Following on from last week, it’s time to run through my 10 favourite actresses. As was the case with my top directors, I’m only looking at performances from the past 10 years. This way my list is current.

 

My list is fairly similar to that of last year. The only person getting the chop is Scarlett Johansson. Replacing her is Jennifer Connolly. Laura Linney retains the top spot but it was a close choice between Linney, Blanchett and Winslet.

 

Here we go…

 

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

Best Role: Garden State (2004)

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

 

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

Best Role: Moulin Rouge! (2001)

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

 

8. Reese Witherspoon (last year’s rank: 6)

Best Role: Walk The Line (2005)

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

 

7. Jennifer Connolly (not ranked last year)

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. Toni Collette (last year’s rank: 8)

Best Role: In Her Shoes (2005)

Other Great Performances: Evening (2007), Like Minds (2006), Little Miss Sunshine (2006), Japanese Story (2003), About A Boy (2002), Changing Lanes (2002), The Sixth Sense (1999)

 

5. Meryl Streep (last year’s rank: 5)

Best Role: Adaptation (2002)

Other Great Performances: 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. Julianne Moore (last year’s rank: 4)

Best Role: Boogie Nights (1997)

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

 

3. Kate Winslet (last year’s rank: 7)

Best Role: Titanic (1997)

Other Great Performances: Little Children (2006), The Holiday (2006), Finding Neverland (2004), Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004), Iris (2001), Quills (2000)

 

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

Best Role: Elizabeth (1999)

Other Great Performances: 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)

 

1. Laura Linney (last year’s rank: 1)

Best Role: You Can Count On Me (2000)

Other Great Performances: 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)