NationStates Jolt Archive

In line with the Best Actor thread and inspired by Ashmoria's post I have decided for NSG to pick their best actress. (Leave a list and explain why)

A poll will come at some stage, with my own picks and other posters on the first few posts or whoever has the most amount of picks by people.

Winnona Ryder(I know I misspelled the name).

Its harder for me to think of good female actors. I suspect this is because actresses have historically been evaluated more on physical attractiveness than male actors, but I could be wrong about that.

The above choice was based on Girl, Interrupted. I liked how she subtly managed to seem like a kid at the beginning of the film, but portrayed a much more mature persona by the end. She really created a sense of some one who has aged considerably over the course of the film.

living actress....

meryl streep

vanessa redgrave

cate blanchette

julia roberts

Poll now included

Claudia Christian - Babylon 5's Susan Ivanova

Uma Thurman

I have to say, Meryl Streep's performance in The Devil Wears Prada was one of my favorite female performances for a long time.

Winona Ryder is on that list? Please. She hasn't got the range of a broken slingshot.

If someone young has to be on the list, make it Claire Danes.

As for my choices, I'd include Toni Collette and Rachel Weisz. Naomi Watts is a good actress as well.

Winona Ryder is on that list? Please. She hasn't got the range of a broken slingshot.

If someone young has to be on the list, make it Claire Danes.

As for my choices, I'd include Toni Collette and Rachel Weisz. Naomi Watts is a good actress as well.

Rachel Weisz is one-dimensional, pretty but one-dimensional.

Rachel Weisz is one-dimensional, pretty but one-dimensional.

Really? Her characters in The Mummy to The Constant Gardener were that similar to you? Fair enough, but I disagree.

Really? Her characters in The Mummy to The Constant Gardener were that similar to you? Fair enough, but I disagree.

The films were different, her acting wasn't.

Actually, her problem is that she has a very.. amm... defined face, it's hard not to be aware that Rachel Weisz is playing the part, other actresses have more chameleon looks. This probably means my opinion is entirely personal, I think she has one of the prettier faces around.

Also, what's the name of the actress from Boys Don't Cry and the Clint Eastwood boxing film, she deserves a mention.

Hillary Swank.

Actually, I don't believe 'Actress' is used anymore, it's just actor for both genders.

Ellen Muth...

Watch the pilot episode of Dead Like Me, especially the scene with the little girl after the train wreck, the sheer depth and complexity of the emotions she shows, simply with her expression, no words... SHe is a damn good actress.


Closely followed by Christina Ricci as my pick for number 2. maybe number 1 due to the fact she shows a LOT more skin :D nice tits in Prozac Nation and Black Snake Moan. through she was rather skinny in B.S.M.

I don't know, I feel that I haven't seen enough of the signature performances by these actresses, but I know who I'm not going to vote for. Julia Roberts seems to play basically the same character in all of her movies, and Nicole Kidman has given enough horrible performances that I've seen to permanently kick her off these lists for me. Meryl Streep, meh. I agree with Intangelon that Claire Danes should be the "young" representative from this list. And beyond that I don't know. Ryder is an interesting choice, as is Dench.

Actually, I don't believe 'Actress' is used anymore, it's just actor for both genders.Really? I could swear I saw it used in the thread title ;)

I don't think there's really anyone or any institutions with the authority to tell people what word they can and cannot use. Besides, it's shorter than "she-actor" or "female actor", or whatever term you'd use to distinguish the male and female variant; it's simply pragmatic to keep using it.

Actually, I don't believe 'Actress' is used anymore, it's just actor for both genders.

Yeah thats why the Oscars still have a Best Actress Award :rolleyes:

I think Dame Judy Dench is one of the most excellent actresses there are.

As for Andaras's statement: we must remember, Comrade Andaras wants to have an homogeneous society. That includes calling actresses as actors.:rolleyes:

Out of the list, I'd say Jodi Foster. Out of all of Hollywood, my preference is Natalie Portman :fluffle:

Out of the list, I'd say Jodi Foster. Out of all of Hollywood, my preference is Natalie Portman :fluffle:I'd agree with that. Not only for her acting, but she seems to pick consistently good scripts (except those damn Star Wars). I'll go see a movie solely because she's in it.

Natalie Portman a good actress? Granted I've only seen her in Star Wars, and I found her performance passable in episodes 1 and 2, but her acting in Episode 3 was terrible. The script can't have been that bad.

I'll withhold a final opinion until I've seen her in something with a really good screenplay, but there's no way she belongs on a list of the greatest actresses ever.

You know, I liked Paltrow in Iron Man. She made Pepper Potts into something more than just Downey's version of an Alfred Pennyworth.

And I hear good things about Gyllenhaal in "The Dark Knight." I am so glad that Katie Holmes didn't come back.

Natalie Portman a good actress? Granted I've only seen her in Star Wars, and I found her performance passable in episodes 1 and 2, but her acting in Episode 3 was terrible. The script can't have been that bad.

Didn't you say you watch loads of movies?

Natalie Portman a good actress? Granted I've only seen her in Star Wars, and I found her performance passable in episodes 1 and 2, but her acting in Episode 3 was terrible. The script can't have been that bad.

I'll withhold a final opinion until I've seen her in something with a really good screenplay, but there's no way she belongs on a list of the greatest actresses ever.

Withhold ANY opinion if you've only seen one character any actor's ever portrayed. You'll come off as less ignorant that way.

...

That includes calling actresses as actors.:rolleyes:


I think this is fair enough - their job is to act. Their sex is irrelevant to their talent. Isn't it?

I think this is fair enough - their job is to act. Their sex is irrelevant to their talent. Isn't it?

Plus, it saves time and letters.

Natalie Portman a good actress? Granted I've only seen her in Star Wars, and I found her performance passable in episodes 1 and 2, but her acting in Episode 3 was terrible. The script can't have been that bad.

I'll withhold a final opinion until I've seen her in something with a really good screenplay, but there's no way she belongs on a list of the greatest actresses ever.

I thought she was great in Leon.

I think this is fair enough - their job is to act. Their sex is irrelevant to their talent. Isn't it?

Yes, but the English language has a lot of gender differential language. Just the way it is.

For the same basis as the Actors post, The reasoning is i liked the movies they were in and the characters they played...


1.Carrie-Anne Moss
2.Lena Heady
3.Linda Hamilton
4.Carrie Fisher
5.Zooey Claire Deschanel
6.Kate Beckinsale
7.Kirsten Dunst
8.Jennifer Connelly
9.Sarah Chalke
10.Anne Hathaway

Those are the first to come to mind, and its probably not even accurate, cause its biased towards movies ive watched recently, lol...

Yes, but the English language has a lot of gender differential language. Just the way it is.

The English language is changing all the time - most job descriptors don't include the sex of the person who carries out the job and to me, it seems inappropriate to draw attention to a person's sex when discussing their job. It's not relevant.

Edit: a quick google shows that "actor" is common usage for persons of any sex who act.

Lots to choose from here.

Jodie Foster, Meryl Streep, Winona Ryder, Christina Ricci, Angelina Jolie, Claire Danes, Clea Duvall, Madeline Kahn, Renee Zellweger...I could go on, but I won't.

Is there a reason why some of them don't have capitals? Perhaps you're trying to suggest some are less deserving of capital letters...

I voted Cate. She's the best on the list, at least.

I think this is fair enough - their job is to act. Their sex is irrelevant to their talent. Isn't it?

If the term is actress for a female, isn't it proper to use it?

Dustin Hoffman

Dustin Hoffman

I dunno man, Jack Lemmon was pretty good.

I vote for Glenn Close.

Helena Bonham Carter and Evan Rachel Wood

when it comes to porn actressess... Paris hilton... just cause theres so much free porn clips of her scattered across the internet :D

Im going to say Ellen Page. Shes oly really had a couple of major roles and i would have never said i had a favourite actor after only seeing one of their films, but Ellen Page in Juno was brilliant. She compltely made that character and she is so young and so talented. In Juno she was so believable, i felt sorry for her character but then she made me laugh. She was very good. So my vote goes to her. I think shes fantastic.

Natalie Portman a good actress? Granted I've only seen her in Star Wars, and I found her performance passable in episodes 1 and 2, but her acting in Episode 3 was terrible. The script can't have been that bad.

I'll withhold a final opinion until I've seen her in something with a really good screenplay, but there's no way she belongs on a list of the greatest actresses ever.

Wait, you haven't seen Garden State, Closer, V For Vendetta, or Leon/The Professional? That's an incredible feat...

Best as in acting talent or who Id like to fuck the most?:p

Im going to say Ellen Page. Shes oly really had a couple of major roles and i would have never said i had a favourite actor after only seeing one of their films, but Ellen Page in Juno was brilliant. She compltely made that character and she is so young and so talented. In Juno she was so believable, i felt sorry for her character but then she made me laugh. She was very good. So my vote goes to her. I think shes fantastic.

Look for her in Hard Candy and Smart People.

I loved Terry Farrell on as Jadzia Dax on Deep Space Nine. Yeah, it only Star Trek, but she still outclassed all the other actors on that. I've never seen her on anything else, or heard of her being on anything else except Becker [I think that was it, anyway], and I've never understood that.