The recent burst of content (thank you, streaming services!) has paved the way for some brilliant performances in television. Specifically, the resurrection of the limited series (the more prestigious alternative to “mini-series”) in recent years has been home to some of the most rewarding storylines, dynamic characters, and rich performances. While there are plenty of outstanding male performances to highlight, such asPaul Bettany’s Vision inWandaVision,Hugh Grant’s suspected killer inThe Undoing,Edgar RamírezasGianni VersaceinThe Assassination of Gianni Versace,Yahya Abdul-Mateen IIas Cal Abar inWatchmen, andSam Rockwell’sBob FosseinFosse/Verdon, it’s the women who have shined the brightest. This year, we have been gifted with series such asMare of Easttown,Lisey’s Story, andWandaVision, all of which showcase impressive performances by women.
Here are just afewof those performances worth remembering.
Marielle Heller,The Queen’s Gambit
The Emmy nominated Netflix limited seriesThe Queen’s Gambitis an unexpected chess epic that took over everyone’s watchlist during quarantine. Though she already had an impressive resumé,Anya Taylor-Joy’s turn as chess prodigy Beth Harmon helped make her a household name. But actress-turned-directorMarielle Heller’s hidden gem performance as Alma Wheatley, Beth’s adoptive mother, stole the show. While she is best known for her work behind the camera, having directed critically acclaimed filmsCan You Ever Forgive Me?,A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, andThe Diary of a Teenage Girl(which she also wrote), she started out as an actress. In arecent chatwithRichard E. Grant(who starred inCan You Ever Forgive Me?), she discussed her experiences growing up in theatre and explained how she quickly became the actress everyone turned to when a performer dropped out at the last minute. In a surreal full-circle moment for Heller, she got a call from friend and creatorScott FrankaboutThe Queen’s Gambitwhen another actress had to leave the project.
Watching her inThe Queen’s Gambit, you wouldn’t be able to tell that Heller hasn’t acted in a decade. In four of the seven episodes, she effortlessly portrays the many complexities of Alma. Upon first meeting her in Episode 2, it’s clear that Alma’s welcoming and positive personality is a way for her to survive. A completely new woman emerges when Alma’s husband leaves her and Beth, as she is able to experience freedom again. As the series progresses, we learn that she has been trapped in a prison-like marriage and is dealing with the loss of a child. Heller transforms into a wide-eyed mother, eager to help her daughter succeed in the male-dominated world of chess. She takes what could have been a stereotypical “housewife” role and layers it with fragility, hope, and despair.
Tracey Ullman,Mrs. America
The FX seriesMrs. Americahas no shortage of impressive talent withCate Blanchett,Rose Byrne,Uzo Aduba,Sarah Paulson, andMargo Martindaleamong its stars. The show explores the complicated history of the Equal Rights Amendment during the politically-volatile 1970s, with several key women during this time portrayed in the show, includingGloria Steinem,Phyllis Schlafly,Shirley Chisholm, andBella Abzug. Actress and comedianTracey UllmanofThe Tracey Ullman Showfame plays feminist leaderBetty Friedan, a bold, unapologetic feminist who shot to fame with her bookThe Feminine Mystique. Just as Friedan was unlike any woman during that time, Ullman’s performance is unlike those of her costars. She is able to convey years of frustration and anger toward the status quo in a simple roll of the eyes, sigh, or dismissive hand gesture. This is especially evident when shedebatesthe eloquent conservative Phyllis Schlafly in front of a large crowd. She cannot help but stray from the podium and animatedly disagree with her opponent on marriage, women in the military, and the ERA. Just as she elicited a standing ovation during the debate, Ullman’s performance as Friedan earns one as well.
Elizabeth Olsen,WandaVision
The Disney+ limited seriesWandaVisionboldly takes two beloved Marvel characters, Scarlet Witch and Vision, and brings them from the silver screen to the small screen, as they journey through the decades and discover that the world around them isn’t exactly as it seems.Elizabeth Olsenreprises her role as Wanda Maximoff (aka Scarlet Witch, whom she portrayed in five previous Marvel films), a Sokovian refugee and foe-turned-ally of the Avengers. For the majority of the series, each episode takes place in a different decade. The first episode, for example, takes place in a 1950s-style sitcom, in all its black and white glory. Olsen is tasked with staying true to Wanda while weaving in the stereotypical mannerisms, traits, and voice fluctuations of a ‘50s-era housewife. She then sheds this persona when she jumps through the years, embodying the sitcom style performances of shows from the ‘60s to the early 2000s. (Seeing Wanda break the fourth wall and talk to the camera like she’s inThe Officeis magical on its own.) Fans and critics alike have applauded Marvel’s leap to television.WandaVisionscored 23 Emmy nominations, including one for Outstanding Limited Series and Outstanding Lead Actress. It was Olsen’s stellar performance all along.
RELATED:‘WandaVision’ Racks Up 23 Emmy Nominations, and Other 2021 Surprises and Snubs
Michelle Williams,Fosse/Verdon
The 2019 FX limited seriesFosse/Verdonexplores the glamorous and tumultuous relationship between legendary stage choreographerBob Fosse(Sam Rockwell) and Broadway star and dancerGwen Verdon(Michelle Williams). Throughout the series, Williams captures the struggles that Gwen endured in both her public and private life. She faces condescending and sexist behavior as she navigates the industry, hiding her feelings of insecurity and frustration behind her glistening white smile. Williams is able to demonstrate the rollercoaster of emotions Gwen experiences with ease. One minute, she is distraught when faced with Bob’s serial infidelity, then next she is being praised for one of her impeccable performances. Williams captures the soft-spoken and meek ways of Gwen, while also lighting up the stage in many ofFosse/Verdon’s musical performances. Hats off to Williams, who won a Golden Globe, Emmy, and SAG Award for her performance.
Angourie Rice,Mare of Easttown
HBO continues its lineup of impressive shows with the 2021 crime dramaMare of Easttown, created and written byBrad Ingelsby(Our Friend,The Way Back). The show takes place in small town Pennsylvania, and follows Mare Sheehan (Kate Winslet), a respected, no-bullshit-no-frills detective sergeant, who is trying to uncover the truth behind the mysterious disappearance and murder of teenager Erin McMenamin (Cailee Spaeny). While the show’s star is the Oscar, Emmy, and Golden Globe winning Winslet (who nabbed another Emmy nomination for the limited series), the supporting cast makes the show the masterpiece that it is. One of the most impressive cast members is actressAngourie Rice, who plays Mare’s teenage daughter, Siobhan. The actress, previously known for her portrayal of Betty Brant in theTom HollandSpider-Manfilms, carries Siobhan through one of the most satisfying character arcs in the series. When we first meet her, she’s sighing and rolling her eyes at Mare, (who’s making sure she’s on top of her college applications) and helps her nephew with his new “fish house.” As the series progresses, she proves to be the furthest thing from a one-dimensional angsty teen. Rice manages to portray the expected struggles of a teenager (heartache, applying to college, and living with a multi-generational family), while ushering in unexpected moments of vulnerability, compassion, and support.
Regina King,Watchmen
TheDamon Lindelof(Lost,The Leftovers) HBO seriesWatchmen, a sort-of-sequel to the comic book series of the same name, honors the original characters from the page while introducing a new batch of friends and foes. At the helm of this gritty superhero drama is the magnificentRegina King(One Night in Miami…,If Beale Street Could Talk), who plays Angela Abar, one of the few surviving Tulsa officers after the “White Night” attack by the white supremacy group the Seventh Kalvary. Taking place 34 years after the comic book series, the show tackles a new set of obstacles. King personifies cool as she confidently takes charge of the extraordinary injustices in her town. After capturing an alleged member of the supremacy group, she tells the skeptical Chief of Police Judd Crawford (Don Johnson), “I’ve got a nose for white supremacy, and he smells like bleach.” She’s a badass when she’s not at work, too, as she dons a black hood and mask for her alter ego, Sister Night, the“nun with a gun.”Her persistent need to fight injustice is rooted in childhood trauma and racism. King nails the balancing act between protecting the present and wrestling with the past, all while dealing with otherworldly beings.
Frances McDormand,Olive Kitteridge
The 2014 four-episode HBO seriesOlive Kitteridgehas a somewhat simple premise, as it explores the ups and downs of a 25 year marriage from the point of view of the wife, played byFrances McDormand(Fargo,Nomadland). The series, which is anything but simple, (the tagline even being“There’s no such thing as a simple life.”) examines difficult topics such as grief, resentment, morality, and love. McDormand, who plays the titular character, takes an on-the-surface harsh, hardened, and at times downright rude character and molds her into a woman with tremendous heart who deserves love. Olive’s rough exterior is the safe shell that she hides in to protect herself from rejection and true intimacy. Though she tries to conceal it, glimpses of hope and happiness emerge from McDormand’s melancholic Olive. Her performance earned her a SAG and Emmy award, with the show winning 29 awards in total.
Do yourself a favor and check out these titles that showcase some of the best actresses at the top of their game.
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