Why We Love Eccentric, Out-of-Touch Rich Dames On Screen
Why We Love the Eccentric Out of Touch Rich Dame on Screen
Welcome to MsMojo, and today were discussing one of our favorite character tropes: the glamorously wealthy dame. Well be breaking down what makes her so fabulous and why we cant get enough of her out-of-touch, aloof humor.
A character who takes up space unapologetically, the rich dame is, from the outside, a beacon of confidence. Still, like other wealthy characters on screen, she is often portrayed as out of touch, morally questionable, and, despite her wealth, empty inside, as if in search of something money cant buy. Her role can cover a lot of range. We see her in powerful matriarchs, like Lucille Bluth and Emily Gilmore, as well as the eccentric solo tour-de-force, a la Tanya McQuoid and Cruella de Vil.
While other wealthy characters are often portrayed as overtly villainous and cutthroat, these characters are often beloved by fans. Their moral compass might be skewed, but we just cant get enough of them. This begs the question, Why do we love our rich dames?
Though it may seem counterintuitive, in times of economic hardship, audiences can feel drawn to the wealthy on screen. Its partly a form of escapism, watching the luxury resorts of The White Lotus or the lavish properties of Succession to see how the other half lives. Stories of the wealthys misfortune are also appealing because they confirm our belief that money cant buy happiness. In fact, quite the opposite can easily be true.
Among other characters in a wealthy onscreen family, the rich dame stands out for a few simple reasons. For better or for worse, her status awards her social privilege to get away with more, whether its an outlandish outfit or a fierce clap back. She is comfortable making herself stand out and taking up space in the world because she feels she deserves it. This gives her an air of poise, elegance, and confidence that draws the viewer in.
Take Emily Gilmore, of Gilmore Girls fame. She lives quite comfortably in a mansion in Hartford, Connecticut, where her hired help takes care of all the cooking and cleaning. This leaves Emily free to focus her time and energy on social responsibilities, allowing her to take on roles like president of the DAR. As a result of years of honing her social skills in the cutthroat world of Connecticuts upper crust, Emily is one of the most self-assured, composed women in television.
The White Lotuss Victoria Ratliff is another character we obsessed over. Its not just implied that she thinks shes better than certain people due to her wealth and status. She straight up says it. Though her Lorazepam habit might be slightly to blame for her blunt nature, its clear shes believed this her whole life. While certainly not a character designed to be emulated, Victoria was captivatingly cool and unshakably confident.
Morality has little to do with the popularity of this specific character trope. Just look at Cruella de Vil, whose name literally means cruel devil. Yes, she wants to make coats out of adorable dalmatian puppies. That is absolutely unforgivable. Even so, her eccentric glamor makes her an incredibly entertaining villain. In both the animated film and the 1996 live-action adaptation with Glenn Close, Cruella is a fashion icon who will stop at nothing to get what she feels entitled to.
Another key element of the rich dame is her age, which adds to the complexity of her character. Older women are criminally underrepresented in the media, and typically relegated to limited roles like the aging grandmother, members of society characterized as dependent and vulnerable. Seeing an older woman portrayed on screen as confident, self-assured, and powerful due to her status is unique, compelling, and fun. These characters are also often played by incredibly beloved, experienced actresses whose careers weve been following for decades.
Lucille Bluth, played by the late great Jessica Walter, is an onscreen grandmother who follows none of the typical kind grandmother tropes. She is brutally honest, but protected from pushback due to her status as the matriarch of a powerful family. Though she places herself high on a pedestal, she also cares deeply about her family, putting in a significant amount of work to maintain the success of the family business. She is human after all, and not as clueless as some might think.
Then theres Catherine OHara, who enjoyed a career renaissance due to her role as Moira Rose in Schitts Creek. Weve loved her since the days of Beetlejuice and Home Alone, but her brilliant acting choices as Moira Rose made us appreciate her talent even more. Moiras iconic voice, along with her diverse collection of wigs, transformed OHara into a clueless but endearing diva making the most out of her new small town life.
The eccentric rich dame doesnt have to be a traditional matriarch either. Tanya McQuoid is a prime example. Played by the eternally likable Jennifer Coolidge, Tanya is always dressed to the nines in expensive clothes. Shes happy to make a splash in a daring outfit despite being admittedly insecure. Tanyas doomed romance with Greg is the kind of storyline rarely given to mature women, but Coolidge unsurprisingly played it perfectly. Though it ultimately didnt work out for Tanya, her character still showed us youre never too old for a little romance.
These characters are complex, opinionated, and compelling to watch across the board, but this trope isnt limited to just fiction. The Real Housewives franchise proves that there are eccentric rich dames everywhere for those with eyes to see. Their enduring popularity and multiple successful spinoffs prove there is still a huge demand for these rich women and their drama-fueled catfights.
When all is said and done, we like the characters we like because theyre fun to watch, not necessarily because we agree with everything they stand for. What makes these women so entertaining isnt their wealth, but everything their wealth and status can grant them. A sense of confidence and self-assurance, a killer wardrobe, and the power to speak her mind are all the ingredients for a character fans will adore. Add that to an empowered older woman, a group traditionally underrepresented and otherwise negatively stereotyped, and you have a character the internet will go crazy for.
Which beloved or despised character trope should we dissect next? Let us know in the comments!
