Campaigning For Coin: Sela Ward

This edition of the Hunger Games fan site series "Campaigning For Coin" focuses on Sela Ward. Every Tuesday and Thursday, the fan sites will be sharing opinions on different actresses we think may (or may not) be right for the role of President Alma Coin in Mockingjay Parts 1 & 2. As always, be warned: Spoilers!

Sela Ward is an American actress best known for her television roles on Sisters, Once and Again, House MD, and CSI:NY. Sela has two Emmys and a Golden Globe in her trophy case and has been nominated numerous times for various awards.  

HG Girl On Fire:

Sheila: When thinking about Sela Ward for the role of President Coin, one of the things I have the most trouble with, envisioning her as this character, is wondering if she has the steeliness and grit to pull of such a character. I remember Sela best for her work in The Fugitive, The Stepfather and the Day After Tomorrow.  The one thing I remember about Sela in each of these roles was her capacity to play a loving, nurturing mom and wife, so Im finding it difficult to see her in a role so different than ones she's already played. With that said, however, I do think she has the acting ability to play more diverse roles, I'm just not so sure she is my President Coin.

My Hunger Games

Jacqui:  You might not recognize the name, but you are sure to recognize the face.  Sela Ward has made numerous appearances on TV shows including House and CSI-NY  She is beautiful and she acts well.  In fact she took out an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her portrayal as Lily Manning in the series Once and Again.  She also received nominations for playing a struggling artist and recovering alcoholic in the series Sisters.  But could she be Alma Coin?  To be honest, I don't see why not, but there's nothing about any of her performances that I have seen that make me think "SHE'S THE ONE".  She is the type of actress that exudes an inner calm and peace, and could definitely portray a leader that has the loyalty and respect of her fellow citizens.  Perhaps then she would be the perfect ruse as Coin; to be revealed as a woman who SEEMS to want freedom and peace for the nation, but has no qualms in being cruel and manipulative and as self-serving as the most evil of dictators to get what she wants.  I guess all-in-all, I have a fairly luke-warm response.  I wouldn't be disappointed, but nor would I be thrilled.

PanemPropaganda

Molly: I remember Sela Ward from the show Sisters way back in the 90’s. What I remember most about her is her distinctive, patrician look and her deep, rich voice. She even had a young George Clooney playing her love interest on the show. Since Sisters, she’s been a television regular on shows such as Once And Again, House and CSI:NY. She’s won two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe. I think she’d be just fine as Coin, but that’s the problem. I don’t think any of us want a Coin that’s “just fine.” We want a Coin that will go toe to toe with Jennifer Lawrence, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Woody Harrelson and Donald Sutherland. We have an A-List cast, we need an A-List Coin.

The Hob

Lee: On the surface, Sela Ward seems an unlikely candidate to portray President Coin. Her roles tend towards more genteel, soft spoken, circumspect characters, as we've seen in her parts on shows like CSI-NY and Sisters. However, it is these qualities I find so intriguing when envisioning Ms. Ward as President Coin. As Ms. Ward also stands tall and strong in her roles, she could make a credible Coin. Watchful and intense, the silence could work for her as the viewer would know she was focusing on her objective - domination, control and the quest to rule at all costs.

Victor's Village

Tiffany: I feel like you won't recognize Sela Ward by her name, but you will by her face. Best known for roles on TV (House MD, CSI:NY, Once and Again) or movie parts as mothers (The Day After Tomorrow) and wives (The Fugitive), there's a good chance you've seen her in something and would immediately recognize her beautifully striking look. If the filmmakers were looking for a lesser known woman as Coin, Sela Ward would be an interesting choice, but chances are she may not fit in with the likes of Donald Sutherland, Woody Harrelson and Philip Seymour Hoffman in acclaim and recognizability. She may have won her fair share of awards, but she is a little lacking in the household name department. I've always liked Sela Ward in the roles I've seen her in, and I think she could pull off Coin's "severe" look, but Lionsgate, I feel, would want to reach a little higher.