The CW Star of the Week: Annette O'Toole
Birth name: Annette Toole
Where you can catch her: On Smallville, Thursdays at 8/7c
Why we heart her: O'Toole's ferocious, tenacious and yet precious as Clark's mother. Her Martha is heroic by leading by example, which we know doesn't get so much attention in this world. But we notice!
Our favorite factoids about O'Toole: She's an original song Oscar nominee for writing "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow" with her husband (and former Smallville-r), Michael McKean. You can hear that tune in the movie A Mighty Wind - which, by the way, is ridiculously hilarious! A must-see on DVD! Anyway... AO'T also played Lana Lang in Superman III. Maybe she shared some of her acting tips with Kristin Kreuk, the show's current LL?
Is AO'T your favorite Martha Kent? Why or why not? Do you think Martha trusts Lionel too much? Or are they Smallville's next hot new "it" couple? And wouldn't it be nice if Perry White returned somehow? We hope he does soon!
Comments
I love Annette as Martha Kent!
I love her compassion and above all, her strenght. Annette has played this role perfectly as if it was written with her in mind.
And I would love Micheal Mckean aka Perry White to return. Off course he has to, I mean, what would Daily Planet be without him.
I want him to be the CE of DP when Clark and Lois enter the newspaper. Bring Perry White!
Once again, I love Annette!
Posted by: Winchestergirl | November 18, 2006 7:55 AM
I think it would be great with Moinel-since it would be a great twist. Annette is great, and hopefully Perry White will return, he is hilarious.
Annette, you are great!
Posted by: Jillian | November 17, 2006 8:56 PM
sisi anette eres una de las mejores!! aunque kristin tamb... jeje enserioo viva anette!! spain
Posted by: teresa | November 17, 2006 5:10 PM
I love Annette because she loves the Clana relationship. And she always has loved Clark and Lana's friendship, even when she was a little girl.
She always felt that Lana was the underdog in the comics, so she always roots for the underdog! She always wanted Clark to tell Lana his secret and she still does to this day like the combination of Clark and Lana and Pete and Chloe, the four of them being best friends!
Go Annette!! And her husband "perry white" is so funny!
Posted by: AvaSpeaks | November 16, 2006 4:38 PM
I love AOT!!! she is so AWESOME!! and she's definately my favorite Martha hands down she does such a great job playing Martha. i also love this whole new thing with her and Lionel, so cute! Mionel = MENT2BE4EVA! :D
CONGRATULATIONS ANNETTE!!!!
Posted by: Lacey | November 15, 2006 7:01 PM
AOT isn't just the best Martha, she's also the best Lana (in Superman III). Way better than the Princess Whines-alot Lana we're stuck with on Smallville.
Posted by: Rob | November 15, 2006 1:57 PM
Annette O'Toole is by far the best martha kent ever! she comes across so warm hearted and loving, and no one could play the part better than her. I wouldnt mind if perry white returned.
Posted by: Brittany | November 14, 2006 5:51 PM
I love Annette O'Toole as Martha Kent in Smallville because she has so much compassion for Clark played by Tom Welling. She is a really awesome actress. Martha Kent and Lionel Luthor don't belong together as a couple because Clark doesn't trust him one bit. CONGRATS ANNETTE ON A JOB WELL DONE!
Posted by: Giselle | November 14, 2006 5:36 PM
Yes, I want Michael McKean to return as Perry White. He could tell Martha about Lionel's evil past.
Posted by: Karen | November 14, 2006 5:19 PM
LOVE MamaKent! Hate the Mionel, but LOVE MamaKent!
Posted by: Maria | November 14, 2006 4:47 PM
Annette tem se destacado perante as outras Marthas e todos aqui presente sabem disso.
Sua personalidade, transmitida pelo personagem mostra como a mesma tem uma interpretação atual que atinge muitos jovens nesse mundo todo incluindo aqui onde vivo (Brasil)
Seria bem legal ter o Perry no show novamente.
Mas acho que a Martha tem que se envolver mais com o Lionel heim, uhhh que massa!
De qualquer forma ANNETTE sempre D+!!
Vlw
Posted by: Thaís | November 14, 2006 3:21 PM
HO YES ! CONGRATULATIONS ANNETTE !!! She's the best Martha Kent for me ! Because AOT is wonderful woman ! but please, no Perry return !!! I Want Mionel in smallville, before it's to late ! Lionel changed ! and he loves Martha more than everything ! MIONEL FOREVER !
Posted by: Zoé | November 14, 2006 2:00 PM
I'm biased, because I've loved Annette since forever, but she's the best Martha Kent in that she's a full fleshed out character. That's a testament to the writers who see what a gifted actor they have in Annette and also a testament to Annette by taking a role that was supposed to be a minor role and giving Martha depth and dimension. I'm so happy they utilize her more.
Posted by: dawn | November 14, 2006 12:37 PM
She is definitely the best Martha, young and beautiful and so motherly and loving!! And yes, it would be great to see Perry sometime now that Chloe is at The Daily Planet
Posted by: Lucero | November 14, 2006 10:44 AM
I really have grown to love Annette as Martha! But, I have to say K Callan takes wins the gold as far as on screen Marthas go!
I'd love to see Perry return (please?) And I think Martha is trusting Lionel way too much! Her husband isn't even decomposed yet! Bad Martha!
Posted by: Liz | November 14, 2006 9:06 AM
Yes, all my favorite people on SV becoming Star of the Week, one after another. I love Annette.
She is such a gorgeous woman and a great actor.
Annette and John Schnieder were the hottest couple on Smallville. I hate that Al Miles broke them up. But I do love how Martha's character is shown to be strong and independent even after such a great loss. Keep her on this State Senator story arc till the series end. It is fantastic.
I don't think Martha/Lionel is right. It is wrong in many ways. Martha should support Clark's becoming Superman and stay with her husband's memory who gave his life for her and Clark.
For any other woman, it would be right, but Superman's mom has to be stronger.
And like everyone said, I love Annette's chemistry with Tom and Erica. Smallville's Kents are the most beautiful Kents ever!
Posted by: Shalimarfox80 | November 14, 2006 8:40 AM
Congrats to Annette for being the Star of the Week. She's an awesome actress.
Posted by: Alexis | November 14, 2006 7:29 AM
I love Annette O'Toole. She is a fantastic actress who has brought a lot to her character on Smallville: her Martha is unequivocally my favourite, and she continues to deliver a great performance time and again. She deserves to be star of the week, go Annette!
Posted by: Mary | November 14, 2006 7:01 AM
I like Annette, but she's not my favourite Martha Kent. I think K. Callan from the show Lois and Clark was better. I think Annette's Martha hasn't enough presence. I mean, she's not a character I notice right away in the show, while K. Callan's Martha was someone difficult to miss!
And yes, I hope she and Lionel will have a little something. really, it's obvious they like each other a lot, and I really like to see more of that, but I don't want them to last for the long time (no marriage, nothing like that). But I do hope they'll try and see they'll be better if they just stay friends.
And the return of Perry White? Oh yes!!! I'm waiting for it since the episode we saw him the first time!
Posted by: Poussin | November 14, 2006 3:57 AM
Yes, Annette is the best Martha Kent, because she represents the ideal Martha Kent who wasn't really the case in other adaptations of Superman (movies or tv series), she is always here to support Clark.
I think Martha trusts Lionel a bit, even she has big affection for him but her heart will always belong to Jonathan.
And YES YES YES, I want Perry White back!
Posted by: Elodie | November 14, 2006 2:45 AM
I absolutely love Annette O'Toole as Martha Kent. She's awesome... in Lois' words, she's "cool".
Her performance is great, especially when giving advice to Clark and Lois.
Posted by: Claudia | November 13, 2006 8:56 PM
heck yes i want perry back on the show!
Congrats Annette! We love you!
Posted by: Sarah | November 13, 2006 8:48 PM
First Tom Welling, then Erica Durance and now Annette O'Toole! The CW loves some Smallville!
Yes! AO'T is my fave Martha Kent. She makes a great Senator. I wish they were more storylines about her character--front and center--for a change. I love the scene in "Zod" when she talks to Jor-El in the Fortress. Hands down, a good performance.
I think she does trust Lionel too much and as for them as a couple? I don't think Lionel wouldn't do that to their friendship, especailly with Jonathan, Lois or Clark's around. Shouldn't she know all the bad things that Lionel has done?
Yes, I think we need to see Perry White coming back to Smallville and so does Pete Ross, Bart Allen, A.C., and Victor. That would be a treat for me!
I have a mom whose name is Annette. How cool is that?
Posted by: Brandon | November 13, 2006 8:18 PM
Yes i honestly think shes trusting lionel too much, i mean he cant be trusted with his history...
and yes its out of my control, but they may become a couple.
Posted by: Anonymous | November 13, 2006 7:50 PM
I love Annette O'Toole playing Martha Kent on "Smallville!" She's an awesome mom, but needs to stay away from Lionel. I still don't like that guy and I don't want them to be a couple, especially the next "it" couple. She's a strong women on her own and doesn't need a man right now, IMO, especially Lionel. I hope she finds someone someday soon that will treat her and love her like Johnathan did. GO MARTHA KENT! :)
Posted by: Laura | November 13, 2006 7:48 PM
She's just magical! She does a fantastic job and always has. I don't think anyone can make a nonverbal go as far as she does. She's phenomenal. I can't give enough praise!
And I do have a little bit of a thing for red heads. :) Ok a big bit of a thing. LOL! Yay! Annette!
Posted by: Brittny | November 13, 2006 7:45 PM
If this was Season 1, or 2,or 3, even 4, my answer would have been an unqulaified yes. However, with the turn the story has taken and the changes that have occured to her character, she is a pale reflection of her former self. The Martha Kent who was and is the "salt of the earth" is now gone. Instead she has been replaced with someone whose values are questionable at best and in a very short time seems to have forgotten how much she loved and gave up to be with Jonathan Kent.
It is a real shame. I loved Annette as Lana all those years ago. And when Smallvile first aired she brought a quiet dignity to the part that was so necessary. Now, with a crummy storyline to work with her acting is below what I usually expect from her.
Posted by: Steve | November 13, 2006 6:39 PM
I want Martaa with her "Real" husbeand Perry White...they would make a great couple..
Anette is my favorite MARTHA KENT and the best LANA LANG ever no one could ever top her and even less KK, Anette is the best
Martha Kent rocks...keep her away from Lionel and bring Perry back...how cool that couple will be??
I love Martha's relationships with "her two kids" Lois and Clark they are the best family
Posted by: Gaby | November 13, 2006 5:43 PM
Well all know what's going to happen in Paris. Just go to spoilerfix.com or just ask Ausiello I'm sure he'd be happy to tell you.
Posted by: Amanda | November 13, 2006 4:33 PM
To answer your questions Claire:
So far Mrs O'Toole is my favorite Martha Kent! She does a great job!!
Mionel being the next "it" couple?..NOOOOOOOO!!!!!Say it aint sooo!!!!
And yes, FINALLY!! I want the return of Perry White! He was fun!
CONGRATULATIONS ANNETTE!!
Posted by: meg | November 13, 2006 2:47 PM