Last week, I began my three-part series where I name my favourite directors, actors and actresses. This week, it’s time to focus on the actresses. Think about your own favourites and see if I have included them in my list.

 

Keep in mind that I’ve only considered performances from the last 10 years in evaluating the quality of these talented women. Some of them have made a lot of great movies in that time (e.g. Meryl Streep).

 

There’s one new inclusion in this year’s list. Tilda Swinton makes the cut for the first time following her great performances in Michael Clayton and Burn After Reading. I still remember her first great role – The Deep End in 2001. She comes in at the expense of Toni Collette who has been off the boil in the last few years.

 

I know Nicole Kidman often gets a bad rap because of her box-office bombs in recent years but she’s still a great actress and deserves to make this list.

 

I also have a new number 1 this year. Laura Linney has held the slot for the last few years but this year I’m going with Cate Blanchett. She can do no wrong and she’s awesome in pretty much every movie she makes. One day, she may eclipse the record 14 Oscar nominations chalked up by Meryl Streep.

 

Here then is the list…

 

10. Nicole Kidman (last year’s rank: 9)

Best Role: Moulin Rouge! (2001)

Other Great Performances: Margot At The Wedding (2007), Birth (2004), Cold Mountain (2003), Dogville (2003), The Hours (2002), The Others (2001), Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

 

9. Natalie Portman (last year’s rank: 10)

Best Role: Garden State (2004)

Other Great Performances: The Other Boleyn Girl (2008), V For Vendetta (2005), Closer (2004), Cold Mountain (2003)

 

8. Reese Witherspoon (last year’s rank: 8)

Best Role: Walk The Line (2005)

Other Great Performances: Rendition (2007), Vanity Fair (2004), The Importance Of Being Earnest (2002), American Psycho (2000), Election (1999)

 

7. Jennifer Connolly (last year’s rank: 7)

Best Role: Requiem For A Dream (2000)

Other Great Performances: Blood Diamond (2006), Little Children (2006), House Of Sand & Fog (2003), A Beautiful Mind (2001), Pollock (2000)

 

6. Julianne Moore (last year’s rank: 4)

Best Role: Magnolia (1999)

Other Great Performances: Children Of Men (2006), Far From Heaven (2002), The Hours (2002), Hannibal (2002), The End Of The Affair (1999)

 

5. Meryl Streep (last year’s rank: 5)

Best Role: Adaptation (2002)

Other Great Performances: Mamma Mia! (2008), The Devil Wears Prada (2006), A Prairie Home Companion (2006), Lemony Snicket’s A Series Of Unfortunate Events (2004), The Manchurian Candidate (2004), The Hours (2002), Music Of The Heart (1999)

 

4. Tilda Swinton (not ranked last year)

Best Role: Michael Clayton (2007)

Other Great Performances: Burn After Reading (2008), The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe (2005), Broken Flowers (2005), Adaptation (2002), The Deep End (2001), The Beach (2000)

 

3. Laura Linney (last year’s rank: 1)

Best Role: You Can Count On Me (2000)

Other Great Performances: The Savages (2007), Breach (2007), Jindabyne (2006), The Squid And The Whale (2005), Kinsey (2004), P.S. (2004), Mystic River (2003), The Mothman Prophecies (2002), The House Of Mirth (2000)

 

2. Kate Winslet (last year’s rank: 3)

Best Role: Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004)

Other Great Performances: Little Children (2006), The Holiday (2006), Finding Neverland (2004), Iris (2001), Quills (2000)

 

1. Cate Blanchett (last year’s rank: 2)

Best Role: Elizabeth (1999)

Other Great Performances: I’m Not There (2007), Babel (2006), Notes On A Scandal (2006), The Aviator (2004), The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004), Veronica Guerin (2003), The Gift (2000), The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), Pushing Tin (1999)

 

See you next week for a look at my favourite actors.