Private Benjamin (1980). A sheltered young high-society woman joins the United States Army on a whim and finds herself in a trickier situation than she ever expected.
Goldie Hawn has charm for days, but even she can’t save this one. 3/10.
But here’s how her work stacks up on Every Single Word.
Nope, don’t worry, your internet is working fine. That’s not a video, it’s a screenshot because no POC speak in that entire movie. Let’s move on:
Note: Keanu Reeves, who is part Hawaiian and 1/8 Chinese, is in Something’s Gotta Give. However, Reeves self-identifies as a “white boy.” (Source: Vibe)
Total POC Characters to Speak in all Movies Directed by Nancy Meyers:
30
POC Characters With a First & Last Name:
1 - Oprah Winfrey (as herself; she appears on a TV screen in It’s Complicated)
POC Characters With One Name:
9 - Stella, Flo the Doorwoman, Norm, Jess (Dan’s Secretary), Dr. Martinez, Maggie, Marta, Reynaldo, Eddie
POC Characters With No Name:
20 - Marshall Field’s Shopper, Kitchen Secretary, Nightclub Singer, Nike Executive (2), Woman in Chinatown, Hamptons Nurse, NYC Nurse, Man at Party, Airport Security, Gardener, Postal Worker, Young Man at WGA, Restaurant Host, Fertility Nurse, Customer Service Rep, ATF Receptionist, Mailroom Intern, ATF Tech Team, Hotel Manager
POC Characters Who Work In the Service Industry / Support Position:
19 - Stella, Flo the Doorwoman, Jess (Dan’s Secretary), Kitchen Secretary, Hamptons Nurse, NYC Nurse, Gardener, Marta, Postal Worker, Young Man at WGA, Reynaldo, Restaurant Host, Eddie, Fertility Nurse, Customer Service Rep, ATF Receptionist, Mailroom Intern, ATF Tech Team, Hotel Manager
POC Characters Who Speak In More Than One Scene:
5 - Stella, Flo the Doorwoman, Dr. Martinez, Maggie, Reynaldo
POC Characters Who Deliver News That Affects The Storyline:
2 - Dr. Martinez, Maggie
POC Characters Whose Actions Affect The Storyline:
1 - Maggie
POC Characters With a Love Interest:
3 - Flo the Doorwoman, Kitchen Secretary, Maggie
POC Characters With a Requited Love Interest:
1 - Maggie
This is Maggie.
She is played by Shannyn Sossamon who is a quarter Hawaiian-Filipino. In all six movies directed by Nancy Meyers - a filmmaker who specializes in “telling women’s stories” - this is the only POC character, woman or man, who has a requited love interest. She speaks four lines in three scenes.
