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LaneyRenaRiffel
The brainless prostitute bears a striking physical resemblance to Diane. I interpret this character to be Diane's negative projection of self, just as Betty is her positive projection. Just as Betty's life reflects Diane's hopes for her career (which I believe is a Winkie's waitress who picks up bit acting roles), the prostitute reflects her worst fears regarding what her life might become, especially since she has just spent all the money Aunt Ruth left her to kill Camilla. - (Carla Beaudet) We see that Diane and the prostitute have a similar connection to the
hit man. This is because in real life the hit man showed
Diane the blue key after taking it from his shirt pocket, and in the fantasy the prostitute reaches into that same pocket to get a
cigarette (»visual
echoes). Other than just indicating for us that Diane and the hit man smoke the same type of cigarettes, this scene also shows us that the hit man supplies what the prostitute wants in the same way that he gives
Diane what she wants, by going into his shirt pocket.
Similarities between Laney and Betty/Diane:
Note: The prostitute wearing all blue is getting into a blue van just like a key entering a box. - (vinovampire) As an aside, reading Rena's bio call to mind the archetypal "rural girl to big city" narrative that is clearly at the core of the Betty/Diane archetype. The details may be off re Cannes, but the crossover to the satirical sexploitative work in the 1995 film (Penny/Hope in Showgirls) is revealing; with time, Riffel's character may have been the literal heroine of MD. - (Rochas Redux) Casting trivia David Lynch had offered Rena a role opposite Marilyn Manson in Lost Highway, but her agents turned it down due to nudity requirements. Rena was disappointed but hoped that Lynch would remember her for future projects. In 2000, Rena was called in by casting director Johanna Ray to be put on videotape for Lynch's TV series pilot, MULHOLLAND DRIVE, a follow up to Twin Peaks. She later got the good news that Lynch had given her the part, the series regular role of Laney, a mysterious homeless character who would get revealed throughout the series and come to a grande finale when the big secret is unfolded. Though the pilot turned out to be another groundbreaking masterpiece for Lynch, Disney Studios wanted a family oriented show and asked for changes which Lynch would not agree to. The project was shelved until it was then released as a feature film.
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