With the year's second quarter over, here's a listicle of noteworthy performances we'll eventually compare to what's to come. These are my personal favorites from screenings and releases from April 1st through June 30th (if the film hasn't opened in theaters yet, it's marked with an asterisk). Herewith the 17 best from the year's second quarter, divvied up into three categories. (If you'd like to group them with the women from the first quarter, that list is here). Did these actresses speak to you with their turns?
Disclaimer: Key actress-focused films I missed that I'll have to catch up with later were Beatriz at Dinner, Manifesto, A Quiet Passion and Rough Night. If you've seen them give their MVPs a shout-out.
6 LEADING ACTRESSES
Gal Gadot as "Diana" in Wonder Woman
Nicole Kidman as "Miss Martha" in The Beguiled...
I remain confused that Sofia Coppola pulled so much of Martha's big queasy psychosexual scenes from her adaptation as discussed on the podcast but there's something ickily suggestive about Kidman's line readings here that do the work of pulling some of that back in.
Noa Koler as "Michal" in The Wedding Plan
Zuzana Krónerová as "Hana" in Ice Mother*
Amy Ryan as "Tracy" in Abundant Acreage Available*
Debra Winger as "Mary" in The Lovers
8 ACTRESSES IN SUPPORTING ROLES
Nadia Alexander as "Melissa" in Blame*
This was a toss up from the mean girls of this high school drama, so I'll go with Tribeca Film Festival's jury Actress award which went to this damaged hostile queen bee.
Elena Anaya as "Doctor Poison" in Wonder Woman
Kirsten Dunst as "Edwina" in The Beguiled
Jessica Grabowsky as "Kaija" in Tom of Finland*
Grabowsky adds some crucial friction to this biopic as the unimpressed yet envious sister to Tom, who is also an illustrator.
Holliday Grainger as "Louise" in My Cousin Rachel
Holly Hunter as "Beth" in The Big Sick
The winner of "Most Likely To... Be Oscar Nominated" from the first half of the year. Crossing our fingers because that puts her in the Diane Keaton realm of an Oscar nominated year in each decade of her career: 87, 93, 03, (and... 17? Maybe? Please?)
Sienna Miller as "Nina Fawcett" in The Lost City of Z
Melora Walters as "Lucy" in The Lovers
3 ACTRESSES IN LIMITED OR CAMEO ROLES
image is not from "The Big Sick"
Vella Lovell as "Khadija" in The Big Sick
It's wonderful to see her on the big screen so soon after her terrific supporting work on Crazy Ex Girlfriend, and with a much different character, too.
Robin Wright as "Antiope" in Wonder Woman
A triumph of casting, really, with another Princess becoming General
image is not from "Sweet Virginia"
Odessa Young as "Maggie" in Sweet Virginia*