I have had many people ask me what are your favorite female performances since you're a big fan of female characters? Well, I've decided to go through my DVD case and compile a list of some of my personal favorites. I won't rank them, because that is extremely tough to do. I do know who my favorite female character of all time is and I will include that in this piece as well, and I will include that in the television piece. First, I will discuss my favorite female movie performances/characters. It will include original characters, characters from books, etc. I hope you guys enjoy the list. I will also make one for the male performances, but I'd like to write this one first. Most people rarely talk about the female performances they like, so I feel this is great to show and get you guys and girls talking. Also, keep in mind that there will be performances by the same actress in some instances. I hope you guys and girls enjoy this piece.
FAVORITE FEMALE MOVIE PERFORMANCES/CHARACTERS
1. ELLEN PAGE AS BLISS CAVENDAR IN WHIP IT
My favorite actress of all time is Ellen Page, so it is apropos that I start this list with a performance by her. In Whip It, Bliss Cavendar is a girl living in the small town of Bodeen, Texas. Everything in her life has been forced on her, whether it's her mother forcing her to participate in beauty pageants or dealing with the dense people of Bodeen. Ellen personifies the Bliss character to me. The character of Bliss tells each of us to follow our own dreams. She does this through the world of roller derby. She makes it her own passion. It allows her to escape Bodeen and experience the world of Austin, where she feels she fits in better. Ellen was great acting with Marcia Gay Harden and Daniel Stern as her parents. There is a great scene where she gets into an argument about how important roller derby is to her. It isn't a game. It's a path to a better way of life away from Bodeen. Her relationship with her father is more friendly. Her ability to take a hit in roller derby is also important. In order to follow your dreams, you will take hits in life, and this is a great visual representation of that. Ellen enjoyed playing the character, and you can tell this through the passion she shows in each scene. Bliss tells us we can take control of our lives, and though she suffers some setbacks with boys, a rival from both the roller derby and beauty pageant worlds, an argument with her best friend, and disagreements with her parents, she is able to rise up and make something for herself. With each hit she takes verbally or physically, it doesn't make her quit. It's very uplifting to watch Bliss's journey from working at the Oink Joint sailing through high school to a superstar on the Hurl Scouts with fans chanting her name. She feels happiness for her success and hard work allowing the team to progress, as well as the ability to take hold of her life and shape it the way she wants to. Everybody aspires to shape their life the way they want, and that is what this character visually represents.
2. CHLOE GRACE MORETZ AS MINDY MACREADY/HIT-GIRL IN KICK_ASS
This is, in my opinion, the best comic book movie to date. I like it's intense nature. I feel the characters are larger than life. The idea of superheroes with no powers has always been interesting. With no powers, heroes have more vulnerability, but can still find a way to win. That is why I identify more with heroes like the ones seen here. We've all fantasized at some point about being a superhero, but its important to also note that you don't need powers to be a hero. We've seen this countless times whether it's police officers, fire fighters, etc. In this case, you only need a heightened ability to take a kicking, and deliver your own brand of justice at the same time. The character of Hit-Girl in my opinion is the most incredible character in the universe. Chloe Grace Moretz blended the character of the young 11 girl bonding with her father Damon MacReady aka Big Daddy. You see the bond these two share, and Moretz shows how all girls need their father. It's important to show that, because it shows her innocent, young, naive side that we all feel at a young age. Then, there is the other side of in your face, extreme nature of Hit-Girl. I feel she is the best of the principal heroes. She has the best fighting skills, and is able to take the fight right to Frank D'Amico's goons. She shows no fear. The Hit-Girl character is the most exciting part of the movie as you cannot help but cheer her on. I feel one of the best scenes of all time is the strobe rescue scene where she comes to her father's aid saving Kick-Ass and showing the world that girls can kick ass as well, no matter what the age is. Moretz showed great emotion with the loss of her father, and vows revenge with the aid of Kick-Ass. She is able to fight her way through at least 8 well trained men with her impressive fighting acumen. Hit-Girl shows how awesome a superhero can be. Remember, she has no powers so her ability to take down people at the age of 11 is incredible. It's a great performance blending human emotions of love with her father, and the intense rage of what Frank D'Amico has done to him. She will carry on her father's legacy, and she won't blink at any punch thrown her way, because she'll just grab that arm and toss them to the floor while she stands tall with her purple wig blowing in the wind. It's a great break-through performance for somebody at such a young age, and I think we'll keep seeing more from Chloe over the years.
3. EMMA WATSON AS SAM IN THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER
When I first found out Emma Watson was cast as Sam in Perks of Being A Wallflower, I was instantly excited. Emma is my second favorite actress, and it's great to see her career continue to grow with new projects. I believe this was her best performance to date, and the emotion she put into it was absolutely incredible. The Sam character has always intrigued me since I first read the book sophomore year of college. Emma captured the personality of Sam perfectly. She brought out that free-spirited side of the character showing some great chemistry with Ezra Miller as her step-brother Patrick. Emma could easily be inspiration for the words on the page, as she naturally fit into the role. Her chemistry with Logan Lerman was so natural. I was absolutely amazed by how great it came across. She also did an incredible job showing how Sam definitely has some demons inside her from her earlier years of high school, but through great scenes such as the one explaining to Charlie how it is important he experiences a kiss from somebody he loves, or her final conversation with him about her past and transition to college life she demonstrates how a young actress can make a character her own, and deliver an award earning performance at the same time. She discusses how she wants to re-invent yourself, and Emma displays the natural evolution of the character through her voice, actions, and demeanor throughout the movie. As I watched the tunnel scene with We Can Be Heroes by David Bowie playing, I saw the words jumping off the page with how well Watson captured that moment. Watson nailed this role, and it was great to see her make this book character a great movie character at the same time. Emma Watson to me became Sam from her introduction at the football game to the final scene as all three go through the tunnel. It's a performance that definitely deserved the People's Choice Award it won. Watson is an incredible young actress. She proved it with this performance, and I believe she will continue to do this in her upcoming projects.
4. EMMA WATSON AS HERMIONE GRANGER IN THE HARRY POTTER SERIES
The Harry Potter series is my favorite series of books, as well as my favorite movie franchise of all time. The Hermione Granger character is one of my absolute favorite characters of all time. When 11 year old Emma Watson was signed on to play everybody's favorite witch, nobody knew that this would be the beginning of one of the best young actresses in years. However, over the course of these 8 movies, we watched as the character and the actress evolved. Hermione is definitely my favorite character in the Potter universe. I feel Hermione is the strongest of the three main characters of Harry, Ron Weasley, and herself. Being born to two muggle parents makes this even more impressive. She is intelligent, is a master at spells, and if it wasn't for her Harry wouldn't be able to accomplish most of what he has to. Hermione is the glue that keeps the group together as well. Emma successfully captured the personality of the character early on in The Sorcerer's Apprentice looking at the academic, by the book character who became a powerful, instinctful witch that is able to protect all three of them. The one constant that bridges the evolution is she maintains that mastery of skills. I discussed how she made the Sam character jump off the page, but Emma took an iconic book character and when people look at Hermione now they see Watson. She made an iconic book character an iconic movie character. They envision her real life personality matching with Hermione's. To some extent, this is actually true as seen in various interviews with magazines capturing her natural beauty and intellectual interviews. Over the course of the 8 movies, Emma became more comfortable on camera, and I believe it was in The Prisoner of Azkaban when I felt this. I believe her presence in that movie showed how comfortable she was in the role by that point. I mention this installment of the series, because her role was bigger in this than the previous two. She was growing into a more seasoned actress. When she punched Tom Felton aka Draco Malfoy, that was when I realized Emma Watson IS Hermione Granger. She stands up to her detractors, protects her friends, and shows even without magic in that instance Hermione is a powerful character, and one of the best female characters ever created. From there, her acting would keep getting better, and now she has evolved into my second favorite actress by honing her craft through this series. Being in this character is similar to a television show. As you're in the role, you become more comfortable and that is what happened here. She understood the character better as the series progressed. Her first movie was Sorcerer's Stone, so it really shows alot that she has been able to become such a good actress.
5. TARA LYNNE BARR AS ROXY IN GOD BLESS AMERICA
Many people may not be familiar with God Bless America. Let me point out that this movie is not for everybody, and it might be too violent for some. It has extremely dark humor and takes shots at reality television, politicians, the singling out that both these groups do, and general commentary on how the United States tends to focus its attention on less important things like what happened on American Superstars (American Idol parody) or my Super Sweet 16. This movie is what you can use to vent internally when you're just upset at the state of things going on in the country when self-centered and celebrity obsessed becomes the basis of conversation. Of course, I keep up to date on this because I am a movie enthusiast, and if I follow a celebrity it's usually just an actress, actor, or wrestler that I'm a fan of. I talk about their work, and not what legal trouble they may get into. The two main characters of Joel and Roxy want to eradicate the insensitivity and thoughtlessness of pop culture. I am not a huge fan of Joel, but Roxy's commitment to their cause, and charismatic personality make her such a magnetic character. Tara Lynne Barr made the character extremely animated, and created a demented side to the character showing her 16 year old immaturity at times, as well as putting forth the violent aspect of the movie in a strangely artistic manner. She does exhibit emotions of a girl beyond the age of 16 which is why you like her. Where you see the elements of immaturity, they're eradicated when you see how intellectual she is. She provides some great dark comedic aspects to the movie. Barr is extremely talented, and I am impressed how great she was in the role. She really jumped in with both feet, took control of the Roxy character, and presented a unique rebellious teenager wanting to make the United States understand what is important. She also vents her frustrations for the political state of America in a very clear, concise manner that many of us can identify with. Roxy took command of the screen whenever she was on it. She showed at times that she had more intelligence than Joel which I found to be great. She protects Joel, discusses aspects of her likes and dislikes in a very passionate speech, as well as brandishing her own form of extreme justice. It's a very impressive performance that got her nominated for a Young Actress Award. She showed alot of range in this role, and at times you feel as if you're not actually watching a 16 year old girl, but a girl in her mid 20s that understands what is truly important in society.
6. DEMI MOORE AS JORDAN O'NEILL IN G.I. JANE
This is officially in my five favorite female performances of all time. It should come as no surpise that Jordan O'Neill is a favorite of mine, as I love strong female characters, and I think Demi Moore embodied that physically and emotionally in this role. I have always enjoyed this movie, and will watch this over G.I. Joe any day. I have always found Demi Moore to be one of the most gorgeous actresses ever, and I feel she did a phenomenal job in this movie. Jordan O' Neill works in Navy Intelligence. A female senator sets an initiative to include women in the U.S. Navy. Jordan is thrust into this environment and feels the sexism and disrespect from the men in her unit. She is able to persevere through grueling physical tasks, concentration in harsh environments, and standing up to her commander. I like watching her transformation as she decides to shed her hair and work harder than ever to prove she belongs. Every obstacle makes her stronger. My favorite scene is during a training exercise with Master Chief John Urgayle. Its designed to get information in a real life situation. Urgayle viciously assaults her, but Jordan keeps standing up refusing to submit. She then turns the tables on him saying the infamous Suck My.... you know. Then she headbutts him and gets the advantage with her male comrades cheering her on. It's such an amazing character. Even the female senator that placed her in this reconnaisance unit thought she would falter, but Jordan exposes her as well. This is such an uplifting character physically showing audiences how females can rise above in every way.
7. CAREY MULLIGAN AS SISSY SULLIVAN IN SHAME
Carey Mulligan is one of the absolute best actresses I've ever seen. Along with Ellen Page and Emma Watson, she officially rounds out my top three. This is an incredible performance. It shows how great of an actress she truly is. Shame was an excellent movie in general. It was really intense in terms of character development and dark elements from Michael Fassbender's Brandon Sullivan character, but the character that really keeps this movie flowing is Mulligan's Sissy character. The theme of the movie is dark and sexually explicit due to Brandon's nature, but Sissy has her own problems as well. She is working as a part time singer where she gives an incredible performance of New York, New York. She is also struggling with love pleading with suitors not to reject her. Mulligan really adds alot of emotion to the movie and has a really intense argument with Brandon. The emotion in the scene really pulls you in because of how great the acting is. Mulligan really played Sissy's damaged self perfectly. The thing is Sissy is emotionally dependent, and she really needs Brandon. Brandon doesn't see how much Sissy needs him. Sissy is also partly suicidal. Alot of her actions are to incite an emotion out of Brandon. It's to attract his attention, because she feels Brandon is the one constant in her life, unlike the other men that toss her aside. The thing is, Brandon is just like them. It takes an extreme move on Sissy's part to get Brandon to finally bond with her. Mulligan nailed the role so perfectly. I was impressed with both performances, but this is the break through performance for Mulligan. I've liked her in everything, but I think this is her best role to date.
8. CAREY MULLIGAN AS DAISY BUCHANAN IN THE GREAT GATSBY
As I said in my Great Gatsby review and in my previous entrant in this list, I like her in everything I've seen. When I found out Carey Mulligan was cast as Daisy Buchanan in the new Great Gatsby, I was instantly excited. I feel Mulligan personifies what you want to capture visually when you think about Daisy Buchanan. She gave an excellent performance. She was my favorite part of the movie. I thought she got the aura, voice, and look of Daisy down pat. She put alot of substance into the performance. She put more meaning into the role which I liked. Many point out that Daisy is shallow, but there are people like me that have always liked Daisy the best. Everybody has their own interpretation of the character, and I feel Mulligan put her meaning into the role. It made for an incredible on screen role. Mulligan made the Daisy character her own. It's a defining moment in her career as it's such an iconic literary character. The chemistry she had with Leonardo DiCaprio was phenomenal. I felt the best scene was the one where Jay Gatsby tells her to tell Tom Buchanan she never loved him. The raw emotion Mulligan portrayed in that scene sent goosebumps up my arm. She was excellent. The acting in the scene just brought me into the room with her. I can't wait to see her in the new Llewyn Davis film, and she has three projects in pre-production. She's an amazing actress!!
9. MELANIE LAURENT AS SHOSANNA DREYFUSS IN INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
Melanie Laurent is an incredible French actress. Inglourious Basterds is one of my absolute favorite movies. I think it's one of Quentin Tarantino's best movies. Everybody's favorite character in this seems to be Hans Landa...except mine. Don't get me wrong I think Landa is one of the best parts of this movie probably the second best character, but I feel the best character is Shosanna Dreyfuss. Laurent did an excellent job in the role as well. She portrayed the woman that wanted revenge on Hans Landa for what he did to her family. I like the scene in the restaurant with Landa and Goebbels where they discuss having A Nation's Pride shown in her theater. She shows real courage putting herself in harm's way as Landa may be able to identify her. She listens to business proposals, ideas for the Nazi party, and uses that information to set up the Nazi trap in her domain. It's a really calculated approach to get revenge. I think Laurent used her facial expressions, particularly her eyes effectively to tell the audience what she was thinking when she wasn't talking. Applying the war make-up and red dress showed a woman that was ready for vindication. She is such an important character as all the main protagonists have to converge on this theater in order to stop The Fuhrer himself. Shosanna gets the plan going and carries it out with meticulous detail. Laurent looks so natural in the role as an intelligent, calculating woman intent on making it right. Shosanna is making her own Nation's Pride. Though she doesn't survive, her plan is still carried out and she becomes a martyr for her cause. I think this is one of the best female characters ever written, but I feel the biggest reason is because Melania Laurent being cast in the role is what made it effective. As I said, Christoph Waltz was great, but Laurent was the real star of this movie.
10. JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT AS PAGE CONNORS IN HEARTBREAKERS
Jennifer Love Hewitt has always been one of my favorite people in Hollywood. I think Page Connors is her best movie role. She definitely had alot of fun with the role, and I think she looks at her absolute best in this movie. She really did an amazing job playing the con artist daughter to Sigourney Weaver's Max Connors role. I've always liked Page. She had such great chemistry with Jason Lee's Jack character. She has alot of sass, intelligence, and good looks as Page. JLH combined it all together and made for a memorable role. I think the best scene is when she first walks into Jack's life for the time in the hot pink dress. Jack comes over and asks her if she wants a drink. Page goes into a tirade saying "Like I've never heard that one before. I could be the anti-Christ or have the intelligence of a thermos but that is not what the male penis ponders is it?" I always laugh at that and then Jack's response that he's the bartender followed by her reaction: "Oh." is such a fun exchange. JLH made the role comical and instilled great drama as the relationship between the two progresses. It's a performance that has always been one I like to watch. JLH is entertaining and beautiful in the role. You watch her change throughout the movie slowly shifting from the con artist to a girl that wants to settle down with Jack once she finds love. As I said, you can tell she had fun with the role, and I feel it was because of her having fun with the role she really put her all into it. I felt JLH played herself with the volume turned up in this role which is what makes this so effective. Page Connors will always entertain me, and its because of Jennifer Love Hewitt's presence in the role that makes it incredible to watch.
11. ELLEN PAGE AS HALEY STARK IN HARD CANDY
This is my favorite female movie performance. It is also my second favorite female performance of all time, as I will touch on that in the television section. I think the raw intensity and dark nature of the Haley role really cemented Ellen Page. This movie is just Ellen and Patrick Wilson acting off of each other. At 17 years old at the time, Ellen was absolutely amazing showing a girl that seemed to be in her mid to late 20s with the subject matter. I think her delivery of the dialogue and intensity in her eyes made it look as if Ellen became Hayley. She is very good at making characters seem like herself and this was the first of many to come. I think that is what makes this performance so effective. It doesn't seem like there is a character. It seems like Ellen with the volume turned way up, and I have always loved that aspect of her movies. Since I consider this to be her first big movie, I always go back and watch it. I think the scene of her explaining why she was doing this to Jeff is absolutely amazing. She follows this up with mind games and extreme physical measures to show that Jeff shouldn't cross her...or any other girl. She creates an aura of female empowerment for women of all ages in this role. I always loved Ellen's approach as she leaves Haley's agenda overall up to interpretation. On the surface, you see what she is doing to Jeff, but you have to wonder what else is motivating Haley? This movie is one where you have to nail that emotional level and blend it perfectly with in your face scenarios. She was able to effectively find that balance and kept the movie flowing with such intellectual and captivating dialogue that you can't take your eyes off the screen. This was the first movie I saw of hers, and I've been a fan ever since that she has become my favorite actress. I liked her look with the short hair and the simple tank top, and red hoodie. I like Hayley's ability to keep out-thinking Jeff, and Ellen's creativity in shaping the character is really what makes this a powerful and effective movie.
12. ELLEN PAGE AS JUNO MACGUFF IN JUNO
Ellen Page's Oscar nominated performance in this movie was well deserved. I feel if Marion Cottilard was not on the Best Actress List she would have picked up the win for her amazing role of evolving from an immature teenager into a mature young woman that faces important decisions due to a pregnancy. I love Ellen's dialogue in this movie. It's extremely intellectual and many lines with comedic tones are funnier because of how she delivers them. Ellen brilliantly shows the immaturity early on in the movie while talking on her hamburger phone or discussing gossip with her best friend Leah, or reminiscing about the night with Bleeker. She quickly has to mature based on the night of passion, and goes about figuring out how to give her child to be a better life. Ellen shows amazing chemistry with every actor she converses with throughout from Jennifer Garner to Jason Bateman to Michael Cera to J.K. Simmons. Each scene is memorable, whether its funny or emotional. My favorite scenes are when Juno gets frustrated with Bleeker in the hallway about prom. You can see how much she loves Bleeker, and is upset that Bleeker is embarrased to be seen with her. Ellen created a great semi-monologue professing what she is experiencing. I also love the scene where she gets upset with Mark because he wants to leave Vanessa which interferes with Juno's idea of the perfect family for her baby. Ellen did a phenomenal job with those dramatic scenes. They show how much her character evolves over the course of the movie. Ellen definitely was an excellent casting choice for this movie, as she was able to really make the character her own much like I've said about the previous entrants on this list and her characters. This movie really brought Ellen into the A-List and she deserves to be there. She is so talented and always captivates me on screen. She made a movie about teen pregnancy more original than usual. I think Juno's spunkiness, intelligence, and entertaining personality keep this movie flowing. To me, Ellen Page makes her characters larger than life, and I think she was able to really do that effectively with this. Most people know who Juno MacGuff is and it's because Ellen has the ability to make characters stand out. It says alot about her natural talent.
13. LINDSAY LOHAN AS CADY HERON IN MEAN GIRLS
As anybody that really knows me is aware, I am a supporter of Lindsay Lohan. I've followed her career since the Parent Trap. If there is one performance that I've always found to be her best it was as Cady Heron in Mean Girls. She did an excellent job in this role starting out with a transition from home schooling to the crazy world of high school. She showed great acting ability and seemed natural in the Cady role. I feel over the course of the movie the Cady character actually changes significantly. She starts off as extremely innocent and naive. From there, she becomes a member of the Plastics picking up their characteristics and becomes fake, plastic, and quite bitchy. From there, a jolt from Janice Ian makes her realize that she needs to go back to being herself and not worry about who is popular in high school, because that doesn't last after those four years. Lohan easily made the character her own and did a great job through each arc of her personality throughout the movie. She had great chemistry with both Rachel McAdams and Lizzy Caplan. It made for a better performance overall as she upped her game in order to make her character stick out from their extreme characters. Lindsay definitely gave a career best performance here, and it deserves the praise it received when the movie first came out in 2004.
14. NATALIE PORTMAN AS NINA SAYERS IN BLACK SWAN
Natalie Portman received a well deserved Best Actress Oscar for this movie. She was absolutely amazing displaying duality in this movie. She danced between the light and dark side of her personality in such a convincing way. Her role as Nina Sayers has always been interesting to me as there is so much interpretation as to what exactly is going on with her. She played the young, innocent, child-like version so convincingly that people see Portman in that light in general. She was able to flip the switch and explore her dark side especially when she stabs Mila Kunis with the piece of mirror saying "It's my time!" This is a role that not all actresses can play and I feel Portman was the perfect person for it. She nailed everything the role called for. She changed her apperance physcially and altered her voice to give the aura of Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde. It's such a hauntingly amazing performance that it still gives me goosebumps when I watch it because of the intense realism she brought to it. This movie showed Portman in the prime of her career giving a memorable performance that will always leave the viewer wondering what is really happening to her. Portman worked well with Darren Aranofsky's directing style to bring true magic to the movie. Portman is a gifted actress, and she showed how impressive her talent is with the Nina Sayers role. Dancing (literally) between the white and the black Portman convincingly gives the viewer a look into our own psyche where we all are capable of the light and the dark, and I feel overall that is what this movie explores. It's such an amazing acting performance because you really have to dig down deep into your core to produce a character as intriguing as this, and Portman succeeded in flying colors.
15. HILARY SWANK AS MAGGIE FITZGERALD IN MILLION DOLLAR BABY
This is an excellent performance that demonstrates female empowerment, fighting through adversity no matter the obstacle, and impressive acting. Hilary Swank has always been a phenomenal actress but this performance was so well done that it easily has entered one of my favorite performances of any actor or actress. Maggie Fitzgerald has so much drive and determination to succeed. She works hard in the ring and in life to make ends meet and achieve her ultimate goal of being on top. Swank was incredible in her interactions with Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman. She stood out from the pack of female performances displaying a rougher edge than most actresses will. The training and preparation for the role took hard work as well. She should be commended for how much of herself she put into the role. The ring is a small picture of Maggie's life. FIghting adversity is her thing. Even when she is down in the hospital bed, she still refuses to tap out. It shows true grit to be able to live with the pain she had. Swank's acting made you really cheer for the character. She is an underdog in the grand scheme of life, so we want her to rise up. She is able to do this. It takes a cheap shot to bring her world crashing down, but as I said the girl still remains as strong as ever. It's really incredible to watch her bravery throughout the movie. Swank earned an Oscar for this performance in 2004. I was 100% in favor of her winning that year, and she did it because she combined incredible acting ability and her natural personality in order to breathe life into this inspirational female warrior-not just in the boxing ring, but in every facet of her life. If you have a favorite female performance list and this isn't on it, you either haven't seen the movie or you don't really understand what a good performance is. Yes, I have a plethora of tastes on this list, but this should be an automatic entrant on any list because it's so well done.
16. MICHELLE WILLIAMS AS GLINDA IN OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL
Michelle Williams is in my top five favorite actresses. I've always found her to be very talented in everything she does. It's really fun to watch her on screen because she really gets into her characters. With that being said, Williams did an excellent job as Glinda in Oz: The Great and Powerful. Normally, I am very anti-Glinda. I find Glinda to be conceited, really fake in terms of personality, and somebody that treats the Wicked Witch of the West differently because she looks different. Glinda in the Wizard of Oz is such a first class...well word that rhymes with witch. Seriously, watch the movie!! I'm not making this up. She is so condescending to Elphaba, Theodora, or whoever you can place in the WWOW role. However, Williams presented what I feel Glinda is supposed to stand for in the Oz universe. She wears white and does what is best for Oz. William's performance created a genuinely good witch, and has a plan to bring faith to Oz's citizens. She doesn't want Oz destroyed. William's gave Glinda a great fantasy element. As I said, this is the only instance where I actually like Glinda. From Wicked to the Wizard of Oz, I've loathed her character, but William's performance luckily presented what the character should stand for. She was good, powerful, instilling hope in Oz and its citizens, and pushing
Oscar to be a great man-what Glinda is supposed to do. Her introduction was handled really well. I loved Williams going back to Glinda's roots from the original using the bubbles as well. She looked kind-hearted and pure in that instance. That's the impression you want to give. It was a fun fantasy performance that was great because Williams put forth great acting to make the character a true good witch as opposed to a condescending witch dressed in pink that really only cares about beating the WWOW at any cost.
17. JENNIFER LAWRENCE AS TIFFANY MAXWELL IN SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Jennifer Lawrence is an absolutely amazing actress!! Her role as Tiffany in Silver Linings Playbook is her best thus far, and she earned an Oscar for her excellent acting in it. Tiffany is such a conundrum wrapped in a riddle which makes the character so fun to watch. Lawrence displayed the emotional loss of her husband, while also establishing a rapport with Pat Solitano who also is dealing with problems surrounding his ex-wife Nikki. Tiffany is a larger than life character. I feel Lawrence is the big reason for this. The actress is the one that has to make the character memorable and she did that. Her witty remarks and intellectual conversation to keep Pat grounded is impressive to watch. It was impressive watching Lawrence act off of Robert DeNiro as well where she talked about the sports scores showing fire and energy in the delivery of her dialogue. The diner scene that many regard as one of the best scenes of the movie showed a more animated Tiffany keeping the scene serious but adding comedic undertones. The diner scene is extremely important as I think it establishes that Tiffany and Pat both need each other in order to reach their silver linings. Lawrence's look was purposely made darker due to the issues covered in this movie, and I think it made Tiffany more effective. Tiffany is such a lively character, and I think Lawrence really brings the whole movie together. She is young and talented and the future is burning bright for the girl on fire. This is a performance that after you finish watching it, you know you just witnessed something special. Lawrence transformed herself into the mind of the Tiffany character and was able to show the audience how talented she is in the process.
18. MICHELLE WILLIAMS AS MARILYN MONROE IN MY WEEK WITH MARILYN
I feel Michelle Williams was robbed of an Oscar for her role as Marilyn Monroe in My Week With Marilyn. This is one of the best female performances I've ever seen. As I said, Williams is in my top five favorite actresses and I feel this was her best role amongst a great collection of work. When I discovered she would be starring in this movie, I was instantly excited, because I knew she would give such amazing presence to this role. She really did an amazing job transforming herself into the role of Marilyn. She captured the sexiness, the aura/mystique, and known personality traits of Marilyn so vivdly. William's acting was top notch displaying the issues that Marilyn struggled with on movie sets, her relationships with men, as well as her signature physical look. I felt she became Marilyn in this movie. It was really impressive to watch as her voice really matched hers in the Princess and the Showgirl (which by the way would launch Monroe into Some Like It Hot-one of the best comedy films ever made). Williams had alot of passion and energy as she put her all into each line. I was so impressed watching her own the screen. It's a performance that people should talk about just based off of the sheer talent and ability to step into the shoes of an icon...and still make it her own. You can tell how Williams really put alot of her own input in shaping Marilyn which made the character more natural in many regards. I loved her interactions with Kenneth Branagh and Eddie Redmayne. They were dramatic and comedic when they needed to be. She added substance to each line to put deeper meaning into Marilyn's thoughts. This is an excellent performance displaying an actress in Michelle Williams at the very top of her game. She brings her all into every role she has, but I feel it was Marilyn Monroe that she really came forth as a true force in Hollywood. Williams deserves praise and recognition for the energy, passion, and presentation she gave in this role.
19. KATE BECKINSALE AS SELENE IN UNDERWORLD
Kate Beckinsale is one of the most beautiful women in the world. I've personally always loved the original Underworld movie. I think the Selene character is a bad ass. She is a true female action character that fights through so many obstacles and stands tall at the end. Beckinsale gave Selene a regal elegance combined with a tough fighting style to make a really fun, memorable character. I like the whole vampire vs. lycan storyline. It's extremely entertaining, and Beckinsale naturally works in the role. You watch Selene do what she feels is right for Viktor's vampires, but realizes through her own intellectual discovery, silver nitrate, and impressive martial arts that lycans are not necessarily the problem. She is a female warrior fighting for what she believes is right. She is rebellious in her own way, but its always for the greater good of the vampires for a bulk of the movie. When she realizes that she's been fighting the wrong cause, she fights to protect Michael. Characters like Selene have many layers. Her back story is really interesting, Beckinsale uses that back story to create an intriguing character. Her facial expressions as well as her elegance in voice present a complete character. She is going out there firing ammunition and smashing lycans in the face, but she has been trained and built up to be the warrior she is. Its impressive watching Selene fight due to her unique style. Beckinsale's balance between elegance and savagery in terms of vampiric ability/fighting make this one of the most intriguing, memorable female characters ever created. I always look forward to more adventures from Selene because of how effective Beckinsale is in this role.
20. KATE WINSLET AS ROSE DEWITT BUKATER IN TITANIC
Kate Winslet created a very memorable romantic female role in Titanic. I loved her fiery red hair and general attitude in this movie. Rose DeWitt Bukater is a great character yearning to escape the monotonous upper class life-style she is bored with. She wants adventure and her witty dialogue always entertains me. Winslet's chemistry with Leonardo DiCaprio and Billy Zane was excellent. You really have to be sure to capture that from the start to establish a great movie couple, and she was able to do that. My favorite scene is the third class party scene following the first class dinner party for Jack. It was a great difference in mood and tone as you can clearly see Rose having more fun with Jack. The more she stays with Jack, the more she sheds that blue blood personality. It's really fun to watch her evolve from this fragile woman feeling trapped to a strong woman spitting in Cal's face and punching the guy that resembles Bill Nye while looking for Jack. Rose is actually the best character overall in Titanic because of how much she changes throughout. Winslet should have won the Best Actress Oscar over Helen Hunt. I was always baffled as to why Hunt won that year, when Winslet was on fire showing incredible evolution in the Rose character. She delivers some of the more memorable lines by a female character as well-"the difference between my taste in art and Cal's is that I have some." I think she grows into a strong woman because Jack gives her the courage to change her ways. She is able to shape her life into an eventful one. Rose DeWitt Bukater will stand the test of cinema history, because Kate Winslet's acting and shaping of the character's arc made that happen.
21. UMA THURMAN AS BEATRIX KIDDO IN KILL BILL
Beatrix Kiddo is possibly the strongest female protagonists ever created. I have always felt Kill Bill was Quentin Tarantino's best work, and I've liked all of his work. Uma Thurman made an iconic role with her performance. Beatrix Kiddo is on a quest for revenge against the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad for what they did to her and B.B. Kiddo's toughness is legendary. I think Kill Bill really changed the pace for movies and showed that women can kick ass as well. Thurman is what made that notion possible. Her performance is so fun to watch as she has some memorable dialogue and in my opinion the Showdown at the House of Blues in Volume 1 is the best fight scene ever choreographed. I like the signature yellow suit and expertise use of sword play. Though Zoe Bell did provide alot of stunts, Thurman's facial expressions and fighting should still be noted because she trained hard to be able to make her moves look realistic. They were innovative and fun to watch. I have always felt that the person that mirrors Beatrix the most was O-Ren Ishii who is also a tremendous character. It's why I think the House of Blues is so memorable. Ishii realizes that what Kiddo is doing is correct. Kiddo is intelligent and well trained. Thurman gave a very cerebral demeanor to her character which is great to watch. She is planning each step to Bill, and is able to conquer the obstacles to get to him. She is an inspirational character because we all want the ability to fight through adversity no matter the obstacle. Thurman made the character her own and gave one of the most memorable performances in cinema history regardless of gender. Thurman made the female action hero cool and acceptable. I believe this is the role she'll probably be best known for. When you watch Thurman on screen in these movies, you realize how methodical she was. Uma Thurman definitely became Beatrix Kiddo. She took the character on the page and made it larger than life.
22. JULIA STILES AS KATARINA STRAFFORD IN 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU
I've always been a big fan of Julia Stiles, and this was definitely her break through role. The older sister of Bianca is rebellious, a strong, independent girl, and doesn't fall into the gap. She has become smarter over the course of her tenure in high school the hard way, and it has toughened her up as a result. I consider her dialogue to be intelligent and indicative of a girl far more mature than 18 years old (as the character would call for). Stiles comes across as a natural presence in the Katarina role which is why I feel it was effective. 10 Things I Hate About You is one of the best teen romance comedies ever. The cast is excellent all around, but the chemistry with Stiles and Heath Ledger is so amazing to watch. They clicked so well together. Whether it's smiling, the conversations on the swings, in the book store, at the paint ball get together, her feeling of betrayal at the prom, or the genuine feelings she slowly develops for Patrick, we watch as Stiles gives a brilliant performance to capture each emotion, and show the effect he has on her. She protects those closest to her, while maintaining a tough exterior which I've always liked. Stiles nailed this role so well. She was originally supposed to play Bianca, which to me wouldn't have been believable. She worked well in the Kat role, because it seemed to mesh more with her personality. She would have been able to play Bianca. I just think Larisa Oleyenik made more sense in that role, and the casting department felt this as well. The actress in the role has to be believable and Julia Stiles as Katarina Strafford is an excellent example of that. This is a performance from 1999 and people still talk about it, because Stiles was on fire in this role. Each interaction and scene with her created instant magic on the screen. It's so much fun to watch, because the character was Stiles with the volume turned up, and as I've said in many of these entrants this makes performances like this truly memorable. Stile's performance really pulls you in throughout this movie. I've always loved her introduction in the movie. The popular girls are blasting One Week by Barenaked Ladies than she shows up beside them blasting Bad Reputation by Joan Jett. That stare she gives the popular girls told me that viewers would be in for one amazing performance. Stiles definitely proved that statement in flying colors.
23. ISABELLE FUHRMAN AS ESTHER IN ORPHAN
This performance by Isabelle Fuhrman is chilling and captivating. It is impressive how a girl at 14 is able to really make a character so intense. The Esther character is one of my five favorite villains in movie history. It's just so well done. Her transformation scene at the end from a little girl into a 30 year old woman is so crazy to watch. Her dialogue and demeanor makes her appear older than she is. The character is so cerebral and demented at the same time due to her early childhood. Her ability to change between porcelain doll to psychopath is really amazing. Orphan is one of the better horror movies, and usually horror movies present us with really cheesy performances that make you roll your eyes. I felt Fuhrman gave a great acting performance to give a great mysterious aura to Esther. I think I'm the only person that roots for Esther. Many of the things she does are despicable, but Fuhrman makes this movie. Without her, this movie would not be as effective. She showed up to the audition in the dress and her hair in pigtails. She nailed the role due to her facial expressions. She put less caring into her eyes later on in the movie. If you look, Esther's eyes around John they're twinkling and full of life particularly in the scene where she is dolled up. That was a really chilling scene to watch, but still very incredible at the same time. Fuhrman's facial expressions and actions throughout this scene pull you in. She makes you watch her every second she is on the screen, because she is so unpredictable. If you look at her eyes when she is with Kate, they're blank and soulless. Esther is such a colorful character with so many personality traits. Fuhrman's ability to truly tap into the mind of this character would scare any young girl, but she was able to do it so convincingly. Esther will freak you out no matter how many times you see Fuhrman's performance. I love the dichotomy between the young girl/30 year old woman she presents after the scene with John. It's in your face intensity, and you're on the edge of your seat watching Fuhrman's twinkle vanish as she wipes off the mascara and lipstick. Esther is an amazing movie character that everybody should watch at least once. Isabelle Fuhrman put so much work into shaping the Esther charater with her own natural talent. I am so impressed with how effective she was in the role. This role will launch Fuhrman into the Suspiria remake which she will also nail. She created a great dark character that will stand the test of time.
24. MARISA TOMEI AS MONA LISA VITO IN MY COUSIN VINNY
Marisa Tomei's role as Mona Lisa Vito in My Cousin Vinny is one of the best comedic performances of all time. She also proved that behind every man is a good woman in this movie. Marisa Tomei provides the Staten Island accent, interesting outfits, and a magnetic personality that makes the Mona Lisa Vito character one of the most memorable characters you will find in a movie. Tomei really clicked with Joe Pesci's Vincent LaGuardia Gambini really well, and I think each character fed off each other to give a better performance. Mona Lisa Vito giving the testimony at the end is the best scene. Tomei has the ability to steal scenes in movies, and this movie is a great example of that. Vinny is able to win his first case, because of Mona. Her expertise and persistence of wanting to help Vinny throughout the movie is great to watch. Tomei was an excellent casting choice for this role. She deserved the Best Supporting Actress Oscar she won for this movie. It is great to see in many ways, because rarely you will see a primarily comedic performance win. I think everybody recognized how much Tomei put into this role perfecting the accent, and making the character more charismatic in each scene. I love when she is talking to George Wilbur and Trotter about the automobiles. It shows that she is intelligent in many regards. Though Joe Pesci was excellent, Tomei stole the movie for me. I always thought a great example of how memorable her character is revolves around the conversation when Vinny says he is going hunting with Trotter. She is talking all nice and soft about the deer, and then all of a sudden BAM she brings another edge to it. I love that on the moment switch. It shows how talented Tomei is. She is an excellent actress, and I think My Cousin Vinny is where Tomei really cemented her career. She made Mona Lisa Vito a larger than life character and people still are entertained by what she brought to the table here.
25. MILA KUNIS AS RACHEL JANSEN IN FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL
Mila Kunis was PERFECT as Rachel Jansen in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. I say this because I feel Jansen is almost identical to how Kunis is in real life. Mila has always been somebody I have liked. She is unbelievably cute, and in recent years has really landed some great roles-including Black Swan & Oz: The Great and Powerful. I find Rachel Jansen to be her best performance, because it felt so natural. She creates a great comedic, but still dramatic female protagonist to rival Sarah Marshall, who I honestly feel is one of the most loathsome female characters in movie history. Jansen helps cure Peter Bretter's broken heart with her free spirit/take a risk attitude. She pushes him to be a better man. The dinner scene is great as she evades a personal attack by Sarah by retorting with her own quib. She stands by Peter to make him feel less uncomfortable. She pushes him to finish the Dracula musical (such a unique andd impressive show), and is all around inspirational. Kunis is responsible for making Jansen so effective. I honestly feel Kunis put so much of her own personality into this role. I love the conversation with Peter about jumping off the cliff. It shows me that Kunis is content with how her life is, and she explains that life will throw you curveballs, but you can make it through. Jansen is a great example of this. Every guy needs a Rachel Jansen, and Kunis shows how important a woman can be in a guy's life. Her motivation and ability to keep Peter happy is amazing to watch. Mila Kunis is always at Comic-Con. I had the opportunity to see her in person at a panel for Family Guy. She is beautiful and hilarious. I feel that even though That 70's Show is her launching pad, Forgetting Sarah Marshall is what has allowed her to become a movie star and true A-lister in Hollywood. She deserves it for all the hard work she put into the Rachel Jansen character, and throughout her career thus far. Everybody I have talked to agrees that Rachel Jansen is such an easy character to like, and she certainly is. Mila Kunis's presence in the role is what ultimately makes Rachel such a well liked character.
26. REESE WITHERSPOON AS ELLE WOODS IN LEGALLY BLONDE
Reese Witherspoon's role in Legally Blonde is so memorable that a Broadway play was made for it in 2007. I think Elle Woods is a perfect example of character evolution. She starts out as a sorority sister at Delta Nu more into superficial things like parties or how to match her handbag with her shoes. It takes a male to have Elle eventually realize her true potential. She works hard to score a 179 on the LSAT (it's a movie-obviously they can make the score as high as they want-its extremely rare somebody will get that) and then gets to Harvard University. All of this is done to get Warner back who dumped her, because he is an idiot. Witherspoon made the character so entertaining. She shows how hard work can pay off. She focuses her attention from trying to get Warner back to surviving the world of law school. I've been there-believe me, it's tough. I can only imagine how hard classes at Harvard are. Reese is a beautiful woman, and is able to get people to see beyond her looks and shows us how smart she truly is. When a girl can balance both, it's great to see. Reese didn't want to make a stereotypical sorority girl, and studied sorority houses to get the proper character traits. She successfully translated them to screen. One thing I really like about Elle is she never changes the person she is. She just evolves into a more successful person by focusing more on her classes. I think her line of questioning with Chutney during Brooke Taylor's trial shows how determined the character is. Reese made the character so colorful, and never created a dull moment on screen. Her personality just kept me into Elle's journey the whole time. Elle has a can do attitude, and even when it appears she will tap out, Emmett or Paulette steer her back, and she realizes she is in the right place. The Elle Woods character is a tremendous comedic/dramatic performance shaped by Reese Witherspoon, who managed to make her a complete character with many dimensions. Reese was great here, because as a viewer you couldn't take your eyes off Elle. You wanted to see what she would do next. Reese showed us how valuable Elle Woods could be, and made us realize that maybe not all lawyers are boring after all. It's one of the most entertaining characters fueled by such an entertaining actress in Reese Witherspoon. Elle Woods to me comes across as a very animated version of Reese and I love that about the role. The character wants to prove skeptics wrong, and Reese brings the message forward that Elle will rise up in the end. It's an uplifting journey for female empowerment and any underdog that doubts they can achieve.
27. ALICIA SILVERSTONE AS CHER HOROWITZ IN CLUELESS
There's been many teen romantic comedies, but I feel Clueless is the reason movies like Mean Girls have been successful. Alicia Silverstone's role as Cher Horowitz is one of the most entertaining performances ever. Silverstone didn't have to audition for this role. It was her determination and love of the script that got her involved. Silverstone's 90s lingo entered real teen girl's dialogue and made as if one of the most popular phrases of the mid 90s. I miss Silverstone, because I actually found her to be a decent actress. This is the role she'll always be known for. Cher mirrors a modern day version of Emma from Jane Austen's novel. Cher is a very good character, because people think she is all about herself. In some ways, Cher is about herself such as her plaid fashion sense or getting a boyfriend....There's also trying to fix up her debate teacher with Ms. Geist so she gets a better grade in Debate. I don't blame her though. Sometimes, you just do what you have to do. Though Cher is also trying to set up her debate teacher for a better grade, she also gets the satisfaction of playing matchmaker. Silverstone had great chemistry with Paul Rudd, Brittany Murphy, and Dan Hedaya. Silverstone's personality gave life to the Cher character. Cher believes it is her mission to help others, including Tai. Silverstone was great at making Cher come to realizations with facial expressions and her inner monologue that definitely helped shape the mood for Cher and the story arcs in Clueless. Cher likes being popular, however, it is her makeover of Tai that makes her fall down the social ladder. I do like how Cher realizes the importance of her friends and Josh instead of how popular she is. Silverstone improvised some great comedy in scenes, and it kept many scenes going. Silverstone presented so many sides to the Cher character that kept her fresh throughout the movie. I think that shows great talent. Alicia Silverstone's Cher Horowitz was so effective it launched books and a short lived television show. I cannot see anybody else in the Cher role, because Silverstone to me embodies her. She tapped into the character's mind, and effectively presented the inner thoughts to the audience through her dialogue and actions. It's still one of the most memorable romantic comedy characters ever. I always mention this movie to younger people, because all generations should see this movie. Though lingo changes, all generations will appreciate this character for the uniqueness in style and general entertainment value of Cher Horowitz.
28. MICHELLE MONAGHAN AS HARMONY FAITH LANE IN KISS KISS BANG BANG
Michelle Monaghan is gorgeous, intelligent, and captivating as Harmony Faith Lane in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. This is by far one of the most intelligent movies I've ever seen. I think Harmony is such an incredible character. Her extremely witty commentary on Hollywood and friendship/relationship Harry Lockhart provide some of the best dialogue you'll ever find. Monaghan did a great job as the struggling actress that is also trying to figure out what happened to her sister at the same time. Monaghan's chemistry with Robert Downey, Jr. came across so natural and provided so much entertainment. She really looked amazing in this movie as well, especially when we're first introduced to her in the bar looking really seductive at the bar. She completely runs circles around Harry when she thinks he is trying to get into her pants. Her banter put him in his place. Harmony is my favorite character in the whole movie. Monaghan's ability to really sell the situation in a time of peril is well done. Her eyes go wide, and she looks in a state of shock. It's really impressive to watch her balance that sexy, intellectual side with a more vulnerable one showing how we're not perfect. Harmony's ability to improvise on the spot is fun to watch as well. Monaghan seemed to take the scene and just go with it, which is great to watch. Harmony was presented in a light that made it look like Monaghan naturally fit into the character's personality. Her performance was definitely effective. I loved her explanation of bad and badly. Harmony is a different type of Hollywood girl. She isn't the typical actress. Monaghan isn't the typical actress, which made Harmony even more effective. What I mean by that is that Monaghan tries to land roles that are more artistic, and this is a fine example of that. I liked many of her performances, but Harmony Faith Lane is still my favorite. Michelle Monaghan was able to take a character with an incredible look and personality and shape it into something amazing. She was able to show beauty, intelligence, spontaneity in the moment, and took some random movie moments and made them special and seem more realistic. It is a role that everybody should get a chance to see because of how well Monaghan presents it.
29. HELEN MIRREN AS EVE TINGLE IN TEACHING MRS. TINGLE
Helen Mirren was chilling, cerebral, and very memorable as the history teacher from hell in Teaching Mrs. Tingle. This is another teen dramedy that I've always enjoyed. I saw this initially because i am a big fan of Katie Holmes, and though I liked her in this, Mirren easily stole the show. Everybody should give this movie a chance just to witness the cerebral nature and intense dialogue by Eve Tingle. Mirren put a great menacing edge to the character in each scene. Even in scenes where she seemed vulnerable, she really was playing mind games with Leigh Ann, Luke, and Jo Lynn. I loved Mirren's chemistry with Holme's Leigh Ann Watson so much. Mirren created such a great villain through her methods on trying to bring Leigh Ann down either physically assaulting her or verbally berating her. A great scene that shows how intelligent Tingle is was the conversation with Jo Lynn where she spun a story about her best friend stealing her husband. She is trying to play divide and conquer. It's Mirren's presence that gives Tingle that cerebral aura. The way she speaks and the way she walks makes a very effective, memorable villain. Mirren has had several great performances, but this is my favorite just because I have always been enamored with how well she shaped the Tingle character. I like when villains come across as intelligent and have a chance of winning, and I think Eve Tingle fits that bill. In the end, you know Leigh Ann is going to teach Tingle a lesson, but there are definite times when Tingle looks like she will end up being the victorious one because she is able to try and keep one step ahead of everyone. Mirren definitely put her all into this role, and it shows in each scene.
30. MARGARET HAMILTON AS THE WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST IN THE WIZARD OF OZ
My final entrant in the movie portion of this piece is one of the most iconic villains in movie history. Margaret Hamilton created a character that would evolve into one of my all time favorite characters. The iconic look and voice stole the show in the original Wizard of Oz. Hamilton really made the character larger than life. This character was able to inspire the best Broadway play and series of books presenting the Wicked Witch of the West in the positive light she should be. Dorothy is the one that comes in and shakes things up in Oz, much like the Wizard did. Glinda is first class...you know, except the way Michelle Williams portrayed her as I noted. I always liked the WWOW because I felt she was always trying to avenge the death of her sister. Hamilton was absolutely incredible in every scene she was in. The best scene in the Wizard of Oz is easily the introduction of the WWOW following that morbid song by the Munchkins cheering the death of someone else. She steals the show making the character more animated and presenting the dialogue with a manic edge to it. Though she is the official "villain", I feel she actually is the only protagonist in the movie. She is trying to preserve Oz and restore it to what it once where magic and hope were the law of the land. The Wizard is a farce and the WWOW is trying to make people see this. She sees the bigger picture. I cannot say enough positive things about this awesome character. Margaret Hamilton's performance will always be talked about, because it really changed the pace for villains in movies. She is the first villain that got people talking, and set the pace for making villains/antagonists just as important as the lead hero/protagonist. Hamilton's enigmatic nature shaped the WWOW into an icon, and I will always cheer this character, because I understand what this character represents in Oz. Hamilton's performance as the WWOW is one of the ten most memorable performances in movie history. She did such an amazing job balancing the magic of Oz and the personality traits of Miss Gulch in Kansas to create the Wicked Witch of the West-a character that will stand the test of time.
