After launching this year’s Female First Awards yesterday, we continue on with our trend of celebrating some of the most talented actors from across the globe with today’s award. Spotlighting five of the best females in film, we’ll be taking a look at the movies they starred in and the performances that made us sit back and take note!
Here are the five nominees for Movie Actor of the Year 2020.
Carrie Coon as Allison O'Hara in The Nest
Written, directed and produced by Sean Durkin, thriller film The Nest saw Carrie Coon star opposite Jude Law, playing the Englishman's American wife, Allison. Living a middle class life in New York, Allison’s husband convinces her to relocate to England, where he believes his job opportunities will come thicker and faster than those available in the United States.
The move is just the start of the relationship's biggest tests however, and Coon conveys the well put together but at times volatile housewife extremely well. Her performance is one that is quite nuanced throughout, but in a way that sticks with you well after the credits roll.
Maria Bakalova as Tutar in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
When Sacha Baron-Cohen made his return as controversial (and fictional) Kazakhstani journalist Borat, he wasn’t alone. Discovering he had a daughter who wanted to join him on his return trip to the United States of America, audiences couldn’t have predicted just how swiftly Maria Bakalova (in the role of said daughter, Tutar) would steal the show.
Hailing from Bulgaria, this 24-year-old was put into some of the trickiest situations an actor in a mockumentary film like this could be put in; handling each of them like a pro. That compromising hotel room encounter with President Donald Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani for example, was something that could have gone very wrong, very fast.
Still, she stuck to the task at hand, delivering an incredible performance in stunningly-awkward circumstances. We can’t wait to see where this role takes her career moving forward.
Allison Janney as Pam Gluckin in Bad Education
With Hugh Jackman leading the cast as Frank Tassone, making an impact on the screen in Bad Education would be a challenge for most. Seasoned actor Allison Janney however was more than up to the task, playing his number two Pam Gluckin, and reigning over a school alongside him, all whilst stealing over $11 million.
Moral questions are asked of the audience here, as many of us watching are actually willing these criminal characters to get ahead of the authorities and succeed in their nefarious plans. It does of course help that Janney is an incredibly charming star of cinema and, after seeing her in this role, it’s hard to imagine anybody else doing as fine a job.
Sidney Flanigan as Autumn in Never Rarely Sometimes Always
The abortion laws in the United States are, for many people in the United Kingdom, completely archaic. Seeing all of the different rules that are in place across the many different states of America is shocking, no matter how much you may read about them; seeing them in-person and in-action is always going to take your breath away. That’s the subject matter of Never Rarely Sometimes Always.
Sidney Flanigan plays the lead role of Autumn, opposite the also-brilliant Talia Ryder as her character's cousin Skylar. So realistic in the role is she, that you’ll be challenged not to get emotional as you watch her mental wheels turning as she and those she loves are faced with some major decisions.
Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn in Birds of Prey
Those who weren’t big fans of the David Ayer Suicide Squad movie would at least admit that Margot Robbie’s performance as Harley Quinn was a standout part of the film’s chemistry. So, when we heard she would be returning to lead the female-fronted Birds of Prey feature, we were excited to see if she would be able to mimic that excellence all over again.
Spoiler alert: She did it with bells on!
Anyone unfamiliar with Quinn would be forgiven for thinking it was a role written specifically for Robbie; that is how excellent she is. Charismatic and energetic, as well as emotional and empathetic at times, she makes the comic book character strangely relatable. Not an easy thing to do!
And the winner is…
Sidney Flanigan!
In a film that could have been completely draining, Flanigan gave a performance that will go down in history as one that elevated it to another level. Massive congratulations to her! Where she goes next will be incredible to watch.
RELATED: Who won the TV Actor of the Year accolade at The Female First Awards 2020?
An incredible group of women are nominated for this year’s TV Actor of the Year Award, but which of them walked away with the accolade? READ MORE
Tagged in Movies