A Close Analysis of Shia LaBeouf’s Evolving Facial Hair
Shia LaBeouf recently told the Hollywood Reporter (with trademark candor) that he is done with blockbusters. “I’m done. There’s no room for being a visionary in the studio system,” he said, shortly before accusing said studios of sticking fingers up peoples’ assess. This is unhappy news for anyone who enjoyed watching Shia commune with crystal aliens or wise battle-robots — no judgment; America is with you — but it is not exactly a surprise. The writing was on the wall. Or, the writing was hidden in Shia’s beard, which has been making slow progress toward Certified Indie Actor facial hair for a year now. Look, we have proof.
The product in his hair says, "I'm a well-paid movie star who dabbles in day-trading on my days off." The stubble on his face says, "Bu...
The product in his hair says, "I'm a well-paid movie star who dabbles in day-trading on my days off." The stubble on his face says, "But robots and commodity futures don't feed my soul."
Photo: Tim Whitby/2009 Getty Images
This is what we call a warning-shot beard — fuller, but still (relatively) neat and trimmed. Shia is plotting his escape.
Photo: Sean Gallup/2011 Get...This is what we call a warning-shot beard — fuller, but still (relatively) neat and trimmed. Shia is plotting his escape.
Photo: Sean Gallup/2011 Getty Images
And a month into his Transformers 3 press tour, Shia has abandoned all pretense of beard grooming. You can just see the emotional exhaustion in those ...
And a month into his Transformers 3 press tour, Shia has abandoned all pretense of beard grooming. You can just see the emotional exhaustion in those scraggly neck tendrils. "Stop making me sell myself," they scream. "I just want to be an artist."
Photo: Jun Sato/2011 Jun Sato
And we've entered Joaquin Phoenix–in–I'm Not Here territory.
Photo: Jason Merritt/2011 Getty Images
Shia shows proper Cannes respect with a trimmed (almost patchy, really) beard. But his new flowing locks remind us: "I am not the guy from Transf...
Shia shows proper Cannes respect with a trimmed (almost patchy, really) beard. But his new flowing locks remind us: "I am not the guy from Transformers. I am more than Transformers.
Photo: Gareth Cattermole/2012 Getty Images
Shia throws out his comb for the Lawless press tour, because that is what serious actors do (or, that is what he saw Tom Hardy do in his trailer that ...
Shia throws out his comb for the Lawless press tour, because that is what serious actors do (or, that is what he saw Tom Hardy do in his trailer that one time.)
Photo: Michael Loccisano/2012 Getty Images
Shia goes full grizzly. (And full frontal.) America, meet your new favorite indie actor!
Photo: Frazer Harrison/2012 Getty Images