Known for her riveting and emotionally driven portrayals in countless independent films, the incredibly giftedMichelle Williamshas been a powerhouse performer ever since achieving widespread recognition on the television teen dramaDawson’s Creek.The actress is famous for her diverse and compelling acting resume, having appeared in myriad critically acclaimed pictures and dynamite roles. Williams experienced her big-screen breakthrough in the iconic romantic dramaBrokeback Mountainin 2005 (with her then-partner Heath Ledger), earning an Academy Award nomination for her work in the film. From that point on, the star took cinema by storm, starring in both big-budget and smaller scale pictures.
Williams has teamed up with some of Hollywood’s finest directors over the course of her impressive career, including Martin Scorsese forShutter Island,Sam Raimi inOz the Great and Powerful,and Ridley Scott for theAll the Money in the World, along with her four masterful collaborations with Kelly Reichardt. The talented performer has been the recipient of two Golden Globe Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award, as well as receiving four Academy Award nominations, including one for brilliantly playingMarilyn Monroe. Williams will star inthe anticipated coming-of-age dramaThe Fabelmans,which is directed by the great Steven Spielberg and is loosely based on his childhood. These are the best Michelle Williams movies, ranked.
8Oz the Great and Powerful
Sam Raimi’s epic 2013 fantasy adventureOz the Great and Powerfulis based on L. Frank Baum’sOznovels and tells the story of Oscar Diggs, a small-time magician who is swept away to the Land of Oz and finds himself at the center of a power struggle between three very different witches. The picture is a spiritual prequel to the beloved classicThe Wizard of Ozand features an ensemble cast consisting of James Franco, Michelle Williams, Mila Kunis and Rachel Weisz. Williams portrays Glinda the Good Witch, who rules and protects a peaceful kingdom in Oz and captures the attention of Diggs (Franco). Raimi originally had Hilary Swank and Williams in mind for the role of Evanora, but after Weisz’s two-hour conversation with the director he felt that Williams was instead perfect for Glinda.Oz the Great and Powerfulwas a massive hit with moviegoers, grossing nearly $500 million andearning acclaimfor its stunning visuals and memorable performances.
7All the Money in the World
Esteemed director Ridley Scott’s 2017 crime thrillerAll the Money in the Worlddepicts the events surrounding the 1973 kidnaping case of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III and the desperate attempts of his steadfast mother to convince his billionaire grandfather to pay the ransom. Michelle Williams portrays John’s mother Gail Harris in an emotionally riveting performance, and joins Mark Wahlberg and Christopher Plummer for the picture. The film was initially overshadowed by sexual misconduct allegations made against original star Kevin Spacey, who was first cast as J. Paul Getty before being replaced by Plummer. Williams was excited to appear in the thriller and considered it a major opportunity, as she had not headlined a high-profile, mainstream film before.All the Money in the Worldgarnered critical acclaim,with Vulture praising the actress for her“marvelous performance” and gift of conveying her character’s grief “through the tension in her body and intensity of her voice.” For her riveting portrayal, Williams received her fifth Golden Globe nomination.
6The Greatest Showman
For her role as Charity Barnum in thelively 2017 musical dramaThe Greatest Showman,Michelle Williams was able to show off both her acting talents and vocal skills. Inspired by the story of P.T. Barnum’s creation of Barnum’s American Museum, the film stars Hugh Jackman as the famed showman as well as Zac Efron, Zendaya and Rebecca Ferguson. Williams performed two songs for the vibrant musical’s soundtrack, and likened her character’sjoyful disposition to classic Hollywood icon Grace Kelly.The Greatest Showmanwent on to become the third highest-grossing musical of all time, and features dazzling performances, gorgeous visuals and exciting numbers by its many gifted leads.The Huffington Post ravedabout the picture, writing, “You will be overwhelmed by the music and magic that explode on the screen. The film has a message that should resonate with today’s world concerning acceptance and courage.”
5Shutter Island
The highly-revered Martin Scorsese’s 2010 neo-noir psychological thrillerShutter Islandis based on the Dennis Lehane novel and follows Deputy U.S. Marshal Edward “Teddy” Daniels as he investigates a psychiatric facility on Shutter Island after a patient goes missing. Starring some of cinema’s finest likeLeonardo DiCaprio, Michelle Williams, Mark Ruffalo and Ben Kinglsey, the chilling mystery is a complex story that beautifully pays homage to the renowned Alfred Hitchcock’s films. Williams portrays depressed housewife Dolores Chanal, a patient at the facility who drowned her three children. To prepare for the troubled and dark role, the actress read case studies on infanticide and had to adjust to the slower pace of filming the thriller. The gripping final act is full of twists and turns that leave audiences on the edge of their seats.Shutter Islanddebuted at the 60th Annual Berlin International Film Festival to both critical and commercial acclaim.
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4My Week with Marilyn
Michelle Williams took on the magnificent task of portraying Hollywood legend and pop culture icon Marilyn Monroe in the 2011 dramaMy Week with Marilyn.Based on the personal accounts and two books by Colin Clark, the film centers on the making of the 1957 pictureThe Prince and the Showgirl,which starred Monroe and Laurence Olivier. Featuring an impressive cast of gifted performers like Kenneth Branagh, Eddie Redmayne and Dominic Cooper, the drama depicts a week of shooting in which Monroe is escorted around London by Clark (Redmayne) and showcases the blonde bombshell’s intense interactions with Olivier. Director Simon Curtis said Williams was the only actress he had sought for the role.To prepare for the monumental part, Williams spent six months reading biographies, letters, diaries, poems and notes about and from Monroe, and studied her posture, gait and mannerisms. The star’sbiographical performanceearned rave reviews, withThe New Yorkerproclaiming,“InMy Week with Marilyn,Williams makes the star come alive. She has Monroe’s walk, the easy, swiveling neck, the face that responds to everything like a flower swaying in the breeze.” For her portrayal, Williams won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress.
3Blue Valentine
Derek Cianfrance’s 2010 romantic dramaBlue Valentineis a poignant depiction of a married couple, charting their evolution between their initial courtship and ultimately the dissolution of their marriage in later years. Starring Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling, the heartbreaking film focuses on the tribulations faced by a disillusioned couple, and Cianfrance even had theactors briefly live together on a stipend that matched their characters’ income. The exercise led to conflict between the two, which effectively helped portray the couple’s deteriorating marriage during filming. During production, Williams and Gosling were encouraged to improvise their dialogue and the pair practiced method acting in the process.Blue Valentinepremiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival to critical acclaim, with Williams and Gosling garnering widespread praise for their emotionally raw portrayals. Renowned journalist andcritic A.O. Scott foundWilliams to be “heartbreakingly precise in every scene” and applauded the duo for being “exemplars of New Method sincerity, able to fully and achingly present every moment on screen together.”
Related:These Are the Most Honest and Realistic Movies About Marriage
2Brokeback Mountain
Thegroundbreaking2005 Neo-Western romantic dramaBrokeback Mountainis adapted by the Annie Proulx short story and depicts the intense and complex emotional and sexual relationship between American cowboys Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist over the course of two decades. Famously starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal as the tragic star-crossed lovers, the film includes the additional talent of Anne Hathaway and Michelle Williams. The moving drama features Williams as Del Mar’s wife Alma, who nabbed the role after impressing the casting director with her performance inThe Station Agentas well as her innate vulnerability. Despite her somewhat limited screen time, the star was deemed a standout among the cast and received praise for her captivating portrayal.Slantmagazine lauded Williams for“fascinatingly spiking her unspoken resentment for her sham of a marriage with a hint of compassion for Ennis’s secret suffering.”Brokeback Mountainwon three Academy Awards and the actress received a Best Supporting Actress nomination.
1Manchester by the Sea
In the 2016 dramaManchester by the Sea,director Kenneth Lonergan explores the unrelenting depths of grief, following a depressed man who is entrusted with the care of his teenage nephew after the death of his brother. Casey Affleck delivers a painstaking performance as the grief-stricken loner Lee Chandler, who separates from his wife Randi (Michelle Williams) following the tragic death of their children. The actress was eager to work with Lonergan, whom she admired, andvisited Manchester to interview local mothers about their livesin addition to working with a dialect coach to capture a Massachusetts accent. Even with the film’s intense bleakness, Williams said she connected with her character’s desire to reclaim her life in the face of tragedy (perhaps reflecting her own relationship to partner Heath Ledger’s death).Manchester by the Seawasmet with universal acclaim, with specific praise going towards the drama’s screenplay, direction and outstanding performances by its leads. The scene between Lee and Randi finally speaking again years after their divorce was deemed the highlight of the film, withcritic Justin Chang sayingof Williams’ delivery, “if this actress were put on earth to do only one thing, it would be this scene.”
