Many think Blanche is one of the most fascinating, and most challenging, roles for an actress. Though at some point the audience may have been repelled by her behavior, her character is arguable, complicated, and easy to emphasize. Blanche DuBois played the role as one person that really could have been at least four different people. Her character by the end of the play was very complex. .
When she visits her sister at the Kowalski flat she is shocked by the neighborhood and the neighbors because she is a fine southern Belle. Though soon later she becomes a commanding older sister who bosses Stella around, who has something to say about Stella's life, her hairdo, and her clothing. But while confronting Stanley she turns into a more mature adult who has control over herself and is even a bit of a flirt. Then when she has a conversation with Mitch and instantly has more of a sensitive manner about her. Blanche actually makes us feel as though there could be a relationship in the future. .
Blanche has many sides to her but the challenge for an actress is to make the reader/watcher believe that all of these women are the same person. The actress makes us care about the character without some irrational scene and that is what makes the character so challenging. Also not only is this character fascinating to the actors but the audience as well. Tennessee Williams makes Blanche a realistic character by making her like we actual are than who we want to be. There is actually a little bit of Blanche in all of us. Blanche was a character looking for safety that she never had and we are all sometimes insecure. She has hidden sin from the past, she is weak at times, and she is needy and we are more than likely all guilty of these things. .
Because the role of Blanche was so great when it was first performed by Jessica Tandy is why it gets harder and harder for every actress to play the characters part.
