Meet the new Dagny Taggart: Samantha Mathis

Posted on April 2, 2012 12:53 pm UTC by Joshua Zader

Below are photos of the woman who will play Dagny Taggart in Atlas Shrugged Part 2. What do you think? Does she fit the part?

The forty-two-year-old actress is best friends with Sandra Bullock. From her mini-bio at IMDB:

Samantha Mathis was born in New York in 1970 to Bibi Besch, an aspiring actress at the time. Her first acting job was in a commercial for baby products with her mother. Since her parents divorced when she was only three years old, Samantha was very exposed to the acting industry from a very young age, which made her almost destined to become an actress. Samantha’s first feature film was Pump Up the Volume (1990) opposite her on- and off-screen love at the time, Christian Slater. This movie also marked her first topless scene, but Samantha has now grown up and moved on to more demanding roles, such as the part of Terry Carmichael in the action-packed film Broken Arrow (1996).

About Joshua Zader

Joshua Zader is co-founder of Atlas Web Development and founder of The Atlasphere, a networking directory and dating service for admirers of Ayn Rand's novels with over 20,000 members from around the world.
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  • Leon Brozyna

    Well, we can only hope that the script is better written.  In Part 1 it seemed that Dagny was written down to the point that the hunt for the motor was Hank’s quest and she was his cheerleader. They missed the whole point that the quest for the motor was also Dagny’s quest for the perfect man, her true love. Ultimately, it showed and I don’t know if Taylor Shilling wasn’t up to the role or if the script tied her down.

    Let’s hope that Ms Mathis can pull off the delicate balancing act the role of Dagny requires … bright and rational w/o appearing passive and repressed while also being passionate w/o coming across as high strung.

  • Leon Brozyna

    Well, we can only hope that the script is better written.  In Part 1 it seemed that Dagny was written down to the point that the hunt for the motor was Hank’s quest and she was his cheerleader. They missed the whole point that the quest for the motor was also Dagny’s quest for the perfect man, her true love. Ultimately, it showed and I don’t know if Taylor Shilling wasn’t up to the role or if the script tied her down.

    Let’s hope that Ms Mathis can pull off the delicate balancing act the role of Dagny requires … bright and rational w/o appearing passive and repressed while also being passionate w/o coming across as high strung.

    EDITED TO ADD: I believe you mean her best friend is Sandra Bullock.

  • Anonymous

    The producers should have brought Taylor Schilling and Grant Bowler back if only for cohesiveness’ sake. The had chemistry and Taylor played her roll well. I understand that just not how this business works, but still. And it would have been nice to see Graham Beckel again as well.

    All I can say is I wish this project good luck and hope that that film makes it to theaters by October and that there is massive turnout.

    • http://www.facebook.com/nathan.dotson.12 Nathan Dotson

      I am disappointed they couldn’t maintain the original cast, bummer.

  • professortom

    The producers should have brought Taylor Schilling and Grant Bowler back if only for cohesiveness’ sake. The had chemistry and Taylor played her roll well. I understand that just not how this business works, but still. And it would have been nice to see Graham Beckel again as well.

    All I can say is I wish this project good luck and hope that that film makes it to theaters by October and that there is massive turnout.

    • http://www.facebook.com/nathan.dotson.12 Nathan Dotson

      I am disappointed they couldn’t maintain the original cast, bummer.

  • Leon Brozyna

    She played Janie, personal assistant to the President in The American President. Hard to picture her as Dagny after seeing her in that role in which her fellow actors seemed to tower over her … think a small, mousy, female Eddie Willers. We’ll see how they work the cameras to emphasize her screen presence.

  • Leon Brozyna

    She played Janie, personal assistant to the President in The American President. Hard to picture her as Dagny after seeing her in that role in which her fellow actors seemed to tower over her … think a small, mousy, female Eddie Willers. We’ll see how they work the cameras to emphasize her screen presence.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_MHVBOOHDVMHVPV2USCYUPUPMBE Norman

    I like her look – penetrating and challenging. If her acting matches this look, she’ll be the in-your-face female that the role requires.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_MHVBOOHDVMHVPV2USCYUPUPMBE Norman

    I like her look – penetrating and challenging. If her acting matches this look, she’ll be the in-your-face female that the role requires.

  • AngelaBfla

    Well, I think it’s a shame that the original cast isn’t able to see the film through all three parts.
    I thought they did a tremendous job, and the chemistry between Dagny and Hank was right on.
    I wish the producers luck with this new cast and hope they work well together. I saw Samantha in The American President and thought she played the part well.

    By the way, is it really ok to copy the mini-bio at IMBd word for word? I guess that’s where you got the bit about Sandra Bullock too.

    • http://www.zader.com Joshua Zader

       Yeah, that bio has been used all over the internet.

  • AngelaBfla

    Well, I think it’s a shame that the original cast isn’t able to see the film through all three parts.
    I thought they did a tremendous job, and the chemistry between Dagny and Hank was right on.
    I wish the producers luck with this new cast and hope they work well together. I saw Samantha in The American President and thought she played the part well.

    By the way, is it really ok to copy the mini-bio at IMBd word for word? I guess that’s where you got the bit about Sandra Bullock too.

    • http://www.zader.com Joshua Zader

       Yeah, that bio has been used all over the internet.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000681453278 Willis Durbin

    When us it to come out?   I have watched Part 1 a couple of times, and have almost finished reading the book for the second time…  want to see the rest of the production for the screen.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000681453278 Willis Durbin

    When us it to come out?   I have watched Part 1 a couple of times, and have almost finished reading the book for the second time…  want to see the rest of the production for the screen.

  • JohnPlummer

    Samantha Mathis did a good job.  But all Ayn Rand’s lead characters are tall and angular, both men and women.  Taylor Schilling fit the mold perfectly.  Has anyone figured out from internal clues how old Dagny was?  I think she would be closer to Taylor’s 28 than to Samantha’s 42.  I would be happy to see either of the two in part three.  Let’s have a good John Gault too.  Someone like Bradley Cooper in Limitless.

  • 1sandyknittel1

    I saw Atlas Shrugged Part 2 – one of my favorite books along with War and Peace – new Dagney was TERRIBLE!  Why not use the original?  Very disappointed.