Every year around this time we all start putting together our list of favorite performances. This year it might be Saoirse Ronan in Brooklyn, Charlize Theron in Mad Max: Fury Road, or Cate Blanchett in Carol. But it's important to remember that there are many other actresses who did equally great work, and maybe they aren't getting recognized because the film came out too early, or their distributor doesn't have the money for an awards campaign.
This year was perhaps the toughest time I've had deciding on 15 actresses who impressed me, not because there were too few but because there were too many. As usual, this list is subjective; based on my perception of the awards season. So I don't have Blythe Danner on my list for I'll See You In My Dreams, in which she's tremendous, because she's actually been in the awards discussion lately. And I had to leave off a bunch that are in need of some shine, such as Mary Elizabeth Winstead in Alex of Venice or Tessa Thompson for Creed. It's not fair! Why can't it be the 50 Actresses instead of 15? Oh yeah, because that's just more work for me. And don't send me emails saying "Hey this person doesn't really qualify because blah blah blah 2014 blah blah...". If the movie was released theatrically this year and I saw it, she qualifies.
Anyway, here's my list, and follow all of our "Best of 2015" coverage here!
Sarah Snook-Predestination
Margot Robbie-Z for Zachariah
Cynthia Nixon- James White
Salma Hayek-Everly
Amy Morton- Bluebird
Carey Mulligan-Far from the Madding Crowd
Naomi Watts-While We're Young
Greta Gerwig-Mistress America
Alicia Vikander-Testament of Youth
Alba Rohrwacher- Hungry Hearts
Amy Schumer-Trainwreck
Elisabeth Moss-Queen of Earth
Lily Tomlin-Grandma
Teyonah Parris-Chi-Raq
Rebecca Ferguson- Mission: Impossible-Rogue Nation
