vulcan_on_earth OP t1_j1bm1i2 wrote on December 23, 2022 at 2:29 AM

Reply to comment by mildkinda in Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness … which actor / actress would you say has excelled in portraying all these moods. by vulcan_on_earth

Thanks. Not familiar with some of these names. Great if you can please cite the movies that showcase each actors’ diverse talent. I know Bette Davis, but she was way before my time. Did she act in a variety of roles?I know Angela Bisset from MSW did she have a diverse set of roles in movies?

mildkinda t1_j1bxbtt wrote on December 23, 2022 at 4:00 AM

OP didnt mention we had to include examples of movies.

However here's a few,

Bette Davis best roles - Whatever Happened to Baby Jane - 1962, where she plays a monstrous ex child star. Now Voyager - 1942, in which Davis is victimised by an overbearing mother .

Beatrice Dalle - her standout role is as a passionate/crazed muse who believes her lover is destined for greatness in Betty Blue - 1986.

Angela Basset gives it her all in What's Love Got to Do with It - 1993 she deserves some truly massive roles but is usually more of a supporting character in subsequent cinematic outings. She excels in AHS, though.

Brenda Blethyn is superb in Secrets & Lies - 1996, one of Mike Leigh's most acclaimed films, and she holds her own up against Jane Horrocks in Little Voice - 1998.

Fiona Shaw is from the theatre background but no matter what medium she's in, she always invests in her roles. 1989s My Left Foot is a great example of her more restrained roles.

Lesley Manville - I first noticed her as the long suffering wife of Gary Oldman's Bexy in The Firm -1989. More recently, Phanton Thread - 2017, she's in the same league as Helen Mirren or Judy Dench. Classy, invested and utterly believable in numerous roles.

As for actors being from before your time, that should never impact on their greatness or indeed, the films that came before your or I did.

If people ditched films/actors simply because of the era/language/black and white presentation, we'd all be poorer off and missing out on a huge important chunk of cinema.