Favourite Female Performances in Film Thread - Celebrating the Silver Screen's Finest Ladies

[The Crescent King]

Many women have graced the silver screen and given performances that are a credit to the medium, and I think a thread where we can share our favourite performances would be an ideal way to appreciate them. This list is spoiler free as I encourage everyone to watch these movies when they get the chance.

1) Toni Collete in Hereditary

I wasn't able to find an illustrative clip that was spoiler free, but Hereditary is the one of the few horror films that's ever truly scared me. The horror is completely insidious and I forgot about it while watching as I was so absorbed in the family dynamic, and Toni's performance was a major part of that. Her character is a flawed woman who genuinely does love her children, and I did find her sympathetic despite also feeling for her son, Peter. What makes this film so great is that the family are essentially frogs who don't realise they're being boiled alive as the temperature is going up only one degree at a time. Toni brings a shapeless, formless woman to life with great skill. This film also hits different if you have mommy issues.



2) Natalie Wood in Splendor in the Grass

I like Splendor because it's the only film I've seen that's completely honest about the both the dangers of sex and the innate differences between men and women in relationships. This is the first film I've seen of Natalie's and I was very impressed; for only being 23 at the time the movie was made her performance had great depth and maturity, and she commanded the screen with much greater skill than her co-star Warren Beatty. I think all women who were once sensitive teenage girls will relate to Natalie's portrayal here.

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3) Marilyn Monroe in Bus Stop

Marilyn was dogged by weak scripts throughout her career, and Bus Stop is no exception; it would be a forgettable 1950s rom-com with a highly obnoxious male lead if not for Marilyn's sensitive, skilled and tender performance as the female lead Cherie. The film is only worth watching if you want to see Marilyn at her best.

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4) Jessica Walter in Play Misty for Me

It'a truly criminal that Ms. Walter didn't win an Oscar for this performance. Not only did she bring a BPD bitch to life, but she was absolutely terrifying while doing it. I watched this years ago with my uncle and we were both afraid of her, lol. It's a great film to boot, so if you want to watch Clint Eastwood get stalked by a BPD whore it's well worth your time.

5) Kathy Bates in Misery

I get that this one is probably technically cheating as it's a world-famous performance for a reason, but I don't think any actress could have brought Ms Wilkes to life quite like Kathy Bates. Misery is one of the few King novels that is very, very good, and Kathy did a great job at portaying a larger than life character without being hammy or over the top.

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6) Karen Meagher in Threads

Couldn't find a clip for this one either. Karen is a little known English actress and her most famous role is in this film. Alongside being so thoroughly depressing that I had to watch a comedy film straight after lest I went to bed with nightmares, Karen's performance is extremely impressive given her lack of film experience before this. Watching a kind, decent and loving woman being crushed by civilisational collapse in the wake of nuclear wear was very emotionally taxing, and Karen brought her character to life excellently.



7) Amy Brooke in Days of Heaven

In addition to being one of the most aesthetically sublime movies ever made, Amy gives a very subtle and understated performance that's very suitable to the delicate quality the film has. She's completely unpretentious with an earthy, vital, feminine quality that is rare in modern film actresses.

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8) Vanessa Redgrave in Atonement

Vanessa is only in this movie for a few minutes, and she completely steals the show with how compelling her performance is. Atonement is a tragic movie to begin with, but Vanessa's scenes deliver the film's strongest gut punch. I can't link anything due to massive spoilers, but I will say that Vanessa's performance brought me close to tears.



That's all from me now, though I'm sure I would think of many more if I sat down and thought about it. I look forward to the comments about you guys' favourites. May I humbly page @The Last Stand for his contributions?

 

[The Last Stand]

3) Marilyn Monroe in Bus Stop

Marilyn was dogged by weak scripts throughout her career, and Bus Stop is no exception; it would be a forgettable 1950s rom-com with a highly obnoxious male lead if not for Marilyn's sensitive, skilled and tender performance as the female lead Cherie. The film is only worth watching if you want to see Marilyn at her best.

That's why I've always "hated" Monroe's leading roles since those scripts rely on her sex appeal than her prowess as an actress.

An example I can think of would be Don't Bother to Knock. You can see how vulnerable Monroe can bem which isn't far off from her actual life. Pay attention to her body language, eye movement and voice tone.

Another mention of dramatics with vulnerability and uncertainty would be Teresa Wright in Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt.

On the surface, Wright looks to be the "girl next door," but you could notice how her wholesomeness would complement maternal roles with femininity.

 

[Pineapple Fox]

Ooooh yah, shout out to the babeliest babe that is, Isabelle Adjani, and her performance in one of my favourite movies of all time, Possession, this movie lives rent free in my head, highly recommend;