Alas, Alec

I was looking at Alec Baldwin's memoir Nevertheless.  He certainly has proved, over his lengthy career, that he has talent.  Still, would he have gotten as far as he did if, as a young man, he weren't so stunning?

This is not to put him down.  It's just how show biz works.  In the same way that if you want to make it in sports, in addition to hard work, you have to be born with the physical potential (and for some sports like basketball, a height gene).

It may not be fair, but if you want to make it in movies or TV in front of the camera, it helps an awful lot to be good-looking.  There's some leeway for comedy, but otherwise, if you don't inspire lust in the audience, you're probably destined to be a character actor. (This is more true for women--even the "average-looking woman" in most movies and shows is pretty hot by normal standards--but it doesn't mean the rule has no application to men.)

Some of Baldwin's stories of his early years deal with powerful men who hit on him.  That's also how show biz works.

Of course, once he got his opportunities, he showed he could act.  And then--something rare--he managed a highly popular second career as a character actor when his looks faded.  Not that he's ugly, by any means, but he's not the same heartthrob he once was.  He also showed a surprising talent for comedy.

Some stars seem to be able to keep their looks forever.  Cary Grant quit the movies in his early 60s, embarrassed to be paired with women half his age, but he could have continued if he wished. (Around the same time he retired, he married Dyan Cannon, who was less than half his age.)

Others manage to show their versatility--if they can't be romantic leads any more, they can play intriguing character roles.  A good example is Jon Voight.  While not the leading man he once was, he's as busy as ever, playing an enormous variety of roles, even getting an Oscar nomination for his Howard Cosell in Ali and four Emmy nominations including two for his character in Ray Donovan.

Baldwin is still much in demand (even if you don't include his Donald Trump impression).  Perhaps some male stars feel humiliated when they don't get the girl any more, but if they're smart, they should be glad they've proved they're about more than that.