Best Performances by Actors in Limited Roles
Saturday, February 22, 2020 at 6:18PM 
Andrew Scott gives incredible cynical cameo in "1917"
And now a semi-tangential train of thought. Over the 20 years of doing the Film Bitch Awards we've noticed that our cameo categories have gone from being a fun place to shine the spotlight on unknown actors who we're curious about to an annual war between not-quite household names or "it" girls and guys who are appearing in everything. The problem for lesser known actors trying to catch a break these days is that we're long past the years when mid-level stars, or even major stars, had egos about the size of their roles. More and more stars will happily become day-players as if everyone wants to be working 24/7 and has never heard of the concept of over-exposure...
She's unrelated to this particular round of awards but Elisabeth Moss has been on our brains. We've lately been seeing her everywhere and had a sudden flashback to that time in the mid Aughts when Jude Law was in every trailer and the audience actually began to laugh when he appeared. You could not escape him! He received some backlash for his overexposure but it weirdly became the norm/desire for the stars of the 2010s. Elisabeth Moss is the current standard bearer. In the past five years alone she's appeared in 18 movies in roles ranging from featured supporting to true headliner, starred in 3 tv series, and even did an Off Broadway play. Some stars realize this can become a trap. Remember that time period where Toni Collette's star appeared to be fading rapidly and she kept doing tiny roles, sometimes without any lines (Tammy, Hitchcock, etcetera). Thankfully she (or new management) curtailed her previous urge to say "yes" to everything and she's back to what she does best: headlining interesting projects and turning out those juicy supporting roles; It's not a coincidence that she's suddenly well-loved again.
Statement of Fact: Danielle Brooks (Clemency) is one of the greatest actors of her generation and phenomenal in all three actors mediums: stage, tv, film. Where are her high profile parts and where is the mainstream awards heat?This is all a long and tangential way of saying we've posted the nominees for the last remaining Film Bitch Awards for 2019. Peppered in with lesser known actors or true unknowns in the finalists, semi-finalists, and nominee lists you'll see actors you are very familiar with and already love and are probably hoping to see a lot more of "hi, Danielle and Andrew!"
But at the same time hopefully we don't see too much of any star that deserves bigger opportunities, lest they too become so ubiquitous that they'll have to worry about backlash. If the modern urge to put the same faces in everything continues in the 2030s only 46 stars will be allowed to act in feature films and they will play every size role and even be digitally inserted as "extras" in their own movies if crowd scenes are required. We kid. But isn't there some truth to it?
This all an even longer way of saying I really wanted to honor unknown actors like India Menuez as "Shooting Star #1" who gave my favourite performance in the very ungainly Under the Silver Lake.
We love Zac Jaffee as Gary, okay?
...Or two terrific actors Zac Jaffee and Alex Breaux, both from Hustlers, who are pitch-perfect in their individual scenes as two very different kind of men at this pocket-emptying strip club we keep returnining to. Sadly all three of these actors got crowded out by familiar names. So perhaps we should really restrict this category to one scene performances only as opposed to two or under to winnow out roles that more obviously verge on "supporting".
Okay on to the chart and nominees: Please enjoy and discuss these actors and performances from Pain and Glory, 1917, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Transit, and more.
Reader Comments (19)
Some cool choices, but I'll never understand why people complain Serrano and Cruz did not look alike in Pain and Glory. Last scene of the movie explains why.
Disappointing to see you ding Moss after she gave the two best film performances of her career last year. FYI, Collette has done 17 movies and 3 series in the past 5 years, so she's nearly as prolific as Moss.
Leonardo Sbaraglia is so vivid and lived in that I thought he would be bumped up to supporting, but your comment just zeroes in on why he's so good. Gosh.
Toni Collette keeps saying yes to everything.
These are always my favorite categories, and I’m so happy Danielle is getting the love she deserves.
Whispers: (you have Harvey K listed for both Finalists and Semifinalists here, fyi)
Danielle Brooks broke my heart in Clemency. Great, great call!
Diana Lin in The Farewell. I know she's more supporting than a limited role but I'm just surprised by the lack of love during the season. I think she's got the most complicated role. Love her tears at the back of the uber.
Martha Kelly for the win
I've read: "We instantly forgave the strange casting (Cruz and Serrano look absolutely nothing alike)" and I thought: have you seen the movie? :) Serrano does not play older version of Cruz. Cruz is an actress in a movie made by Banderas. Yeah, it is about his childhood but still: they don't have to look alike.
Julia Butters is the MVP of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
I don't remember Andrew Scott character in 1917 XD
Someone -- It's a stupid comment indeed. Besides, no country girl looks like Penélope Cruz with her perfect eyebrows and her fake teeth.
If we are talking small roles I loved Amy Madigan in Americam Woman.
Very much with you on Julieta Serrano, Martha Kelly, and Andrew Scott (my favorite part of 1917 by a mile).
Always enjoy reading your write-ups and awards, thanks for all that you put into doing this.
Surprised to see Merritt Wever not get a mention for "Marriage Story"!
Just another thumbsup for Leonardo Sbaraglia in "Pain and Glory." A perfect performance in a perfect scene in a perfect movie.
I rewatched Wild Rose and I think Sophie Okonedo is amazing.
Thank you for sharing this useful article information.I am really impressed with the article you provided.
Actually:
Margaret Quayley and Ray Liotta made my top 10 for performances this year and they were all in small roles. Shame on you for missing them!