Foreign Muscle

Re “The Accent Is on Acting” by Peter Rainer, Feb. 17:

How can Rainer write an entire article lamenting the lack of foreign-born actors without mentioning Arnold Schwarzenegger? He’s bigger (literally and biz-wise) than Gerard Depardieu, Rutger Hauer or Joan Chen, all of whom merited inclusion.

“Green Card” may signal a turning of the tide in Hollywood’s acceptance of a foreign film star, but what about “The Terminator,” “Kindergarten Cop,” “Twins” or even “The Running Man,” which featured not one but two foreign-born actors (Schwarzenegger and Maria Conchita Alonso)?

I think modern audiences accepted foreign actors on the American screen 10 years ago. Schwarzenegger is clearly a big box office draw, and Austria ain’t in Indiana on my map.

MICHAEL R. PERRY

Los Angeles