Now that the crisp winter air has arrived and films are trotted out for Oscar consideration, I highly recommend these spectacular performances by female actors in film.
BEST ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine. Blanchett’s turn as Jasmine, a fictional Ruth Madoff-like character, is virtuosic. She doesn’t shy away from showing us the ugly, manipulative quality to Jasmine’s histrionics, leaving the viewer in awe.
Julie Delpy in Before Midnight. In the third installment of Richard Linklater’s series that started with Before Sunrise, Delpy’s Celine stresses about her relationship with her stepson and childrearing in the face of making a career mark. A true contemporary scene of a Gen X marriage.
Amy Adams in American Hustle. Adams’ Sydney Prosser, Christian Bale’s con artist wingwoman, is all original. Adams sheds her fresh-faced, girl-next-door persona and turns in a career-defining performance.
Kathryn Hahn in Afternoon Delight. Jill Soloway’s film follows the sexual exploration of Rachel, a bored mother in Los Angeles. Hahn skillfully navigates comedic scenes of school fundraisers and heartbreaking drunken revelations. Her frazzled Rachel is a portrait of hipster motherhood.
Danai Gurira in Mother of George. Gurira’s Adenike is a pitch-perfect representation of an African woman in America caught between the reality of her infertility and the expectations of a culture that confers respect to couples able to produce big families.
Lindsay Burdge in A Teacher. Burdge gives a committed performance to the downward spiral of Diana, an emotionally unstable high school teacher who has an affair with a student.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Sally Hawkins in Blue Jasmine. Hawkins turns in a great supporting performance as Ginger, Jasmine’s poorer sister.
Octavia Spencer in Fruitvale Station.The film is based on the last day of Oscar Grant, who was shot by San Francisco BART officers. Spencer portrays Wanda, Oscar’s mother who goes from celebrating her birthday with her son to the hospital where he dies.
Scarlett Johansson in Her. Johansson’s voice artistry should not go unnoticed since her performance (as the Samantha OS) sustains the movie through long talking scenes with only one other character.
Related Posts
NYWIFT at Tribeca 2025: In Conversation with Carolyn Hepburn
Award-winning producer and NYWIFT member Carolyn Hepburn is making waves once again with the highly anticipated world premiere of Empire Skate at the 2025 Tribeca Festival. As part of the festival’s prestigious Spotlight Documentary section, the film captures the vibrant heart of New York City’s downtown skate culture — a world Hepburn remembers vividly and honors with deep authenticity. With a producing career that spans Emmy, Peabody, and Gotham award-winning projects, Hepburn continues to shape the documentary landscape with bold storytelling and emotional depth. In this exclusive NYWIFT interview, she reflects on her journey from Long Island to the global film stage, the power of community in filmmaking, and why Empire Skate feels like a personal love letter to the city that raised her.
READ MORENYWIFT at Tribeca 2025: In Conversation with Chantel Simpson
Congratulations are in order for multi-hyphenate filmmaker Chantel Simpson, whose compelling short film A Drastic Tale will make its world premiere at the 2025 Tribeca Festival. As a proud member of New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT), Simpson brings a unique perspective to the screen, having served as the director, producer, screenwriter, and editor of the film. Centered around the Drastic Auto Club — one of the oldest lowrider groups in New York City — A Drastic Tale offers a raw and moving exploration of brotherhood, identity, and the soul of car culture in the urban Northeast. In this exclusive interview, Simpson shares her journey, creative process, and hopes for how her story will resonate with audiences everywhere.
READ MORENYWIFT at Tribeca 2025: In Conversation with Veronica Reyes-How
Award-winning writer, actor, and producer Veronica Reyes-How is making a bold mark on the indie television landscape with the world premiere of her new episodic series, Mother, May I Have a Kidney?, at the 2025 Tribeca Festival. As a proud NYWIFT member and first-generation Filipino-American, Reyes-How brings heart, humor, and authenticity to her storytelling. Her latest project, which she created, wrote, and executive produced, explores themes of family estrangement, empathy, and kidney health through a unique dramedy lens. With a rich background that spans from tech consulting to national tours, hit TV appearances, and more, Veronica continues to champion diverse voices and underrepresented narratives in media.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Anna Koukouli Born
Welcome to our new NYWIFT member, Anna Koukouli Born! Anna Koukouli Born is a bicoastal writer-director splitting her time between NY and LA. She explores women's stories, dysfunctional families, unbearable workplaces filled with Succession-like egos, social inequality, and climate-caused disasters set in the near future. Drawing from her Greek history and heritage, Anna loves allegorical cautionary tales about strong, tragic characters trying to overcome adversity. She’s also obsessed with women's rights and gender parity. Her humor is darker than yours. She bets on it. Anna studied Story Analysis and TV Development at UCLA Extension and holds a BA (Hons) Marketing and an MBA from the UK Universities of Lincoln and Liverpool, respectively. Anna talks about her journey into the film industry, her experiences working on various films, and how she overcomes challenges within these fields!
READ MORE