In a recent interview with Ryan Gosling for TIME magazine, the versatile actor claimed that all the great performances nowadays were from the female side of the equation. It kind of gave me a pause: are we living a golden age for screen goddesses that I’m not are of? In the past, Hollywood gave us Lauren Bacall, Rita Hayworth, Katherine Hepburn, and the like. In the age of no mystery, where private sex tapes are badges of honour, D.U.I.’d chicklets pass for intriguing news, and paparazzi leer from random underwear drawers, it’s probably harder to focus on the screen long enough to be enchanted by the femmes filling it. I got to investigate, and came up with this list of what I’d consider great screen femmes of our time – a combination of presence and talent in abundance. And I mean to include those who are still having an active career and/or are in their prime. I invite my fellow chicks to edit this post to add your own personal picks.
First, let me get to those not-quite-there and almost-made-it choices:
I love Rachel Weisz. She’s charming, talented, and very underrated. She’s striking in a very subtle way, and perhaps that subtle quality may have prevented her from dominating the screen like she could.
Films to watch: The constant gardener, The Mummies!
The only strike against Shu Qi is that she needs to be seen more – or, rather, her films need to be seen more. This beautiful, talented woman has an amazing screen presence very few can summon. She basically is a walking scenery chewer, if given half a chance at a decent character.
Films to watch: Three times, Millenium Mambo, So close!
Julianne Moore is a terrific actor with a lackluster comedy timing. She’s just perfect for certain roles, and when it’s right, she hits it right out of the park. She has not been in any notable role recently (Children of Men was a great film but there wasn’t much for her to do), and she may have maxed out her range. A few years ago, she would have made it to the official list.
Films to watch: Far from heaven, Boogie Night.
Rachel McAdams may not have had a very lengthy career, but she’s got tremendous potential as an actor and as a movie star. There’s this radiance about her, especially when she flashes that multimillion dollar smile. She has just about perfect comedy timing. I’m just waiting for this girl to get big, really big. She could be that next Julia Roberts everyone in Hollywood is looking for.
Films to watch: Mean Girls, Red Eye
Keira Knightley is on her way to the royal road. While she has so far been popular because of her looks, she can act given the right role. She needs to pout a lot less – it looks good on the page, not so much on the screen, especially when her character is in mortal danger of some sort.
Films to watch: Pride and Prejudice
This woman has an old-world, enigmatic, demure, sexy quality about her (enough adjectives?). Nevermind that she likes to pose only in one position (that femme fatale stare behind the massive eye make up?), she’s absolutely stunning on screen. I can’t wait to see her in more films, and to see if she’s going to make it big based on one film alone. If Sandra Bullock can build a career from one film, so can Eva Green!
Films to watch: Casino Royale
Helena excels at quirkiness. She’s a great actor and has a great screen presence. I think it’s a mark of a great talent that an actor could disappear into a role that doesn’t ask much of the actor and elevate it like she can, but I wish that she was given (or had picked) a stronger, wider variety of roles to work with. I’m borderline on her work, and thus, she’s not on the official list. For me, for now.
Films to watch: Fight Club, The Corpse Bride
And now, the list, in alphabetical order.
