bowler from Part 1, and the rest of the cast from Part 1 too. I think the director was better in Part 1 he was able to pull natural real performances out of the actors. Part 2 actors weren't bad just not as good as Part 1, may have been the directing in Part 2.

Remember the timeline - 12 years passed from pt1 to pt 2. The characters were older and had been fighting a losing battle the whole time. The John Gault line is demoed and she can't find any competent people. Samantha played this older, worried and frustrated executive perfectly.

Taylor play a excellent Dagney pt1, but now think of how she would morph into a 12 yr older, 12 years more harried Dagney. I think Samantha has the range and experience to show the apprehension she needs first in the valley, the excitement at find Gault as her personal goal, and the pain of the decision of going back to the world.

I can absolutely see her pointing a gun at a guard and ordering him to open that door. And I can see her making the shot when she had to. Some have compared her to a mom of teenagers - that determination in her character to make her kids functional adults, is what makes her perfect.

Bring back The Sweep of Part 1.

The 1st Dagny was too young, the 2nd too old. Besides, I do care what ideology the interpreter holds. It is a pity Sela Ward is too old for the part! Gorgous Angie Harmon would be great. And, please, please, keep the first Hank! He was wonderful, very masculine, macho-looking! Rand's men were not sissies!