> It is also worth noting that the roles she has famously turned down
> like Julia Stiles in 'Bourne Identity' and Kate Hudson in 'Almost
> Famous' never had so much as a harsh word hurled at them(maybe
> that's why she didn't take them)

I'd heard only recently she was offered Julia Stiles' role in 'Bourne
Identity'. I don't know why she didn't take it. On the other hand, she
turned down 'Almost Famous' because it would end up giving her
something she didn't want (celebrity status).

<<"All hell broke loose for a while," Polley explains. We're having
dinner at Swan, a couple of weeks after the Away From Her shoot has
wrapped. "It was this odd and decisive move," she says, "and it came
partly from a really rational and competent decision, and partly out
of an insane instinct that I didn't completely understand. I think I
could give a thousand reasons why I dropped out and they'd all be
right and they'd all be totally wrong. The most important reason, in
terms of what happened to the rest of my life, is that I could see
what was in store for the person who played that part—I realized I
don't want that. I want to be completely in control of the choices I
make.">>
http://www.torontolife.com/features/woman-verge/?pageno=2

> and since her next role in 'Splice' is as a scientist monkeying
> with nature and playing god by creating a hideous monster it does
> not look like her prospects are looking much better.

I don't know if I'd say that. I mean, she's been working for this long
(nearly a quarter-century!); personally, I don't see her stopping
anytime soon.

> It would be nice to see her in a
> role where she lives happily with a soft puppy dog and the sun is
> shining and she wins the lottery or something. Give the poor gal a
> break.

But would it be as interesting to watch? ;)