LOS ANGELES — On Thursday, the world stopped for the death of Anna Nicole Smith. Harvard is electing its first woman president, and the country may be ready to do the same, but the woman of the hour was the one who, as the producer of her most recent film put it, “had the market cornered on the dumb blonde act.” Why is there still such a vibrant market for “the dumb blonde act?” “People will see that maybe I have a little talent and will take me serious as an actress,” she said, in explaining her decision to star...