It’s been over two decades since Fantastic Four star Jessica Alba brought the iconic Sue Storm, also known as the Invisible Woman, to life. As the superhero franchise heads towards its next chapter with new faces, including Vanessa Kirby stepping into Alba’s shoes, the former star has a heartfelt message to share with her successor.
Alba, who gained global recognition for her role as Sue Storm, opened up in a recent interview, reflecting on her time in the Fantastic Four franchise, her career highs, and the struggles she faced along the way. While Kirby’s future in the MCU is looking bright, Alba had one key piece of advice for the Mission: Impossible actress: cherish the fans and the experience. Here’s why Jessica Alba’s advice to Kirby holds valuable lessons for anyone taking on a high-profile role like this.
Jessica Alba Reflects on Her Fantastic Four Journey
Jessica Alba’s portrayal of Sue Storm in Fantastic Four (2005) and its sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007) helped her reach a new level of stardom. Despite the blockbuster success, Alba’s journey through the superhero genre wasn’t without its challenges. Recalling her time on set, she described it as “probably one of the best times” of her life, highlighting the overwhelming fan love and global excitement for the Fantastic Four universe.
“It was probably one of the best times of my life, going around the world and meeting all of the people that just love the Fantastic Four and love these comic books and can relate to these stories,”
With the reboot of Fantastic Four underway, Vanessa Kirby will be stepping into the role of the iconic Invisible Woman. Recognizing the importance of that transition, Alba had a simple yet profound piece of advice for Kirby:
“I think just have fun. The fans are so amazing. To be able to meet so many different people that you can touch and bring joy to them, I would say that’s first and foremost for anyone who gets the honor of playing one of these awesome characters,”
Navigating the Highs and Lows of Stardom: Jessica Alba’s Career Reflections
While the spotlight shone bright on Alba during her time as Sue Storm, not everything was smooth sailing. In fact, the Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer experience left the actress doubting her place in Hollywood. During an interview with Elle in 2010, Alba opened up about a troubling moment during the filming of the sequel.
The actress recalled how director Tim Story gave her unsettling feedback during an emotional scene. Alba’s character, Sue Storm, was dying in the scene, and the director felt her performance was “too real.”
“I remember when I was dying in Silver Surfer. The director was like, ‘It looks too real. It looks too painful. Can you be prettier when you cry? Don’t do that thing with your face. Just make it flat. We can CGI the tears in.’”
This moment of direction left Alba questioning her craft and her instincts as an actress. She revealed how those words led her to doubt her talent and the value of her emotional expressions.
“Am I not good enough? Are my instincts and my emotions not good enough? Do people hate them so much that they don’t want me to be a real person? And so I just said, ‘f*** it. I don’t care about this business anymore.’”
This pivotal experience would mark a turning point for Alba, as she began reevaluating her career in Hollywood and considering new ventures.
A Career Reinvented: From Hollywood Star to Entrepreneur
Jessica Alba didn’t allow her disillusionment with the film industry to define her. In fact, she went on to launch The Honest Company, a billion-dollar business specializing in clean and sustainable household products. The transition from actress to entrepreneur allowed Alba to channel her creativity and drive into something outside of acting.
Despite her business success, Alba hasn’t ruled out a return to the big screen. Recently, she expressed an interest in joining the MCU once again, even revealing a missed opportunity to star alongside Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool 3. For fans who’ve followed her from her Fantastic Four days, this could be a much-anticipated comeback.
What Vanessa Kirby Can Learn From Jessica Alba’s Fantastic Four Experience
Stepping into a beloved role like Sue Storm comes with both pressure and excitement. Vanessa Kirby, known for her acclaimed roles in The Crown and Mission: Impossible, is no stranger to the spotlight. However, with the Fantastic Four legacy, the stakes are high, and the expectations even higher.
Jessica Alba’s advice to Kirby, while simple, speaks volumes about embracing the joy of connecting with fans. Alba may have faced challenges, but she never forgot the positive impact her role had on audiences around the world. This love from fans is something Kirby can certainly look forward to as she takes on the role of the Invisible Woman.
Additionally, Kirby can learn from Alba’s experience about the importance of staying true to her instincts as an actress. While the pressures of Hollywood may sometimes push actors to conform to specific expectations, as Alba’s experience with Rise of the Silver Surfer shows, staying authentic to one’s craft is key to both personal satisfaction and professional success.
The Future of the Fantastic Four
With the MCU constantly expanding, the Fantastic Four reboot has fans eagerly anticipating the next chapter for Marvel’s First Family. Vanessa Kirby, alongside rumored cast members like Adam Driver and Joseph Quinn, will have the chance to leave their own mark on these iconic characters.
Jessica Alba’s journey with Fantastic Four may be a thing of the past, but her words of wisdom continue to resonate with her successor and anyone following in her footsteps. As Kirby prepares to step into the blue suit, one thing is clear: the legacy of Sue Storm is in capable hands.
As the Marvel Universe prepares to reintroduce the Fantastic Four to a new generation, fans can look forward to seeing how Kirby brings her own spin to the role, while carrying the torch Alba passed with such grace.