SHIA LABEOUF

I am taking the girls and some friends of theirs to see the new Transformers movie tomorrow. They loved the first one. I am particularly intrigued by the leading man, Shia Labeouf. I don't think that a lot of people give this boy the credit that he is due. He is 21 years old, has come from unimaginable hardship, but I think that his reasons for why he works and has a passion for what he does is the secret to his overwhelming success. There are many reasons not to like him, but here are several reasons why I do:

1) He is FUNNY.

He did stand-up as a kid, and it helps him, because I have yet to see him do a bad interview. He is so quick, and self-depreciating, and irreverent, that if you're not careful (and if you don't know anything about him), you can't really tell whether he is joking or telling the truth. He comes across as real and genuine, even if, he admits himself, it's probably all an act, a "con game." Watch his interview for Indiana Jones on the David Letterman Show here.

2) He is fearless.

The kid endures not one, but 2 PR disasters (getting arrested for criminal trespassing, and being charged with a DUI and getting into a bad car accident that caused him to severely injure his hand)that could have ruined other actors' careers forever. But not Shia. Not only does he take his licks like a man, but he continues to work, puts up with the paps, and simply refuses to hide from life. He is always being photographed out and about, mostly walking, sometimes on his skateboard, hitching with Mom, or even riding a motorcycle. And one of the director's that's worked with him claimed that no matter what, Shia's ALWAYS on time!

3) He loves his parents.

Role models they were not. Ordinary people would have easily blamed their failures in life on the type of parents Shia had, and most would probably have felt justified in doing so. They were pretty whacked-out, and his childhood was less than ideal. But to this day, you will rarely, if ever, hear Shia say anything disrespectful about his parents. He loves his mom and dad, and diligently takes care of them. That kind of character isn't developed in an environment of privilege.

4) He's ADORABLE.

That face. Those eyes. Those lips. That curly hair. His nearly-flawless skin. His newly-ripped physique. Whether he is trotting around town on foot dressed worse than a bum, or rocking a tailored suit, Shia is definitely beautiful to look at. He cleans up good, too. And even when the paps catch him sucking on his favorite vice, his cancer sticks, they never can seem to take a bad picture of him. The camera just loves him.

5) Child actor, but NO child.

Craig Kilborn once told him that he made him laugh "a man's laugh." Another interviewer said that he's an "old soul." He has a heavy voice, and speaks in a manner that says he's either been here before, or he's seen, lived, and known too much for his tender age. Contrary to popular belief, he doesn't strike me as immature or arrogant. He strikes me as a youngster who is trying to grow, to be a man. He is finding his way. He has his own opinions, his own ideas, and his own interests. Hell, he even has his own house! And in Hollywood, where all of the stars seem to be cut from exactly the same mold, and are literally carbon copies of one another, he fights to maintain his individuality.

6) He is a fan first.

Hearing him speak about his co-workers, and the respect that he has for them, is awesome. How anyone can see that as arrogance is beyond me. They're probably jealous. I think his respectfulness and eagerness to please his bosses are the reason why so many lucrative opportunities are being made available to him.

7) He (is trying to) learn from his mistakes.

Dopey mishaps, chain smoking and imbibing aside, you don't hear about Shia Labeouf using drugs, partying all night, making a sex tape, or other stupid things that most of his manufactured young-un peers in Hollywood are doing. He's said that he is determined to make good decisions for himself and for his career. He wants to go far in this business. I wish him all the best.

8) He works hard.

He's said that nothing came easy for him; he's had to get out there and work hard for everything that he's achieved. I believe that this is true. I mean, how many people you've heard of that actually called a talent agency and pretended to be his own manager? And once he was given an opportunity, he hasn't looked back.

9) His characters are totally opposite of who he really is.

Shia is something of a peverted, somewhat lost, bad-assed, foul-mouthed, smart-alecky little boy who really, really needs a spanking in real life. LOL But the characters that he plays are these good, wholesome boys from these solid middle-class families. I'd like to think that he plays these roles because he secretly wishes that his own childhood truth could have been closer to his film-making reality.

10) He's not afraid to be different.

He's done different kinds of work, which is why he's so popular. I hope that he will continue to do dark characters and independent films, which will further exercise and add depth to his acting range.

Shia Labeouf is a rising star that will only get better with time. The only person that has the power to stop his ascent is himself. I know what it is like having to overcome tremendous obstacles in order to succeed, so I wish him the best in all of his future endeavors.

Shia's Wiki Page