In August, I suggested to Tess that if she would do a Top Five Leading Men, I would follow up with a Top Five Leading Ladies. So, I am only two months late (ahem) but better late than never, right?
As Tess put it: “To choose just five actors from all those stunning performances is almost unfathomable …”
Here is something else unfathomable: A top-five list without Meryl Streep. Rather, I have named my selection after her … The Mary Louise Streep Awards … (insert a second ahem)
My selections are based on actresses who I feel have great screen presence and have shown versatility, but most of all, who are very believable in their performances.
# Five – Helena Bonham Carter
Versatility and a wide variety of roles are what set Helena Bonham Carter apart. Whether portraying Ari in Planet Of The Apes, Queen Elizabeth in The King’s Speech or Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd, Helena Bonham Carter never leaves anything on the table. I have not seen all of her movies yet, but I surely will!
# Four – Jessica Lange
Has this lady come a long long way since King Kong! While she was the winner of a Best Actress Academy Award for her brilliant work in Blue Sky, some of my favorite roles include her portrayal of Rob Roy’s wife Mary in Rob Roy and as Sandra Bloom Senior in Big Fish.
Reading over her accomplishments, I learned through IMDB that she is also a photographer, with two published works, and holds a position as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, specializing in the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Congo and in Russia.
# Three – Susan Sarandon
Winner of the Academy Award for best actress in Dead Man Walking, Susan Sarandon has been nominated four other times.
Sarandon is a perennial favorite of mine; her work in Thelma & Louise as Louise Sawyer was brilliant, but my favorite roles were Annie Savoy in Bull Durham and Jane Spofford in The Witches of Eastwick.
# Two – Jodie Foster
Two-time Academy Award winner for Best Actress in a Leading Role (The Accused, The Silence of the Lambs), Jodie Foster is IMHO one of the most believable actresses alive.
When she was eleven, she starred in an episode of Kung Fu and David Carradine later said of her: “Even then, you could see she had amazing acting chops!”
While Jessica Lange was winning an Academy Award for Blue Sky, Foster was “brilliant” in Nell. I might have picked it the other way. Taxi Driver, Silence of the Lambs, Contact, Nell … something tells me we have yet to see the best of Jodie Foster!
# One – Judi Dench
Dame Judith Olivia “Judi” Dench was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1970, and was created Dame of the Order of the British Empire in 1988.
Few actresses bring her dignity and class to the big screen. To me, she has the ability to disappear in her roles. Her portrayal of Armande Voizin in Chocalat was sublime. While I am familiar with her work, I somehow did not connect that it was her until about half way through the movie. She was also superb as Queen Victoria in Mrs. Brown, Queen Elizabeth in Shakespeare in Love and Mrs. Laura Henderson in Mrs Henderson Presents … to name a few!
And so, I think it only fitting to include a trailer for her upcoming film, Philomena. Looks great!
Philomena – Official Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DBPqcp6Hc4
P.S. Note to Tess: This was NOT easy! I had to pass on Glenn Close, Cate Blanchett, Renée Zellweger, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Connelly, Kyra Sedgwick and Julia Roberts … all fine actresses too!
Photo Credits
Helena Bonham Carter – Wikipedia Creative Commons
Jessica Lang – Wikipedia Creative Commons
Susan Sarandon – Wikipedia Creative Commons
Jodi Foster – Wikimedia Creative Commons
Judi Dench – Wikipedia Creative Commons
I truly believe it was crucial decision to pick only five of the best when we have hundreds spectacular actresses out there. However, job´s well done and I cannot imagine someone else up there. I have seen them give an incredible performances every time they went on screen. Well deserved.
Hey Gil,
My suggestion is to make it a TOP TEN list next time, then you could add these fine suggestions and even sneak in my personal favourite (also not mentioned here) Natalie Portman! Forget the Star Wars rubbish – check her out in everything from “The Professional”, “Beautiful Girls” or the daring “Closer”… not to mention her Oscar turn in “Black Swan” – that young lady is absolutely incredible!
Hey David!
Always great to hear from you. She is indeed a fine actress and I will be sure to check out some of those flicks as I have not seen all of them.
Cheers,
Gileeeeeee
Hey Gil,
Start with “Beautiful Girls” – N.P. was only 13 when she played this role with a huge cast (Matt Dillon, Uma Thurman, Tim Hutton, Rosie O’Donnell) and she really nailed it; she proved that “The Professional” was no fluke. BONUS: Rosie O’Donnell is actually really great in this role as the no B.S. hairdresser, and is very, very funny when she takes down the boys for being misogynist jerks…
Happy Turkey Day!!
Thanks Ross,
I REALLY struggled with not having Cate Blanchett on that list, She is another perennial fave of mine!
Your other choices are excellent 🙂
Cheers,
Gil
Okay, because you have (cunningly) sidelined my beloved Meryl by naming the awards after her (I’m sure she will be pleased by that weighty honour), I cannot complain about her exclusion from this list. Therefore, I, too, think your choices are brilliant. If it were My Top Ten L.L.’s instead of five, I would add Kate Winslet, Cate Blanchett, Maggie Smith, Juliette Binoche, and Kathy Bates.
Gil, a brave and brilliant selection. Yes, not easy! I think you’ve made some great and engaging choices in top leading ladies.
Have you seen Helena Bodham Carter in “Toast”? Well worth a viewing. Jessica Lange in “Frances” – superb. Susan Sarandon in “Little Women” was refined perfection. I remember an adolescent Jodie Foster in “Alice Doesn’t Live Anymore and thought “that’s a star.” And Dame Judi Dench, as the sublime and brilliant M in the James Bond sagas, priceless.
Well done Gil!
Tess
Thanks Tess!
I have see all of those films except for Alice Doesn’t Live Anymore. Will put it on my list!
Have a great weekend!
Gileeeeee
Wait! Where is Katherine Hepburn?
She is on the board of the The Mary Louise Streep Awards … (insert a third ahem)!
OK, I’m mollified!
Phew!