2007 has been a good year for women in cinema with a string of powerful lead and supporting roles. And while the debate rages on as to why American actresses, Renee Zellweger and Anne Hathaway, were cast in the role of two of our most famous novelists we look at some of the best female performances this year.

Katherine Heigl
The former fashion model made her name as Doctor Isobel ‘Izzy’ Stevens in the hit medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, which is now into its fourth season.But 2007 saw her break out of television and into movies with the international smash hit Knocked Up.Directed by Judd Apatow, who has also had a good year producing Superbad, Knocked Up follows Alison Scott who discovers she’s pregnant after a one night stand.Throughout the film Alison and Ben (Seth Rogan) come to terms with the prospect of being parents and get to know each other.

The film did well both critically and commercially grossing over $148 million.

Knocked Up became know as one of the geek clique movies following in the footsteps of The 40 Year Old Virgin and Superbad was released not long after.

The role of Alison, Heigl showed flexibility being able to deviate from her serious roles to do comedy successfully, a genre which was new to her and something at the beginning she was uncomfortable with.

We will nest see her in 27 Dresses which is directed by Anne Fletcher and follows Jane who has been a bridesmaid twenty seven times but never the bride.

She’s also turning her hand to producing with Lost and Found, a drama about a psychologist who goes to work in an animal hospital following the death of her husband.

Cate Blanchett

Unlike some actresses who seem to get worse after an Oscar win Blachett has gone from strength to strength.

The Aussie actress kicked off this year starring alongside Brad Pitt in Babel. Nominated for Best Picture at this year’s Oscars Babel is a film of multiple and intertwining story lines.

Despite not doing well at the box office it was received well critically and went on be very successful on DVD.

February brought another new release Notes on a Scandal with Judi Dench.

For her role as teacher Bathsheba Hart, who has a sexual relationship with a pupil that is exposed, Cate received an Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actress.

In November she returned to her Oscar nominated role of Elizabeth I in The Golden Age. Despite not being as well received by the critics as its predecessor Blanchett has been nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama for her performance.

She rounded off 2007 as part of the ensemble cast for I’m Not There, a biopic of Bob Dylan.

Blanchett is just one of seven actors to play different aspects of the music icon’s life and career.

The film has been well received critically with Oscar buzz surrounding it, especially for Cate’s role.

We will nest see her in Indiana Jones Kingdom of the Crystal Skull alongside Harrison Ford, William Hurt and Ray Winstone as the villainous Russian agent Spalko.

Amy Adams

After her Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting actress for her role in Junebug Amy Adams fell of the radar but 2007 saw her return to form. She follows her Oscar nominated role with yet another award worthy performance in the family friendly Enchanted.

Amy stars in the latest Walt Disney offering alongside Susan Sarandon, Patrick Demsey and James Marsden.

Giselle (Adams) lives a blissful life in an animated world but on her wedding day her evil stepmother throws her through a magic portal into New York City.

The movie has been received very well by the critics with Adams being compared to the likes of Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins. Her performance has earnt her a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy.

Early next year she appears in Mike Nichols’ Charlie Wilson’s War with Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

The film follows Congressmen Wilson who conspires with a rogue CIA officer to help the Afghan Mujahideen during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

She will also star in Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day with Frances McDormand and Ciaran Hinds as well as voicing characters in Madagascar 2: The Crate Escape and Underdog.

Also having a good year is Michelle Pheiffer who returned to the big screen in two of the hits of the year, Hairspray and Stardust, after a noticeable and lengthy absence.

Her Hairspray co-star Nikki Blonsky made her breakthrough with her role as Tracy Turnblad, and Keira Knightley rounds off 2007 with a Golden Globe nomination for her role in Atonement.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw