This list isn’t about who’s “the best on paper,” who has the most awards, or who dominates awards-season conversations every year. This is about connection. These are actresses who consistently pull me into a movie, elevate the material they’re given, and leave an impression that sticks long after the credits roll.
Some are genre powerhouses. Some are dramatic heavyweights. Some are still early in their careers. All of them are performers I’ll show up for every single time.
10. Madeleine McGraw
Notable Films:
The Black Phone (2021), Black Phone 2 (2025)
This spot is based purely on impact — and Madeleine McGraw made one hell of an impact.
With The Black Phone and Black Phone 2, McGraw delivered performances that felt far beyond her age. She wasn’t just convincing — she was commanding. Fearless, emotionally grounded, and often the most compelling presence in scenes filled with older actors, she brought real weight to material that could’ve easily leaned generic.
There’s a sharpness to her performances that feels instinctual rather than taught, and that’s exciting. She’s still a newcomer, sure — but she’s already made a massive impression, and I’m genuinely curious to see where her career goes next.
9. Jamie Lee Curtis
Notable Films:
Halloween (1978), True Lies (1994), A Fish Called Wanda (1988), Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
Jamie Lee Curtis is genre royalty — but what keeps her fascinating is that she’s never stayed in just one lane.
She can be warm, hilarious, or quietly devastating, sometimes all within the same film. Whether she’s anchoring a slasher, stealing scenes in a comedy, or going completely unhinged, she brings confidence and self-awareness to every role.
She understands tone better than most actors ever will, and that’s why her career has lasted decades without feeling tired or repetitive.
8. Kathy Bates
Notable Films:
Misery (1990), Dolores Claiborne (1995), Titanic (1997), About Schmidt (2002)
Kathy Bates has one of the most intimidating screen presences in film history — and she achieves it without raising her voice or leaning into theatrics.
Her performances feel lived-in, grounded, and dangerous in a way that’s hard to replicate. She can be nurturing, cruel, funny, or horrifying — sometimes all at once — and it always feels honest.
There’s a rawness to her work that makes even extreme material believable. When Kathy Bates is on screen, you lean in.
7. Frances McDormand
Notable Films:
Fargo (1996), Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017), Nomadland (2020), Almost Famous (2000)
Frances McDormand is a master of understatement.
She doesn’t beg for attention — she earns it simply by existing in a role. Her characters feel real in a way that’s sometimes almost uncomfortable, like you’re watching a person rather than a performance.
Whether she’s playing quiet resilience or blunt authority, she brings a level of naturalism that makes everything around her feel more authentic. Nothing feels performative. It just feels true.
6. Florence Pugh
Notable Films:
Midsommar (2019), Little Women (2019), Fighting with My Family (2019), Don’t Worry Darling (2022)
Florence Pugh feels like a once-in-a-generation talent who’s still just getting started.
She’s fearless in her choices and completely unafraid to make characters messy, abrasive, or emotionally raw. Whether she’s carrying a horror film, anchoring a character-driven drama, or stepping into blockbuster territory, she never feels like she’s “acting.”
There’s an intensity to her performances that grabs you immediately — and once she has your attention, she doesn’t let go.
5. Viola Davis
Notable Films:
Fences (2016), The Woman King (2022), Prisoners (2013), Doubt (2008)
Viola Davis brings gravity to everything she touches.
Even in smaller roles, she feels monumental. Her emotional range is staggering — rage, vulnerability, exhaustion, strength — all delivered with precision and absolute honesty.
What makes Davis so powerful is that she never chases likability. She tells the truth of the character, even when that truth is uncomfortable. That commitment makes her performances hit like a gut punch.
4. Toni Collette
Notable Films:
Hereditary (2018), The Sixth Sense (1999), Little Miss Sunshine (2006), About a Boy (2002)
Toni Collette might be the most fearless actress working today.
She commits fully — emotionally, physically, psychologically — and never pulls back, even when the material gets dark or deeply uncomfortable. Her work in horror alone puts her in a league of her own, but her versatility across drama and comedy proves she’s impossible to box in.
When Collette goes all in, it’s unforgettable. There’s no safety net. She jumps. The Academy needs to buckle up and give this woman an Oscar already.
3. Samara Weaving
Notable Films:
Ready or Not (2019), The Babysitter (2017), Guns Akimbo (2019), Mayhem (2017)
Samara Weaving brings energy. Not just charisma — energy!
She has a natural screen presence that makes genre films feel alive, and she understands tone better than most. Whether she’s playing a final girl, an unhinged wildcard, or something in between, she’s magnetic. She brings a new meaning to Scream Queen with that powerhouse scream.
She knows exactly how far to push a performance without breaking immersion, and she’s become one of the most reliable genre leads working today.
2. Vera Farmiga
Notable Films:
The Conjuring (2013), Up in the Air (2009), Orphan (2009), Source Code (2011)
Vera Farmiga has an emotional depth that sneaks up on you.
She excels at playing characters who feel conflicted, layered, and deeply human. Whether she’s leading a horror franchise or anchoring a grounded drama, she brings sincerity and intelligence to every role.
There’s a quiet power to her performances. She doesn’t demand attention — but once she has it, she holds onto it effortlessly.
1. Rachel McAdams
Notable Films:
Spotlight (2015), Mean Girls (2004), The Notebook (2004), Doctor Strange (2016)
Rachel McAdams is endlessly watchable.
She moves between romance, comedy, drama, and genre films with total ease, never feeling out of place. What sets her apart is how natural she feels — nothing forced, nothing overly polished.
She brings heart and humor in equal measure, elevating even familiar material through sheer presence. No matter the role, she feels real — and that’s why she sits at the top of this list.
Final Thoughts
This list reflects the actresses who consistently move me — whether through raw emotion, genre mastery, quiet realism, or undeniable screen presence. Some are legends. Some are rising stars. Some fall somewhere in between.
All of them are performers who remind me why I love movies in the first place.
Drop your favorite actors below and let’s actually talk movies.
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