Hey everyone! Let's dive into the amazing world of Best Actress performances from the 2020s. This is my personal ranking, so it's all about my taste and what resonated with me. I'm super excited to share my thoughts on these incredible actresses and their unforgettable roles. Get ready for some opinions, some love for the performances, and maybe even a little bit of debate! Let's jump in, guys!
My Criteria for Ranking
Before we get started, I want to give you a peek into my thought process. What makes a performance truly stand out? For me, it's a mix of things. Of course, technical skill is important – the way an actress embodies a character, their command of voice and physicality, and their ability to convey emotions authentically. But it's more than just that. I'm also looking for performances that stay with me long after the credits roll. The ones that make me think, feel, and connect with the character on a deeper level.
Emotional depth is a big one. Can the actress make me believe in their character's journey? Can they make me feel their joy, their pain, their struggles? I also appreciate nuance. The best performances aren't always the loudest or most dramatic; sometimes, it's the subtle choices, the unspoken moments, that truly shine. And of course, impact matters. Did the performance elevate the film? Did it leave a lasting impression on audiences? Did it spark conversations? These are all things I consider when ranking these talented actresses.
Ultimately, it's a subjective art, and my rankings are based on my personal connection to these performances. I encourage you to share your own thoughts and rankings in the comments! Let's celebrate these incredible actresses and the magic they bring to the screen.
Top Tier Performances
1. Frances McDormand - Nomadland (2020)
Frances McDormand's performance in Nomadland is, in my opinion, a masterclass in understated brilliance. She embodies Fern, a woman who loses everything in the Great Recession and chooses a nomadic life, traveling across the American West in her van. What makes this performance so special is its authenticity. McDormand becomes Fern, seamlessly blending into the real-life nomad communities depicted in the film. There's a quiet strength and resilience in her portrayal, a sense of both profound loss and unwavering hope. She conveys so much with so little, often relying on subtle expressions and gestures to communicate Fern's inner world.
This isn't a showy performance; there are no big, dramatic monologues or tearful outbursts. Instead, McDormand invites us into Fern's quiet moments of reflection, her encounters with fellow nomads, and her connection to the vast landscapes she travels through. The film itself is a meditative exploration of grief, freedom, and the search for meaning, and McDormand's performance is the anchor that grounds it all. She's not just acting; she's living the role, and that's what makes it so powerful. The raw emotion she conveys with a simple glance or a slight shift in her posture is just breathtaking. It's a performance that stays with you long after the film ends, prompting you to contemplate the choices we make, the connections we forge, and the resilience of the human spirit.
2. Olivia Colman - The Father (2020)
Olivia Colman's portrayal of Anne in The Father is nothing short of heartbreaking. The film tells the story of a man (played by Anthony Hopkins) struggling with dementia, and Colman plays his daughter, Anne, who is desperately trying to care for him while grappling with her own grief and frustration. What makes Colman's performance so remarkable is her ability to convey the complex emotional layers of her character. She's filled with love and compassion for her father, but she's also exhausted, overwhelmed, and deeply saddened by his declining health.
Colman navigates these conflicting emotions with incredible nuance and sensitivity. She's masterful at portraying the subtle shifts in Anne's demeanor as she tries to remain patient and understanding while dealing with her father's increasingly erratic behavior. There are moments of tenderness and warmth, but also moments of barely suppressed anger and despair. The film is structured in a way that reflects the fragmented and disorienting experience of dementia, and Colman's performance helps to ground the audience in Anne's perspective, allowing us to feel her confusion and her pain. It's a truly powerful and moving performance, one that showcases Colman's exceptional talent for portraying vulnerability and strength in equal measure.
High Ranking Performances
3. Jessica Chastain - The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021)
Jessica Chastain's transformation into Tammy Faye Bakker is truly remarkable. It's not just the physical transformation, although the makeup and prosthetics are certainly impressive; it's the way Chastain embodies Tammy Faye's spirit, her unwavering optimism, and her genuine compassion for others. She captures Tammy Faye's infectious energy and her larger-than-life personality, but she also delves into the vulnerabilities and insecurities that lay beneath the surface. This is a bold and fearless performance, and Chastain fully commits to the role, never shying away from Tammy Faye's flaws or her eccentricities.
She doesn't just mimic Tammy Faye; she inhabits her, capturing her unique voice, her mannerisms, and her unwavering faith. But beyond the surface-level impersonation, Chastain brings a deep understanding and empathy to the character. She shows us the woman behind the makeup, the woman who genuinely believed in the power of love and acceptance. It's a performance that is both entertaining and emotionally resonant, and it cemented Chastain's place as one of the leading actresses of our time.
4. Kristen Stewart - Spencer (2021)
Kristen Stewart's portrayal of Princess Diana in Spencer is a revelation. This isn't a traditional biopic; it's a more impressionistic and psychological portrait of Diana during a particularly fraught Christmas holiday with the royal family. Stewart captures Diana's fragility and her fierce determination, her longing for freedom and her struggle to conform to the suffocating expectations of the monarchy. She embodies Diana's iconic mannerisms – her head tilts, her soft voice, her shy smile – but she also goes deeper, revealing the pain and isolation that Diana experienced within the royal family.
Stewart's performance is both captivating and heartbreaking, and she manages to convey Diana's inner turmoil without resorting to melodrama. She uses subtle expressions and gestures to communicate Diana's emotional state, and she has a remarkable ability to convey a sense of vulnerability and strength simultaneously. It's a performance that is both respectful and daring, and it showcases Stewart's incredible range as an actress. She completely disappears into the role, and you truly believe that you are watching Princess Diana on screen.
Other Notable Performances
5. Carey Mulligan - Promising Young Woman (2020)
Carey Mulligan delivers a powerful and unforgettable performance in Promising Young Woman. She plays Cassie, a woman who seeks to avenge her best friend's sexual assault by feigning drunkenness in bars and confronting the men who try to take advantage of her. Mulligan captures Cassie's anger and pain, but she also brings a surprising amount of wit and charm to the role. It's a complex and challenging performance, and Mulligan handles it with grace and ferocity.
6. Andra Day - The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021)
Andra Day's performance as Billie Holiday is a tour de force. She captures Holiday's vocal style, her charisma, and her vulnerability, and she also conveys the singer's struggles with addiction and the racism she faced throughout her career. Day's performance is both powerful and heartbreaking, and it earned her a well-deserved Academy Award nomination.
7. Nicole Kidman - Being the Ricardos (2021)
Nicole Kidman's portrayal of Lucille Ball in Being the Ricardos is a masterful performance. She captures Ball's wit, her intelligence, and her fierce determination, and she also delves into the personal and professional challenges that Ball faced during her career. Kidman's performance is both entertaining and insightful, and it showcases her incredible range as an actress.
8. Renate Reinsve - The Worst Person in the World (2021)
Renate Reinsve gives a charming and nuanced performance in The Worst Person in the World. She plays Julie, a young woman struggling to find her place in the world, and Reinsve captures Julie's restless spirit and her search for meaning. It's a relatable and heartwarming performance, and it established Reinsve as a major talent to watch.
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it – my ranking of some of the best actress winners and nominees from the 2020s. It's been an incredible few years for women in film, and these performances are a testament to the talent and artistry of these amazing actresses. I'm so excited to see what the future holds for them and for women in film in general. What do you think of my list, guys? Who are your favorites? Let's discuss in the comments below!
