It’s a happy birthday to Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who turns 23 today. I still haven’t yet caught her allegedly fleshed out turn in Quentin Tarantino’s extended Death Proof segment of Grindhouse, but Winstead needs to ditch the anonymous horror flicks (even though I generally dig Final Destination 3) and find something to bring her image into sharper focus.

Or, you know, do more photo shoots like the one above. Smallish turns in Factory Girl and Bobby did little for her profile, and does anyone even remember her from Live Free or Die Hard? I really think Winstead has some cross-gender appeal (cute enough for girls, still sexy for guys), but she needs to find the right modern-set showcase for that, whether it’s a P2-type thriller of containment or a nice, sunny romantic comedy. Her sole listed forthcoming credit, Make It Happen, sounds awful — like a warmed-over casserole of Feel the Noise, Step Up, In the Mix, Save the Last Dance and Take the Lead. In fact, Julia Stiles’ career arc notwithstanding, here’s a free tip for all young actresses — if you’re offered a film in which a young girl discovers a new style of dance that proves to be a source of conflict and self-discovery, steer clear. Take a chance on the edgy indie flick instead.