Seven days ago, I went through my favourite 10 directors of the moment. This time, I’m focusing on my favourite actresses. As was the case with my top directors, I’m only looking at performances from the past 10 years. This way my list is current.
Actresses getting the chop this year are Frances McDormand, Joan Allen and Marcia Gay Harden. They have been replaced by Reese Witherspoon, Toni Collette and Meryl Streep. Laura Linney continues to be my favourite and the list includes 3 Aussies (so I guess I’m being biased). Here it is…
10. Natalie Portman (last year’s rank: 10)
Best Role: Garden State (2004)
Other Great Performances: V For Vendetta (2005), Closer (2004), Cold Mountain (2003)
9. Nicole Kidman (last year’s rank: 8)
Best Role: Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Other Great Performances: Birth (2004), Cold Mountain (2003), Dogville (2003), The Hours (2002), The Others (2001), Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
8. Toni Collette (not ranked last year)
Best Role: In Her Shoes (2005)
Other Great Performances: Like Minds (2006), Little Miss Sunshine (2006), Japanese Story (2003), About A Boy (2002), Changing Lanes (2002), The Sixth Sense (1999)
7. Kate Winslet (last year’s rank: 4)
Best Role: Titanic (1997)
Other Great Performances: Finding Neverland (2004), Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004), Iris (2001), Quills (2000)
6. Reese Witherspoon (not ranked last year)
Best Role: Walk The Line (2005)
Other Great Performances: Vanity Fair (2004), The Importance Of Being Earnest (2002), American Psycho (2000), Election (1999), Cruel Intentions (1998), Pleasantville (1998)
5. Meryl Streep (not ranked last year)
Best Role: Adaptation (2002)
Other Great Performances: The Devil Wears Prada (2006), A Prairie Home Companion (2006), Lemony Snicket’s A Series Of Unfortunate Events (2004), The Manchurian Candidate (2004), The Hours (2002), Music Of The Heart (1999)
4. Julianne Moore (last year’s rank: 3)
Best Role: Boogie Nights (1997)
Other Great Performances: Children Of Men (2006), Far From Heaven (2002), The Hours (2002), Hannibal (2002), Magnolia (1999), The End Of The Affair (1999), The Big Lebowski (1998)
3. Scarlett Johansson (last year’s rank: 2)
Best Role: Match Point (2005)
Other Great Performances: A Good Woman (2004), In Good Company (2004), Lost In Translation (2003), Girl With A Pearl Earring (2003), Ghost World (2000), The Horse Whisperer (1998)
2. Cate Blanchett (last year’s rank: 5)
Best Role: Elizabeth (1999)
Other Great Performances: The Aviator (2004), The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004), Veronica Guerin (2003), The Gift (2000), The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), Pushing Tin (1999)
1. Laura Linney (last year’s rank: 1)
Best Role: You Can Count On Me (2000)
Other Great Performances: Jindabyne (2006), The Squid And The Whale (2005), Kinsey (2004), P.S. (2004), Mystic River (2003), The Mothman Prophecies (2002), The House Of Mirth (2000), The Truman Show (1998)