Thursday, September 27, 2012

Top 10 Female Performances of All Time

The films were Tuesday, the men were Wednesday, and now I tackle my favorite female screen performances of all time.

Much like yesterday’s list, the first role listed here is my absolute favorite. The nine that follow are presented chronologically. I hope you enjoy. Thanks so much for reading!

Gena Rowlands – A Woman Under the Influence (1974)
As Mabel
Mabel is a woman unhinged. An adulterous wife and inattentive mother, Mabel is often plagued by sudden, extended bouts of manic-depressive behavior. But why? What causes her to pick up random men, neglect her children, and harm herself and pretty much everyone around her? That question of why is something that writer/director John Cassavetes (who was also married to Rowlands at the time) never bothers to answer. Instead, he seeks to explore.

When we witness one of Mabel’s many attacks, we’re in it for the long haul. There’s no cutting away from the fury, no fade to black as a means of sugar coating the horror, A Woman Under the Influence is real life, and Rowlands’ performance is as fearless as anything I’ve ever seen an actor attempt.

Initially, Cassavetes wanted the material to act as a play, but Rowlands said that would be impossible. There was no way any living actress could “get there” night after night. Instead, she offered to go all in if she could play the character on film. “All in” doesn’t even begin to sum this achievement up.

Harriet Andersson – Through a Glass Darkly (1961)
As Karin
I could quite literally pick any performance Harriet Andersson delivered for Ingmar Bergman, and they would all be worthy of making this list. Knowing this, it must be said that no female Bergman character captivates me more than Andersson’s Karin.

A helpless schizophrenic who does the best she can to pretend that her disease doesn’t completely own her, Karin is a lost soul attempting to find solace in one of three men. Whether it’s her patience-tested husband, her strict father, or her impressionable brother, no one in Karin’s life can save her from who she is. Karin’s never ending mania culminates in a scene of such dynamic power, that words simply cannot do it justice. It’s an actress completely giving herself to the material, which, in the case of most Bergman-scripted projects, rarely produces less-than-stellar results.

Bette Davis – Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
As Jane Hudson
Yesterday’s list proved that I have an affinity for watching desperate characters at their most depraved, a notion today’s list only helps confirm. Bette Davis’ role as Jane Hudson is acting at its most macabre. A shrill beast of a woman wrapped so tightly in jealously, vindictiveness and regret, that we can’t help but be mesmerized by her. And, at the same time, we beg for a moment in which we can turn away.

That’s the power of Davis’ work here: repulsion coupled seamlessly with humility. It should be noted that her over the top work is only accentuated by Joan Crawford’s understated (and no less brilliant) work in the film. Davis was the diva of divas, and the fact that she momentarily suspended her superficiality for this performance is something I respect (and am drawn to) wholeheartedly.

Bibi Andersson – Persona (1966)
As Alma
This is tricky. Really, I could list Liv Ullmann and Bibi Andersson’s collective work in Persona as one performance, and essentially get away with it. They are two different characters, but, in many ways, they are really one. So, in splitting them up, I find that I am entranced slightly more by Andersson’s rambling nurse than Ullmann’s mute actress.

It isn’t necessarily that Alma talks to Ullmann’s Elisabet, more than at her. As their time together wears on, Alma falls victim (if that’s the best word for it) to Elisabet’s intoxicating silence. In one unforgettable sequence, Alma goes as far as to explain in vivid, graphic detail a chance sexual encounter she once had with two boys on a beach. Andersson’s nonchalant delivery of this famed monologue is as enchanting as it is disturbing.

But later, once Alma finds a near-mocking journal entry by Elisabet, Alma’s comfort in their friendship turns to immediate angst. The result is haunting, transformative, and utterly breathtaking.

Elizabeth Taylor – Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
As Martha
What a revolting force Taylor’s Martha is. Her plentiful words are laced with sheer venom (when directed toward her husband), obvious flirtation (when directed toward the young Nick), and condescending deceit (when directed toward Nick’s wife, Honey). In short, everything Martha says and does is to essentially fuck with whomever she’s speaking to.

Mike Nichols’ epic film isn’t an easy one to stomach. It’s more than two hours of domestic battles. The arguments peak, descend, rest, and then climb all over again. It truly is a roller coaster of verbal emotion. To say Taylor nails it is to belittle her monumental performance. This is one hell of a thrilling, bumpy ride.

Catherine Deneuve – Belle de Jour (1967)
As Séverine
Séverine can’t have sex. Or, more specifically, she can’t bring herself to share any sort of physical intimacy with her doctor husband. Why? I’m not sure. They’re obviously in love with one another, and her constant daydreams of sexual ravishment make it clear that she’s ready to ball, but, alas, she goes untouched.

That is until she finds herself at the unforced mercy of an upscale brothel, where she quickly turns into the most popular girl on the market.

Now, because this is a Catherine Deneuve performance, understatement is key. When I first saw the film, I had no idea how I felt about Séverine while the movie was in play. Afterwards, I realized that her subtle yet quick transformation is one of the most captivating I’ve ever seen unfold. I haven’t managed to get Séverine out of my head since.

Liv Ullmann – Face to Face (1976)
As Dr. Jenny Isaksson
There must be an Ullmann, and like the other notable Bergman women on this list, damn near any Ullmann performance would be suitable here. But goddamn if Dr. Jenny Isaksson’s slow breakdown isn’t as haunting a performance as I’ve ever seen.

Why does Jenny find herself so far removed from reality? What in her past has caused her to irreversibly lose it? These are questions that are asked by the viewer once it's over, mind you, because during, the brilliance is in the downfall.

Bergman was obsessed with the human face. Watch any of his best films, and he often let the faces do the talking. And with eyes like Ullmann’s, who needs dialogue to tell a story? Never has the facial ascetics of Liv Ullmann been put to better use.

Juliette Binoche – Blue (1993)
As Julie
After surviving the car accident that killed her husband and daughter, Julie slowly descends into an all-consuming emptiness. And really, who better than Juliette Binoche to play a character of such hollow emotion?

Midway through this movie, Julie finds a family of mice coming to life in her apartment. As the mother mouse nurses her babies to life, Julie stares with perfect blankness. She’s staring at life. And we suspect she doesn’t approve. Scenes later, her aversion is made clear when she elects to do something about it. Binoche’s face in that moment alone warrants her inclusion here. What an entrancing vacant shell she is.

Naomi Watts – 21 Grams (2003)
As Cristina Peck
There’s this thing that happens to Naomi Watts’ voice. It only happens when she’s screaming. But if you listen closely, when Watts is angry (and I mean… angry), her voice will crack and shriek at the same time. It’s as if her tiny diaphragm can’t take the yelling and it shuts down for half a second. The minute I first heard this sensation in 21 Grams, I knew I was in the midst of one of our finest living actresses.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been completely taken with Watts since her dual role in Mulholland Dr. (which, it must be said, was this close to being included here), but it is Cristina’s anguish that devastates me most. A recovering addict who relapses hard after her family is killed, Cristina’s unforgiving collapse is something that shakes me to no end. I want to hug her and tell her it’s going to be okay. But I’m sure she’d know that was a lie.

Oh, and that scream. Listen for it when Sean Penn tells her whose heart he has. THAT is power.

Marion Cotillard – La Vie en rose (2007)
As Édith Piaf
The biopic is a tricky beast. I’m no fan of actors playing a real person simply to garner a few dozen awards. But, hell, if it’s good, then it’s good, and believe you me, there’s a reason Marion Cotillard’s role as Édith Piaf is the only real life character on this list.

I hadn’t the slightest clue who Marion Cotillard was. When the 2007 Oscar nominations were announced, I assumed the unknown French actress (unknown in America, that is) didn’t stand the slightest chance against Julie Christie’s work in Away From Her. But as buzz steadily grew, I finally watched La Vie en rose and was fucking destroyed throughout. You can say makeup had some involvement here, but that’s just on the outside. What Cotillard did with Piaf in this movie is based completely on internalized emotion. Cosmetics ain’t the half of it, folks.

Put another way: when presenting a BAFTA award the year he won for There Will Be Blood, Daniel Day-Lewis felt it appropriate to publicly call Cotillard’s work in this film some of the very finest acting he has ever seen. If that’s not saying something, then I certainly don’t know what is.

Rosario Dawson – Descent (2007)
As Maya
Perhaps the most unknown performance on this list is Rosario Dawson’s haunting work as Maya in Talia Lugacy’s criminally ignored emotional thriller, Descent.

After being victim to a very long, very excruciating, very horrific rape (committed by the guy she’s dating), Maya slowly spirals out of control, having clearly let her victimization all but ruin her.

Descent is a difficult film to discuss for a number of reasons. It certainly isn’t an easy movie to take (it more than earns its NC-17 rating), but I’m also afraid that if I spoil Maya’s full arc, then the movie won’t be nearly as intriguing. Let me put it this way: the majority of the roles on this list are occupied by actresses playing characters who fall down. Some pick themselves back up, others remain defeated. Many of the nine names above represent some of the very finest actresses that have ever lived, and I have not the slightest hesitation in adding Dawson to the same company as those esteemed few. I promise you, Maya’s face will never leave your mind. 

76 comments:

  1. Gah this list makes me feel bad. However the performances that I *have* seen like Davis, Bibi Anderson, Cotillard and Binoche are definitely in mine too.
    My favourite female performance of all time is Michelle Pfeiffer in Batman Returns.

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    1. Pfeiffer as Catwoman is such a spirited choice. That's just an awesome pick.

      Glad you like what you've seen of my list!

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  2. For Harriet/Bibi Andersson, you officially win at life.

    Binoche! My favorite female performance ever! :D

    Love the rest of these picks, except I still haven't seen A Woman Under the Influence, Face to Face, or Descent. I've been meaning to see Descent for years, but after the noise died down on it, I pushed it to the back burner. I'll have to watch these films soon then.

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    1. Ha, what an honor, a life winner! But seriously, thanks man, I'm glad you dig the list.


      Binoche is perfect in Blue, isn't she? Just perfect.

      My advice, watch A Woman, Face to Face and Descent very closely to one another. They are all very very heavy, so bang them all out quick. I promise they will rattle you. Wow.

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    2. Duly noted. I'll do that when I watch them then.

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  3. Great list! Love seeing some of my favourites here, but my two absolute favourite performances of all time aren't mentioned! I hope you considered Laura Dern in INLAND EMPIRE and Ingrid Thulin in WINTER LIGHT/THE SILENCE/CRIES AND WHISPERS. They blow me away more than any other performances ever have.

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    1. Both of those, particularly Thulin in ANYTHING, were very close to making the list, no doubt.

      Ask me in a few months, and I'm sure I'll call her work in The Silence one of my Top 10 of all time. But either way, great stuff all around.

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  4. In that list, I've only seen Bibi Andersson, Catherine Deneuve, Naomi Watts, Marion Cotillard, and Juliette Binoche. Everything else, I definitely need to see. The Rosario Dawson picks is a shock. She's a good actress but never had been in some good films.

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    1. Nice man, you've definitely seen some good shit!

      I'm actually a big fan of Dawson's work. 25th Hour, He Got Game, Sidewalks of New York, Kids, Shattered Glass, Death Proof - I dig her. But goddamn, she's never delivered anything to the caliber of her Descent work before or since. She is mesmerizing there.

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  5. Hmm, only six this time. (The ladies in question are Rowlands, Davis, B. Andersson, Taylor, Deneuve and Watts.)

    Rowlands probably gives the best female performance I've seen in a long time in A Woman Under the Influence. (Her work in Opening Night is damn brilliant too.) Taylor in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is a close second.

    That said, I have different performances in mind for a few. For Ms. Davis, it's All About Eve ("Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy night."); for Ms. Deneuve, it's Repulsion.

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    1. I had no idea you liked Rowlands' work in A Woman (and Opening Night) as much as I do. That is awesome. Davis in Eve and Deneuve in Repulsion are both excellent picks. Can't go wrong there,

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  6. I've seen far too few of these performances which is something I must change. I absolutely love the inclusion of Juliette Binoche in Blue, Bibi Andersson in persona, and Harriet Andersson in Through a Glass Darkly. All performances I'd easily have on my list. The one that would be at the top of mine that was not here was Ellen Burnstyn in Requiem for a Dream. Flawless performance in my opinion, but either way. Another fantastic list.

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    1. Thanks dude! Burnstyn in Requiem was number 11. No bullshit. Ah, my god, she just rocks that role to the core. How and why Julia Roberts beat her for the Oscar (and Joan Allen in The Contender, for that matter) is beyond me.

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  7. Oh no, I've only seen one of these if you don't count Blue which I watched with one on the screen in French class. (Shame on me for that). Anyway, I only discovered Marion Cotillard through La vie en rose which my grandfather (!) recommended to me. It's a wonderful performance and the film proves that the biopic isn't necessarily a bad genre.
    Anyway, there is a lot of inspiration for me here.
    I have no idea what my favourite female performance of all time is... too much to chose from.

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    1. That's so cool that your grandfather showed you Rose! Ha, just awesome.

      I'll be really interested to hear your thoughts on some of these performances if you get around to watching them!

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  8. I opened this post thinking "If Alex doesn't include Gena Rowlands in Woman Under the Influence then all of his opinions are forever invalidated." So glad it was the first thing I saw in the topic, she is scarily good. I would take Watts' performance in Mul Drive over 21 Grams, but I have a feeling the quality of the film may be influencing me more than the performance. Also a bit shocked not to see Charlize Theron in Monster, that performance is scarily good.

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    1. used the phrase scarily good twice in one post, it's just one of those mornings.

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    2. Whew, glad I made the cut! You won't get any argument from me about Watts' role in Mulholland Dr. She's perfect in that. Twice.

      Theron was definitely on the shortlist here. A fucking flawless performance.

      Ha, "scarily good" ain't never a bad thing, brother!

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  9. Wow, I haven't seen most of these, though I did see Descent a few years back. Absolutely hated that movie, but you're right in that Dawson delivered a great performance. I really enjoy her work overall and would love to see her get in some better films in the future. It looks like her last few years have been underwhelming (Zookeeper, Percy Jackson, Unstoppable, etc.).

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    1. Descent admittedly isn't that great of a film. If I reviewed it as a whole, I'd probably give it a B, B-. Dawson's performance, however, is something I hold in the highest regard. One of the reasons that film went so unseen is that, yeah, it isn't half as good as Dawson's work in it, and that is a damn shame.

      Either way, that's pretty cool that you've seen it.

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  10. Hmmm ... now I think I want to watch Descent. Though I think I'm going to need a couple of glasses of wine before I venture into this movie. Loved her in 25th Hour.

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    1. Yes, a couple indeed! I think you actually may like it. The film itself is rough and raw, and, well, Dawson's performance is too. But she is better than IT, you know?

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  11. Oh yeah! Great choices with Harriet and Bibi Andersson, and Binoche is stunning in Blue. I would pick Irene Jacob for the dual performances in Veronique and Red, too, but you have prompted me (again!) to check out Rowland's work. Watts is great in most films (Mulholland Drive, outstanding). Rosario Dawson is a big surprise, but kudos for throwing in something unexpected. Fantastic work. Loved these lists, Alex

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    1. Thanks man! Glad you appreciate the list. Jacob was so close to making the cut, for both of those performances. I love her work to death.

      Definitely check out A Woman Under the Influence when you can!

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  12. So happy to see Naomi Watts here. She wouldn't make my top ten, but it's a very underrated performance. I think she was so overshadowed by Charlize Theron that year that people all forgot about her performance right after. No knock on Theron's work that I love, but Watts deserves some plaudits of her own.

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    1. Oh, I am in complete agreement with you. Theron's work in Monster was revelatory, but it is, frankly, the kind of bold performance that attracts awards. When comparing the two, I've always been more drawn to Watts' work in 21 Grams. No question.

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  13. I don't know much about others. But I agree with you on Marion Cotillard's La Vie En Rose. It felt as though she was her, not just acting!

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    1. Nice! Ah, she is SO GOOD in that flick. Glad to hear you like it!

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  14. These are sensational picks,Alex.I would also include Gena Rowlands,Elizabeth Taylor and Juliette Binoche in my list,Naomi Watts's performance in 21 Grams is unforgettable,I should re-visit it soon.

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    1. Oh that's so cool that you like all of those performances as well. Watts in 21 Grams... wow. Just, wow.

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  15. Exceptional list Alex. Really, really fantastic. You highlight some marvelous performances and I can't disagree with your selection. One or two I still need to check out myself (Dawson in Descent and Cotillard in La Vie En Rose).

    ...what would I add? Hmm...I'd have to consider one or both of the females performances from The Exorcist - Linda Blair...fantastic performance from a young girl, Ellen Burstyn is always fantastic of course. Obvious one perhaps but Sigourney Weaver in Alien or Aliens. How about Kathy Bates in Misery, Kathy Burke in Gary Oldman's Nil By Mouth, Piper Laurie in Carrie.

    Great stuff Alex.

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    1. Thanks Dan! Glad you like the list as a whole. Dude, your choices are all superb, namely Kathy Burke, whose work in Nil By Mouth never gets mentioned enough.

      Solid picks!

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    2. So true...Burke is quite underrated in general. I noticed she had a new TV series out recently but I haven't seen it yet. Walking and Talking I think it's called: http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2012/jun/23/ami-metcalf-walking-and-talking

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    3. Oh nice, thanks for the heads up!

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  16. Naomi Watts in Mulholland Drive!!!

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    1. Ahh, she is SO GOOD in that flick. Love her there. But for whatever reason, I am more drawn to the pain of her 21 Grams character. Either way, fantastic actress.

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  17. I don't claim to have seen enough films to be able to be able to make a top 10 best female performances of all time (imo) but one performance that has always stuck with since I saw it was Nicole Kidman's barnstorming performance in the very underrated Dogville. She's not always great but I think that when she is (To Die For, Birth, Stoker, The Paperboy) she is really a force to be reckoned with. But I would say that Dogville will always be her at her peak.
    On a side note, great list by the way Watts, Binoche, Davis, Cottard, etc. are all great choices. Binoche is one of my favorite living actresses and it's great to see her on here!

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    1. Hey man, thanks so much for tracking back this far and leaving a comment!

      You're so right, when Kidman is on, she's on. So hard to pick a favorite Kidman performance. Dogville is damn close, as is Eyes Wide Shut, but I'm actually going to reach a little bit and say Rabbit Hole. I've known parents who have lost children, and they say THAT is exactly what it's like. It is a truly devastating performance.

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    2. No problem man, I really dig your writing/reviews/lists/etc. I love reading what you have to say and finding out about films and performances I'm not familiar with.
      I totally forgot to put in The Others as well as a highlight as well. I can certainly agree with Rabbit Hole being a very good performance, but I've always felt more drawn to Eckhart's role in that film than Kidman's. Solid choice though.

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    3. Thanks for saying all that!

      Eckhart is such a beast in that movie. Oh God, those few arguments they get into, when Eckhart just loses it.... so intense.

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    4. Man I feel stupid for remembering this only recently and now back tracking and posting about it, but another female performance that I think ranks among some of the best I've ever seen is Moon So-ri's role in Lee Chang-dong's remarkable film Oasis. While DDL certainly deserved his oscar in My Left Foot, I think So-ri's role as a woman with severe cerebral palsy just left me breathless when I first watched it earlier this year. Just looking through Chang-dong's film work recently, I remembered it and watched it again and was just as floored as the first time I saw it. Such an amazing performance for sure!
      Once again, sorry for backtracking to say this.

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    5. Dude, please don't EVER apologize for leaving a comment on my blog. Ever. Doesn't matter how old the post is, I sincerely appreciate all the time you spend on my site. It means the world to me.

      You've just given me a performance to check out ASAP, so thanks for that! I love seeing something that someone I respects really loves.

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    6. It's just in my personality to feel "guilty(?)" for returning to a subject like this... a personal flaw of sorts, if you will. But that's another story lol. I'm really honored and humbled by you saying you respect me, I hope Oasis doesn't let you down. One of the strangest romances I've seen and I hope you dig it.

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    7. Definitely scouting it out ASAP!

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  18. don't think this is a great list. Rowlands, Cotillard - Yes, deffo!!! but persona is overrated i think. Bette davis in that and not all about eve - no, come on! You haven't included hilary swank in Boys don't cry, monster, amour, sophie's choice... there's loads!!

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    1. To be honest, I really want to respond to this comment with something snarky and rude, but what's the point? Sorry you don't think the list is "great" and felt the need to take the time to express that. Also sorry you think Persona is "overrated." That is very unfortunate. Also sorry that I forgot my time machine the day I posted this list. It would've been nice to jump ahead to December to see Amour. Then back to September to write this.

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  19. Great list. Abit late getting in on this but here goes.... Tilda Swinton in Julia (tour de force). Anjelica Huston in The Grifters (imposing). Pam Grier in Jackie Brown (soulful). Carina Lau in Days of Being Wild (petulant). Laura Dern in Inland Empire (schizophrenic). Faye Dunaway in Mommie Dearest (possessed). Linda Fiorentino in The Last Seduction ('The' femme fatale). The female performances in John Waters Desperate Living (unlike anything else committed to celluloid). But I think your right to have Gena Rowland right at the top of the list! That is beyond performance!!

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    1. It's never too late to comment on my site! I just really appreciate you stopping by and commenting at all, so thanks!

      I loved all of your picks, but GREAT call with Linda Fiorentino. She would've had a real shot at an Oscar had The Last Seduction not aired first on HBO. I love that film and I love her performance.

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  20. This is a great list. My personal favourite female performance of all time is Juliette Binoche in Three Colours: Blue. Just thinking about that film brings back many of her facial expressions and lines, and the perfection of all of them. One that constantly sticks in my mind is near the beginning, when the doctor tell her that her husband is dead, and she asks about her daughter, he then says "yes, her too" (or something similar) and then she sinks her face into her pillow. The look on her face was one of such genuine despair and emptiness. I think about that specific shot at least a few times every week, and I have since I first watched two years ago. Blue is my second favourite film of all time, and her performance is a huge reason why it ranks so high for me.

    Another performance I would have added is Naomi Watts in Mulholland Dr.. This is mostly because of her performance in one scene, that is the first sex scene. Her delivery of the line "I love you so much, I love you so much" is the most genuine "I love you" I have ever scene in a film, and I say that with no hyperbole.

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    1. Thanks man, really appreciate you finding the list and commenting. I love your praise for Binoche's work in Blue. That scene you mentioned is just devastating. You make me want to go home and watch it ASAP. Love that film.

      You know, I thought a lot about including Watts' work in Mulholland Dr. or 21 Grams, because I knew one of them would make it here. And while I love (love, love) her work in Lynch's film, it's the helpless rage she brings to 21 Grams that barely wins out for me. But still, that will never take anything away from her power in Mulholland Dr. I really appreciate what you said about her work in it - I love hearing stuff like that.

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    2. I think Naomi runs the whole gamut of emotions in Mulholland Drive........from the wide-eyed "girl who's going to make it in Hollywood", to the cunning, conniving, ruthless, washed-up, full-of-hatred and jealously, driven killer towards the end of the film. What a change.......and so quickly.......she is a marvel to watch!
      And that audition scene with Chad Everett is just mind-blowing!!

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    3. For sure man. I love EVERYTHING she did in that film. What a way to assert herself as heavy hitter.

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  21. This is a really great list. I have to congratulate you for your picks man, you're awesome. I always enjoy a lot reading your articles because your thoughtful, passionate, intelligent writing and your great love for the art of cinema always shine through. Personally, I'm a movies lover by birth and I have to tell you that half of your choices are definitely on my list too (Cotillard, Watts, Andersson, Binoche and Rowlands). For me, the best female performance of all time is undoubtedly the one of the great Marion Cotillard's in "La vie en rose". I sincerely believe that with her unmatched work in this fim she truly pushed acting to another level. Watching her transform into the legendary Edith Piaf is like an otherwordly experience. She inhabits her character so completely it ends up extremely scary. It doesn't feel like a performance at all. You find yourself thinking you're watching the most crucial parts of Edith Piaf's tormented existence unfolding in front of your eyes. No-holds-barred, Cotillard dares to abandon herself into her role in a way no actress in the history of cinema can claim she did. Body and soul, she gives her all. It's a marvel to watch, an unforgettable tour de force, a performance for the ages. My other five picks are the following: Isabelle Huppert in "The piano teacher", Meryl Streep in "Sophie's Choice", Maria Falconetti in The Passion Of Joan Of Arc", Michelle Pfeiffer in "Batman returns" and Cate Blanchett in "Elizabeth". I found your list great though. Keep up the good work, man. You truly rock.

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    1. Wow, Stergios, thanks so much for this comment. Really appreciate you stopping by. So happy to hear that you dig the choices and are such a big fan of Cotillard’s work as Piaf. I loved what you said her abandoning herself to the role… so very true. She went all in there and didn’t look back. I’m still so pleased that the Academy was as impressed by her work in that film as we are.

      I loved your other choices as well, but my God, I FLIPPED at Pfeiffer’s inclusion. That is an unlikely and excellent pick. She’s so perfect in that role, and I love that it ranks so highly for you.

      Honestly man, comments like yours make blogging worth it. I truly value all of your kind words about my site and my writing. Please feel free to stop by anytime!!

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    2. I'm so glad you appreciate my admiration for Michelle Pfeiffer's iconic performance in "Batman returns" that much, because I think I was always kind of obsessed with her psychotically masterful take on Selina Kyle/Catwoman. She is so perfect in that role indeed. It's a shame that her work in Tim Burton's film remains so criminally overlooked when it comes to ranking the best female performances of all time. This is simply one of the bravest, darkest, craziest and most complicated performances ever put on screen by an actor, male or female. The sexiest creature that ever meowed in Gotham City was blessed with a mesmerizing interpretation by Pfeiffer, who really knocks it out of the park. She creates a dual character, vulnerable yet strong, emotional yet deadly, both Beauty and... the Beast, a woman who craves for a partner in life, but knows that only herself can win "the happy ending" she deserves. It's a landmark performance that cements her as a true acting legend. From her unforgettable transformation into Catwoman to the "I don't know anymore, Bruce" response to Michael Keaton's "Who the hell do you think you are?" question, she's pure genius. Like "Oh, my God", she can't be that great. But, well, she actually is. It's almost scandalous. A shining example of ucompromising excellence in acting, an inconceivably daring acting masterclass.

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    3. It's so funny that you should comment about this, because last month, for whatever reason, I decided to rewatch Batman Returns for the first time in AT LEAST 10 years. I realized that I liked it much more than I used to, thanks much in part to Pfeiffer's work in it. She really went all in there - full tilt, no looking back. I always respect the hell out of that.

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  22. Interesting choices not all of which I've seen. Of the ones I've seen I agree they are great performances.

    I have to start out by saying that Julie Christie is my favorite living actress and I was disappointed when she didn't win for Away from Her for several reasons. One is her performance was so achingly beautiful I truly felt she deserved to win. Then I'm all in favor of great actresses getting the opportunity to have substantial roles past the time when they are regularly top lining films and proving they are worthy which she most assuredly did. On top of those things I was really hoping that she would be able to hold the record for the longest time elapsing between receiving her awards which she would have set had she won. So as I said I was disappointed but had anyone else but Cotillard won I would have been livid, and I'm a long time Laura Linney fan, however her performance as Edith Piaf was so astounding I just couldn't argue with her win. I still would have voted for Julie but Marion's work is stellar. I think the win has actually hurt her in the academy's eyes, she's done a great deal of superior work since and has been consistently shut out of the nominations even when she seemed to be heavily favored.

    I love Baby Jane but for Bette Davis I would have chosen Dark Victory, her work in it is so layered without the tipping over into the grotesquerie that the later film required.

    Gena Rowlands work in WUTI is so raw and real it seems incredible that she lost the Oscar although that was a fiercely competitive year with Faye Dunaway in Chinatown and the winner Ellen Burstyn in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. I listened to an interview with Miss Burstyn once where she commented that Rowlands performance was an Oscar winning one and should have been so recognized...just not with her Oscar. Ha! Funny and honest but true.

    Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf is unquestionably Elizabeth Taylor's best work and some of the best ever, I think it's a bit of a shame that you can watch her building up to it through the years before with consistently improving performances starting with Giant, although there was a detour here and there, Cleopatra etc, and then when she hit big with Woolf, excepting Taming of the Shrew where she totally committed to the part, her films and her performances seemed to lose steam.

    I didn't care for 21 Grams and by and large am not a huge fan of Naomi Watts but she did put herself completely at the service of the character. She'd never make my list but it's solid work.

    I'm not a huge foreign film watcher and have to have some element of the film really peak my interest to put in the time viewing it. So I haven't seen any of your selections for performances in foreign films, though I have seen Autumn Sonata where I thought Ingrid Bergman was extraordinary and a few of Catherine Deneueve's films, Umbrellas of Cherbourg was so amazing! Actually you've inspired me to finally watch Belle de Jour which TCM is playing next week so thanks.

    I give you kudos for being able to winnow your list down to a top ten I don't think I could do it but I know one spot would be filled by Judy Garland in A Star is Born. She used every facet of her gifts in that film, I actually think it's the greatest performance to lose at the Oscars in any category, and to lose to Grace Kelly's competent but unremarkable work in the Country Girl makes it even more bitter.

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    1. I really love Christie in that film as well, and I do agree that Cotillard’s win hurt her a little bit. In fact, I prefer her work in Rust and Bone to La Vie en Rose, but you’re right, the Academy has failed to notice her since her win.

      I love that quote from Burstyn, I hadn’t heard that before. Honestly, I think Burstyn’s performance in Alice (while great) was partly awarded as a consolation prize for her losing the year before for The Exorcist.

      So happy you’re going to give Belle de Jour a watch. Whenever I see that film, I wonder how in the hell they were even able to get it made. It is very, very risky for its time. Would have never been made in America in 1967. Love it.

      Thanks for another great comment, I really appreciate it!

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  23. Love your inclusion of Juliette Binoche for her relentless and powerful restraint in Blue. Here is my short list of what I feel are some of the best female performances ever:

    Emily Watson in Breaking The Waves (1996)
    Bjork in Dancer In The Dark (2000)
    Katharine Hepburn in The Lion In Winter (1968)
    Reese Witherspoon in Election (1999)
    Adele Exarchopoulos in Blue Is The Warmest Color (2013)
    Naomi Watts in Mulholland Dr. (2001)
    Charlize Theron in Monster (2003)
    Sally Hawkins in Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)
    Whoopi Goldberg in The Color Purple (1985)

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    1. Thanks man! I LOVE that Exarchopoulos makes your list. And to think, she was a non actor when she made that movie. I mean... it's fucking incredible. Same goes for Watson, I suppose, as I still can't believe her work in Waves was her first film role. I mean, holy hell. Also great to see Hawkins on there. One of my favorite female roles, certainly.

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    2. She was excellent, and I actually finally got the chance to watch Persona the other day and I agree with Bibi Andersson's inclusion on your list. While I personally was quite drawn to Liv Ullmann's haunting, multi-dimensional portrayal, Andersson was also astounding. Their work should be the kind they teach in acting school.

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    3. Hell yeah man. That's one of my favorite films of all time. Love that movie. Andersson and Ullmann are both so great in it.

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  24. Your top 10 favorite Naomi Watts performances?

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    1. I should do a proper list, but here goes:

      10. The Ring
      9. Sunlight Jr.
      8. Adore
      7. Birdman
      6. Eastern Promises
      5. The Impossible
      4. We Don’t Live Here Anymore
      3. Funny Games
      2. Mulholland Dr.
      1. 21 Grams

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  25. Hi Alex!

    You have a very good list! Though I expect Vivien Leigh to be in the list. Anyway, I also want to share with you my Top Ten Greatest Acting Performances of All Time in celebration of Hollywood’s talented bunch. I would gladly appreciate if you leave any suggestion or opinions about the list. Thank you!

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    1. Hi there! Leigh's Blanche DuBois was very close to making my list. Just barely missed the mark. Can't wait to give your list a read. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!

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  26. Your welcome Alex! I enjoy reading all your post especially the latest one. I'm looking forward to read more from you. God Bless.

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  27. Great list - love the Bergman choices though my favourite Bergman performance is Liv Ullman in Autumn Sonata.

    Think my top 10 would be something like -
    Stanwyck (Double Indemnity)
    Foster (Silence of the Lambs)
    Falconetti (Passion of Joan of Arc)
    Watts (Mulholland Dr.)
    Deneuve (Belle de Jour)
    Ullmann (Autumn Sonata)
    McDormand (Fargo)
    Laurent (Inglorious Basterds)
    Leachman (Last Picture Show)
    Bergman (Casablanca)

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    1. Thanks man. Autumn Sonata is so fucking devastating. That's a movie that's in love with pain.

      Love your list. I really need to watch The Last Picture Show again. that's a great film.

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  28. YES Dr. Jenny Isaksson, thank you! One of the greatest performances of all time, male or female. But so few people have seen the film. Like you said, any Ullmann performance would be suitable for the list. If I were to make one, Autumn Sonata would make it as well. Btw I find it extremely weird that Ingrid Bergman got nominated for that role and not Ullmann when she was far better.

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    1. Nice! Always love finding other Bergman/Ullmann fans. It is a shame that more people aren't familiar with Bergman's films. He's my absolute favorite. Also agree that Ullmann is superior in Autumn Sonata. I think that was Oscar politics at play there.

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  29. What anyone has against Meryl Streep's virtuoso in Sophie's Choice is beyond my comprehension. Also Katherine Hepburn in the Lion in Winter?

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    1. I have nothing against either of those performances. Did something in my post suggest that?

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  30. Streep unsurpassed in Sophie's Choice and Katherine Hepburn in The Lion in Winter rates a mention.

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  31. Great List! Here are my Top 10 favorite performances by an Actress:

    1. Meryl Streep: Sophie's Choice - I'm not only attracted to a performance, I'm also intrigued by the work, the commitment to becoming a character and this is the ultimate character development I've ever seen displayed on film. Streep is arguably considered to be the greatest living Actress today and her legacy can be defined in the "choice" scene. Simply heartbreaking.

    2. Gena Rowlands: A Woman Under the Influence - I love anything Gena Rowlands does and this performance is perfection. She kept me sitting on the edge of my seat every moment she was on screen.

    3. Vivien Leigh: A Streetcar Named Desire - Her and Brando had the type of chemistry you don't see in film anymore.

    4. Elizabeth Taylor: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? - Quite possibly the best transformation on screen by an Actress.

    5. Natalie Portman: Black Swan - I've watched this movie dozens of times and am still haunted by Portman's portrayal of Nina.

    6. Bette Davis: All About Eve - ICONIC performance. That's all.

    7. Marion Cotillard: La Vie en Rose - Like you I had no idea who this Actress was but once I saw this performance, I'd never forget!

    8. Bette Davis: Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? - "But ya ARE Blanche! Ya ARE in that chair!"

    9. Jessica Lange: Frances - If any year warranted a TIE for Best Actress, this was the year!

    10. Vera Farmiga: Down to the Bone - Such an overlooked performance! I think Vera Farmiga is one of the greatest Actresses around today.

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    1. Excellent picks. Love these. I haven't seen Frances, but I love every other performance you listed. So happy we share so many picks. Farmiga's work in Down to the Bone still rattles me. One of the best recent performances of memory.

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