Continuing on from last week, it’s time to look at my current list of favourite actresses.
Once again, I’m only really interested in current actresses so have only considered their performances in films of the past 10 years. So no offence if I’ve ruled out any of the true greats (e.g. Katharine Hepburn).
Those actresses dumped from the 2005 list were Naomi Watts, Jennifer Connolly and Reese Witherspoon. They make way for Nicole Kidman, Kate Winslet and Natalie Portman.
10. Natalie Portman (not ranked last year)
Best Role: Garden State (2004)
Other Great Performances: Closer (2004), Cold Mountain (2003), Beautiful Girls (1996), Everyone Says I Love You (1996)
9. Joan Allen (last year’s rank: 8)
Best Role: Nixon (1995)
Other Great Performances: The Upside Of Anger (2005), The Bourne Supremacy (2004), The Contender (2000), Pleasantville (1998), Face/Off (1997), The Ice Storm (1997), The Crucible (1996)
8. Nicole Kidman (not ranked last year)
Best Role: Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Other Great Performances: Bewitched (2005), Birth (2004), Cold Mountain (2003), Dogville (2003), The Hours (2002), The Others (2001), Eyes Wide Shut (1999), The Portrait Of A Lady (1996)
7. Frances McDormand (last year’s rank: 5)
Best Role: Fargo (1996)
Other Great Performances: Laurel Canyon (2002), Almost Famous (2000), Wonder Boys (2000), Primal Fear (1996)
6. Marcia Gay Harden (last year’s rank: 4)
Best Role: Pollock (2000)
Other Great Performances: P.S. (2004), Mona Lisa Smile (2003), Mystic River (2003), Meet Joe Black (1998)
5. Cate Blanchett (last year’s rank: 6)
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)
4. Kate Winslet (not ranked last year)
Best Role: Titanic (1997)
Other Great Performances: Finding Neverland (2004), Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004), Iris (2001), Quills (2000), Hamlet (1996), Sense & Sensibility (1995)
3. Julianne Moore (last year’s rank: 1)
Best Role: Boogie Nights (1997)
Other Great Performances: Far From Heaven (2002), The Hours (2002), Hannibal (2002), Magnolia (1999), The End Of The Affair (1999), The Big Lebowski (1998)
2. Scarlett Johansson (last year’s rank: 2)
Best Role: Lost In Translation (2003)
Other Great Performances: A Good Woman (2004), In Good Company (2004), Girl With A Pearl Earring (2003), Ghost World (2000), The Horse Whisperer (1998)
1. Laura Linney (last year’s rank: 3)
Best Role: You Can Count On Me (2000)
Other Great Performances: Kinsey (2004), P.S. (2004), Mystic River (2003), The Mothman Prophecies (2002), The House Of Mirth (2000), The Truman Show (1998), Primal Fear (1996)