Mare Winninghamis an American Actress who has made an impressive career for herself through mostly TV performances. Winningham won her first Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for her performance inAmber Wavesback in 1980. Ever since, Winningham has managed to gain herself prominent roles on television, including a role in the TV movieSharing the Secretand the HBO seriesMildred Pierce.
While Winningham’s career has spanned the past four decades, she is showing no signs of slowing down, starring in four seasons of theAmerican Horror Storyseries:Coven, Cult, Freak Show, andHotel. Thanks to her impressive filmography, Winningham has a plethora of content to watch and enjoy, but some of her performances stand out more than others. These are Mare Winningham’s best performances, ranked.
9The Magic of Ordinary Days
Set during World War II,The Magic of Ordinary Daysrevolves around the life of Livvy Dunne, an unwed mother whose father marries her off to a farmer named Ray Singleton, who has, in turn, promised to raise the child as his own. Winningham plays the role of Martha, Ray’s sister and mother of three children, the only blood-related family that Ray has left. Considering that the film was a TV movie, released on CBS,The Magic of Ordinary Dayshas been subject to a great deal of acclaim for the performances from the cast as well as the quality of the screenplay. In 2009, there was talk of a sequel, however, it’s unlikely that this will ever come to fruition.
8Missing Children: A Mother’s Story
Based on the novel of the same name,Missing Children: A Mother’s Storytells the story of young mother Kate Bradshaw, abandoned by her abusive husband, who places her three children in a child-care center with the hopes of finding a new home for her and her children. The mother soon discovers that her children have been adopted without her knowledge. Determined to get her children back, Kate seeks legal counsel to help her take down the adoption racket and save other children from suffering the same fate.Missing Children: A Mother’s Storywas nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards, and is seen as an underrated gem in which Winningham shows off her talents as an actress.
7Dark Waters
Starring alongside big names like Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, and Tim Robbins, Winningham plays the role of Darlene Kiger inDark Waters. Based on theNew York Times Magazinearticle “The Lawyer Who Became DuPont’s Worst Nightmare”,Dark Watersfollows the story of determined attorney Robert Bilott, who uncovers a secret of a massive corporation that may be the cause of a number of unexplained deaths. Despite its limited theatrical release,Dark Waterswas praised for its brave approach to exposing DuPont, earning an Environmental Media Award for Best Feature Film and was nominated for the Cinema for Peace Award for Justice International Green Film Award.
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6Off the Minnesota Strip
In one of her earliest roles, Winningham plays the role of teenage runaway Micki inOff the Minnesota Strip, who returns to her native home of Minnesota after working the Manhattan streets as a sex worker. While Micki attempts to return to her old life in Minnesota, her experiences in New York have left her changed forever, creating a rift between her and her parents.Off the Minnesota Stripshowcases Winningham’s abilities as a young actress as she does her best to be a normal teenager like all the other girls her age, despite everything that she’s been through. This TV movie is a highly underrated gem, earning a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Limited Series or a Special.
5Philomena
Based on the bookThe Lost Child of Philomena Lee,Philomenais based on the true story of Philomena Lee’s 50-year search for her son, who was taken from her and adopted out when she was forced to live in a convent.Philomenastars Judi Dench as the title character and Steve Coogan as the journalist Martin Sixsmith who dedicates his time to helping her on her search. Winningham plays Mary, a woman who was adopted at the same time as Philomena’s son and into the same family. The film was subject to critical acclaim, being nominated for four Academy Awards, four BAFTA Awards, and three Golden Globes.
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4Sharing the Secret
In one of Winningham’s most underrated roles, she plays the part of Dr. Nina Moss, child psychologist and mother to Beth (Alison Lohman) who is struggling with bulimia.Sharing the Secrettells Beth’s story as she struggles with her eating disorder, which is only driven by her mother’s lack of attention and her father’s focus on his new family. The film originally aired on CBS and has been considered one of the best films about eating disorders that shows the realities of eating disorders without glamorizing it. In 2001, the film received a Peabody Award for its portrayal of a “teenager in crisis.”
3St. Elmo’s Fire
St. Elmo’s Firetells the story of seven young adults and their individual struggles with identity and relationships after they’ve graduated from college. The film stars many big names of the decade, including Andrew McCarthy, Judd Nelson, Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, Ally Sheedy, Emilio Estevez, and Winningham. Winningham stars as Wendy Beamish, a social worker who strives for her own independence while remaining loyal to her feelings for Billy. This coming-of-age, “brat pack” film is a must-watch for any college studen,t and while the film was criticized for its lack of character likability, the film makes up for many of its faults by making important points about the realities of adulthood.
Dopesickis 2021 drama miniseries that revolves around the birth of America’s opioid crisis and how individuals and families are affected by it. Based on the non-fiction bookDopesick: Dealers, Doctors and the Drug Company That Addicted America, the Hulu series shines a whole new light on opioid addiction, with particular attention paid to the Purdue pharmaceutical company and how openly they dispersed opiates, knowing it was addictive. Winningham plays the role of Diane Mallum, mother of addict Betsy Mallum. Praised for her performance, Winningham has earned herself a pendingEmmynomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.
1Amber Waves
Topping our list isAmber Waves. This TV movie revolves around two men, a drifter/model named Laurence stranded in Kansas and wheat harvester Bud who employs him. Bud attempts suicide after his cancer diagnosis, but ends up becoming a mentor and friend to Laurence. Winningham plays the role of Marlene, Bud’s daughter, and earned her first Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series of a Special. Although this film has been somewhat lost to time, its story is one worth watching, especially if you’d like to see Kurt Russell in his hay-day.
