From Penelope to Meryl to Michelle, these were the standout leading ladies of 2008.
8. Kat Dennings, Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist
Yet another example of how the right actors can elevate so-so material, Michael Cera and Kat Dennings gave this indie-music fueled after-hours romp through New York City’s Lower East Side its juice. Cera had already proven his bona fides with scene-stealing turns in Arrested Development and Superbad, but Dennings was still looking for that breakout role after a series of small parts in hits like The 40-Year-Old Virgin. She more than made her case for stardom with her smart, funny and touching performance as a wallflower who, over the course of one long night, learns to take center stage.
7. Samantha Morton, Mister Lonely
Playing a legendary icon like Marilyn Monroe isn’t an easy task for any actor. So just try wrapping your head around having to play a character who looks and sounds just like Monroe, but is actually a star-struck celebrity impersonator. That’s the tricky path Samantha Morton has to navigate in Harmony Korine’s little-seen oddity. As usual though, the actress makes the impossible possible with a performance that’s mixes humor and heartbreak in always surprising ways. If there’s a part Morton can’t play, she hasn’t found it yet.
6. Anna Faris, The House Bunny
Playing dumb isn’t as easy as it looks; it’s not enough to make your character an idiot—you also have to give the audience some reason to willingly spend 90 minutes in his or her company. That’s why Anna Faris is such a gift. Not only does she have the best dumb blonde routine in the business, she’s also insanely likable. Her infectious energy and sweetness single-handedly keeps this otherwise routine fish-out-water comedy from drowning in its own clichés.
5. Penelope Cruz, Vicky Christina Barcelona
Penelope Cruz’s career renaissance continues with her ferocious performance as Javier Bardem’s mentally unstable ex-wife in Woody Allen’s surprisingly strong drama. Real-life couples are often cautioned against working together onscreen, but Bardem and Cruz work gloriously together and handily win the title of Sexiest Screen Duo of ’08. And don’t be surprised to see Cruz win another award–a little one known as the Best Supporting Actress trophy–come Oscar night.
4. Meryl Streep, Mama Mia! and Doubt
Another year, another reminder that Meryl Streep is a national cinematic treasure. In 2008, the much-lauded actress starred in two very different films, each of which showcased her extraordinary range and versatility. In the Abba-flavored musical Mama Mia!, Streep threw herself headfirst into a painfully campy production without ever appearing embarrassed or self-conscious–on the contrary, it looked like she was having the time of her life. Doubt, on the other hand, required her to erase any trace of joy from her face and embody the strict, fun-hating disciplinarian that haunts the nightmares of any kid forced to attend Catholic school. That she pulled off both parts without breaking a sweat shouldn’t come as a surprise; let’s face it, Meryl ain’t just an actress–she’s a freakin’ goddess.
3. Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
As Poppy, the relentlessly upbeat Londoner who smiles her way through life, Sally Hawkins has what may be this year’s most divisive role. Half of the audience will love her, while the other half will want to see her tarred and feathered. No matter which side you come down on though, it’s hard to argue that Hawkins isn’t one hundred percent convincing in the part. Maybe too convincing–here’s hoping none of the anti-Poppy crowd tracks the actress home in London with plans to wipe that daffy smile off her face.
2. EVE, Wall-E
2008′s most kick-ass female action star wasn’t Angelina Jolie in Wanted: it was a laser-toting fembot who touches down on a deserted Earth some 700 years in the future and befriends a little trash compacter with an odd affection for Hello Dolly! It’s not just the iMac-sleek look that makes EVE so great–her “shoot first and ask questions later” approach to her job is also awesome. No wonder Wall-E succumbs to her charms. She’s like the cooler older girl you wanted to date in high school, but never had the courage to actually talk to.
1. Michelle Williams, Wendy and Lucy
It’s strange–and yet somehow appropriate–that Michelle Williams would deliver her finest performance in the same year that her former flame (and father of her daughter) Heath Ledger wowed the world as The Joker. Just imagine how happy that household would have been this month were the two of them still together and, of course, had Ledger not died so young. Sadly, life is almost never like the movies, so both of their triumphs come weighted with a certain degree of sadness. But real-world tragedies shouldn’t diminish Williams’ exceptional work in this small, but beautifully observed film about a drifter passing through Oregon with only her dog for company. Like Benicio Del Toro in Che, she delivers a performance stripped of all artifice to the point where you feel like you are living alongside the character instead of watching her from the comfort of a movie theater.
