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Best Female Performances of 2017

Actresses had such a fantastic year in 2017 and I would even go so far to say that it’s the best year for actresses in this century, if not of all time. They definitely trumped the men for me as this selection of awesome performances and unforgettable characters is going to prove so here we are.

5. Allison Janney – I, Tonya

I, Tonya is superbly acted across the board and Allison Janney in a supporting role is one of the strongest parts of this all around phenomenal film. She plays such a terrible, horrible mother, but the strength of her performance lies in subtle execution as she easily could have been portrayed as over-the-top and cartoony, but ended up feeling real thanks to her great work.

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4. Daniela Vega – A Fantastic Woman

A Fantastic Woman is the best foreign film of 2017 due in no small part to the excellent performance from this fantastic Chilean actress. She plays the protagonist so realistically and not only delivers in emotion, but also in subtlety and in portraying the obvious strength inside this fantastic woman, no pun intended. She would have been Oscar nominated if she was American, that’s for sure…

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3. Margot Robbie – I, Tonya

Margot Robbie surprised everyone, including me, with her powerhouse performance in this gem of a film. Yes, she needed to appear more often in the third act, but whenever she was on screen, she was luminous and amazing in the role. She’s a true sign of a talented, beautiful actress and even a future star. Her emotional monologue in the end is simply awe-inspiring.

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2. Jessica Chastain – Molly’s Game

Jessica Chastain is one of the best actresses working today and in Molly’s Game she gave yet another powerful performance which just might be her best work yet and that honestly says a lot. Molly is a fascinating woman and she plays her with a lot of confidence, sex appeal and nuance. The fact that she was ignored by the Academy is simply unforgivable.

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1. Frances McDormand – Three Billboards

Three Billboards is the best film overall of 2017 and the acting is one of its strongest suits as Sam Rockwell and Woody Harrelson are both terrific. Sam Rockwell gave the best male performance of the year and Frances McDormand delivered the best female performance. She is subtle, nuanced and consistently grounded in reality and interesting. She brought both the complexities and strong emotion in this deeply troubled, yet relatable woman.

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Honorable Mentions:

Aubrey Plaza – Ingrid Goes West – This underrated gem of a film is beautifully brought to life by Aubrey Plaza’s powerhouse, career-defining central role. Her character is magnificent and she proved that she has some real talent here.

Sally Hawkins – The Shape of Water – Sally Hawkins isn’t as phenomenal in my opinion as most would say, but she definitely brought a lot of emotion and nuance into her essentially silent role from The Shape of Water.

Dafne Keen – Logan – Dafne Keen’s underrated performance in Logan is pretty fantastic for such a young child. Her Laura is wonderful and she is charming and believable in the role.

Brooklynn Prince – The Florida Project – Another child and an even younger one, Brooklynn Prince’s work in The Florida Project is simply outstanding. Her character is all the more believable and real thanks to her raw acting talent.