Top 30 Underrated Actresses
November 3rd 2009 01:07
Here's a list of my Top 30 Underrated Actresses. It was difficult to put these in order, as underrated has a different meaning for some of these girls. It can mean under-appreciated, under-used, you name it.
Top 30 Underrated Actresses
30. Linda Fiorentino
Seen her in: After Hours, Queens Logic, The Last Seduction, Jade, Men in Black
Why she's underrated: Critical acclaim for The Last Seduction which should have propelled her into meaty roles and continued indie or even mainstream success, but unfortunately didn't. Terribly underused talent.
29. Milla Jovovich
Seen her in: Dazed and Confused, The Fifth Element, The Messenger, Zoolander
Why she's Underrated: Amazing in The Messenger, needs to showcase more acting skills rather than bad-ass hot chick persona. I want to see more of the smaller things she's done, although there aren't many. Would love for her to stick to small indie films that prove she can act and be beautiful.
28. Ileanna Douglas
Seen her in: Hello Again, Goodfellas, Cape Fear, Alive, Household Saints, Grief, Quiz Show, Search and Destroy, To Die For, Grace of My Heart, Picture Perfect, "Action", Ghost World, The Adventures of Pluto Nash, two eps of "Six Feet Under"
Why she's underrated: Has gained indie success and was amazing in "Action". Should be more of a household name and should be given a TV vehicle of her own. Would be perfect in a Parks and Recreations type thing.
27. Martha Plimpton
Seen her in: The Goonies, The Mosquito Coast, Running on Empty, Parenthood, Mrs Parker and the Vicious Circle, I Shot Andy Warhold, Beautiful Girls, Music from Another Room, Pecker, 200 Cigarettes
Why she's underrated: One of the most talented actresses, should get more critical and public recogintion. Is gaining great broadway acclaim though, which is nice.
26. Christina Ricci
Seen her in: Mermaids, Addams Family, Addams Family Values, Casper, Now and Then, Gold Diggers: Secret of Bear Mountain, The Ice Storm, The Opposite of Sex, Buffalo '66, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Small Soldiers (voice), Pecker, 200 Cigarettes, Sleepy Hollow, The Man Who Cried, All Over the Guy, Prozac Nation, Pumpkin, 7 episodes of "Ally McBeal", Anything Else, Monster, 2 episodes of "Grey's Anatomy", Black Snake Moan
Why she's underrated: Feel like, although she's received some awards, isn't taken as seriously as she should be. She's a great actress
25. Faruiza Balk
Seen her in: Gas Food Lodging, Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead, The Craft, The Maker, American History X, Almost Famous, Family Guy (voice)
Why she's underrated: Great actress, should be more of a household name
24. Robin Tunney
Seen her in: Encino Man, Empire Records, The Craft, Julian Po, August
Why she's underrated: I haven't seen her in much, but always liked her. She should get meater roles and more mainstream work or at least more recognition for what she does do
23. Clea DuVall
Seen her in: one episode of "Buffy", Can't Hardly Wait, The Faculty, The Astronut's Wife, But I'm a Cheerleader, Girl Interrupted, The Slaughter Rule, 21 Grams, "Carnivale", Zodiac, "Heroes", one episode of "Lie to Me"
Why she's underrated: Again, incredibly talented, should be getting some star vehicles to showcase that. Needs a lead role, rather than in constant support
22. Robin Wright Penn
Seen her in: The Princess Bride, Denial, State of Grace, Toys, Forrest Gump, The Crossing Guard, She's So Lovely, Unbreakable, A Home at the End of the World
Why she's underrated: She gets more mainstream films than some other people on here, but she's rarely in a lead role and the few times she is, the role is unfortunately mediocre. deserves more recognition, could be one of the lead actresses in hollywood if given the right parts
21. Elizabeth Mitchell
Seen her in: one episode of "The Sentinel", Gia, "ER", The Santa Clause 2, "Lost"
Why she's underrated: Because she's amazing and everyone everwhere should know about her. that's that.
20. Linda Cardellini
Seen her in: "Freaks and Geeks", Brokeback Mountain, "ER"
Why she's underrated: Is so much more than just a TV actress. Deserves more acclaim, deserves some leading film roles
19. Lara Flynn Boyle
Seen her in: "Twin Peaks", Mobsters, Where the Day Takes You, Wayne's World, Red Rock West, The Temp, Threesome, Baby's Day Out, Afterglow, The Road to Wellville, Happiness, 2 episodes of "Ally McBeal", Men in Black 2, "The Practice"
Why's she underrated: Impressive in Where the Day Takes You and The Practice, then written off as "weird" in the eyes of hollywood after the whole Nicholson thing, etc. Talented, deserves more respect and good roles
18. Sarah Polley
Seen her in: The Big Town, "Ramona", The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Road to Avonlea, The Sweet Hereafter, The Hanging Garden, Last Night, ExistenZ, Go, My Life Without Me, Dawn of the Dead
why she's underrated: should get more starring roles; she knows how to carry a film
17. Michelle Forbes
Seen her in: Kalifornia, "Star Trek The Next Generation", Swimming with Sharks, one episode of "Seinfeld", "Homicide", Homicide: The Movie, one episode of "Fastlane", "24", Dandelion", "Battlestar Galactica", Battlestar Galactica: Razor, one episode of "Lost"
why she's underrated: such a great actress, is rather under-used. Always steals whatever scene she is in. She's hypnotic
16. Ione Skye
Seen her in: A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon, Say Anything.., Gas Food Lodging, Wayne's World, Guncrazy, Four Rooms, Dream for an Insomniac, But I'm a Cheerleader, one episode of "Arrested Development", Zodiac
why she's underrated: Extremely talented, should at least be getting lead roles in depth-filled independent films, like a "Frozen River" type role.
15. Peta Wilson
Seen her in: "La Femme Nikita", Superman Returns
why she's underrated: amazing in "La Femme Nikita".. why she hasn't been given the chance to transend to mainstream cinema is beyond me. I mean, she's fucking gorgeous too. AND she can act, unlike a certain someone who's last name rhymes with Sox.
14. Saffron Burrows
Seen her in: In the Name of the Father, Circle of Friends, Hotel de Love, The Matchmaker, The Loss of Sexual Innocence, Timecode, Enigma, Frida, Peter Pan (voice)
why she's underrated: beautiful, talented, should be as popular and famous and sought after as any A-lister working today
13. Sherilyn Fenn
Seen her in: The Wild Life, Just One of the Guys, Wild at Heart, "Twin Peaks", Of Mice and Men, Boxing Helena, Three of Hearts, 3 episodes of "Dawson's Creek"
why she's underrated: under-used, under-appreciated
12. Sheryl Lee
Seen her in: I Love You to Death, Wild at Heart, "Twin Peaks", Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, Backbeat, Don't Do It, Fall Time
why she's underrated: same as her Twin Peaks co-star, completely under-used and under-appreciated. adore her
11. Kelly Macdonald
Seen her in: Trainspotting, Elizabeth, Splendor, The Loss of Sexual Innocence, Gosford Park, Finding Neverland, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, No Country for Old Men
Why she's underrated: Should be more wellknown by now but I feel after No Country for Old Men maybe she'll make a break. Still doesnt seem to get enough recognition
10. Bridget Fonda
Seen her in: Easy Rider, The Godfather Part III, Drop Dead Fred, Doc Hollywood, Single White Female, Singles, Army of Darkness, Bodies Rest and Motion, Point of No Return, Little Buddha, It Could Happen to You, The Road to Wellville, Rough Magic, City Hall, Grace of My Heart, In the Gloaming, Mr. Jealousy, Jackie Brown, A Simple Plan
why she's underrated: Never really seemed to get respect or taken seriously. always thought she was great in everything she was in. sadly hasn't worked since 2002. Hoping she is pulling a Michelle Pfeifer type hiatus and will eventually return
9. Radha Mitchell
Seen her in: High art, Nobody's Baby, Finding Neverland
why she's underrated: should be more of a household name
8. Alicia Witt
Seen her in: Bodies Rest and Motion, Four Rooms, Citizen Ruth, Urban Legend, two episodes of "Ally McBeal", Vanilla Sky,
why she's underrated: Again, should get more credit, more notice, etc
7. Amy Acker
Seen her in: Catch me if You Can, "Angel", one episode of "Supernatural", "Dollhouse"
why she's underrated: Again, another another actress that should be able to transend the tv to film barrier with no problem. At the very least, she should get recognition for the work she does do on tv.
6. Melanie Lynskey
Seen her in: Heavenly Creatures, Ever After, But I'm a Cheerleader, Shattered Glass, Flags of Our Fathers, The Informant!
why she's underrated: After Heavenly Creatures, she easily could have become as big as her co-star. Would love for her to get a breakout role, ala Toni Collette in Muriel's Wedding
5. Samantha Mathis
Seen her in: Pump Up the Volume, This is My Life, FernGully (voice), Super Mario Bros., The Thing Called Love, Little Women, How to Make an American Quilt, The American President, Broken Arrow, American Psycho, The Mists of Avalon, one episode of "Lost"
why she's underrated: Again, someone I always thought was never really taken seriously, deserved a lot more credit. Has a few things in 2009 coming up, am interested in seeing them
4. Gina Gershon
Seen her in: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Pretty in Pink, Cocktail, Jungle Fever, The Player, Bound, Face/Off, Palmetto, The Insider, one episode of "The Practice", one episode of "Family Guy" (voice), two episodes of "Curb Your Enthusiasm". also seen her in Cabaret on Broadway
why she's underrated: really doesn't get the respect she should
3. Juliette Lewis
Seen her in: My Stepmother is an Alien, Christmas Vacation, Too Young to Die, That Night, Kalifornia, Romeo is Bleeding, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Natural Born Killers, Mixed Nuts, The Basketball Diaries, Strange Days, From Dusk Till Dawn, The Evening Star, Hysterical Blindness, Old School
why she's underrated: had a string of great performances in the early 90's, should get more acclaim. after a 3 year hiatus has quite a few upcoming films. exicting.
2. Rose McGowan
Seen her in: Encino Man, The Doom Generation, Bio-dome, Scream, Going All the Way, Nowhere, Jawbreaker, The Black Dahlia, Grindhouse
why she's underrated: basically gets written off as hot, but this chick can act. Really, she brought so much depth to Cherry in Planet Terror that I'm still surprised to this day
1. Kate Beckinsale
Seen her in: Much Ado about Nothing, Cold Comfort Farm, The Last Days of Disco, Pearl Harbor, Serendipity, Underworld, The Aviator, Snow Angels
why she's underrated: okay, so she's the most famous actress of anyone on this list. Yet, she's still the most underrated. My history with this woman began with Cold Comfort Farm, which she was excellent in. Then came Last Days of Disco, in which she was fantastic. Afterwards, she could have gone the root of her co-star Chloe Sevigny, but, unfortunately, mainstream hollywood found her. When I mention mainstream films in this list, i mean *good* mainstream films. In Kate's case, it was mostly bad mainstream hollywood that found her. Still, even with the mediocre films she was doing, she remained on my favorite actresses list since Disco. Then, things began to turn around. She was given a small role in The Aviator, which she was great in, and then gave a stunning performance in Snow Angels. Apparently she's also great in Nothing But the Truth but I still haven't seen it. Next she'll be seen in Whiteout, which will most likely not give her much to work with. Nevertheless, I feel the tide has shifted and she will begin to get layered roles that will allow her to showcase her talent. But until she starts getting taken more seriously for good, she will remain the most underrated actress in hollywood, in my mind.
Top 30 Underrated Actresses
30. Linda Fiorentino
Seen her in: After Hours, Queens Logic, The Last Seduction, Jade, Men in Black
Why she's underrated: Critical acclaim for The Last Seduction which should have propelled her into meaty roles and continued indie or even mainstream success, but unfortunately didn't. Terribly underused talent.
29. Milla Jovovich
Seen her in: Dazed and Confused, The Fifth Element, The Messenger, Zoolander
Why she's Underrated: Amazing in The Messenger, needs to showcase more acting skills rather than bad-ass hot chick persona. I want to see more of the smaller things she's done, although there aren't many. Would love for her to stick to small indie films that prove she can act and be beautiful.
28. Ileanna Douglas
Seen her in: Hello Again, Goodfellas, Cape Fear, Alive, Household Saints, Grief, Quiz Show, Search and Destroy, To Die For, Grace of My Heart, Picture Perfect, "Action", Ghost World, The Adventures of Pluto Nash, two eps of "Six Feet Under"
Why she's underrated: Has gained indie success and was amazing in "Action". Should be more of a household name and should be given a TV vehicle of her own. Would be perfect in a Parks and Recreations type thing.
27. Martha Plimpton
Seen her in: The Goonies, The Mosquito Coast, Running on Empty, Parenthood, Mrs Parker and the Vicious Circle, I Shot Andy Warhold, Beautiful Girls, Music from Another Room, Pecker, 200 Cigarettes
Why she's underrated: One of the most talented actresses, should get more critical and public recogintion. Is gaining great broadway acclaim though, which is nice.
26. Christina Ricci
Seen her in: Mermaids, Addams Family, Addams Family Values, Casper, Now and Then, Gold Diggers: Secret of Bear Mountain, The Ice Storm, The Opposite of Sex, Buffalo '66, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Small Soldiers (voice), Pecker, 200 Cigarettes, Sleepy Hollow, The Man Who Cried, All Over the Guy, Prozac Nation, Pumpkin, 7 episodes of "Ally McBeal", Anything Else, Monster, 2 episodes of "Grey's Anatomy", Black Snake Moan
Why she's underrated: Feel like, although she's received some awards, isn't taken as seriously as she should be. She's a great actress
25. Faruiza Balk
Seen her in: Gas Food Lodging, Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead, The Craft, The Maker, American History X, Almost Famous, Family Guy (voice)
Why she's underrated: Great actress, should be more of a household name
24. Robin Tunney
Seen her in: Encino Man, Empire Records, The Craft, Julian Po, August
Why she's underrated: I haven't seen her in much, but always liked her. She should get meater roles and more mainstream work or at least more recognition for what she does do
23. Clea DuVall
Seen her in: one episode of "Buffy", Can't Hardly Wait, The Faculty, The Astronut's Wife, But I'm a Cheerleader, Girl Interrupted, The Slaughter Rule, 21 Grams, "Carnivale", Zodiac, "Heroes", one episode of "Lie to Me"
Why she's underrated: Again, incredibly talented, should be getting some star vehicles to showcase that. Needs a lead role, rather than in constant support
22. Robin Wright Penn
Seen her in: The Princess Bride, Denial, State of Grace, Toys, Forrest Gump, The Crossing Guard, She's So Lovely, Unbreakable, A Home at the End of the World
Why she's underrated: She gets more mainstream films than some other people on here, but she's rarely in a lead role and the few times she is, the role is unfortunately mediocre. deserves more recognition, could be one of the lead actresses in hollywood if given the right parts
21. Elizabeth Mitchell
Seen her in: one episode of "The Sentinel", Gia, "ER", The Santa Clause 2, "Lost"
Why she's underrated: Because she's amazing and everyone everwhere should know about her. that's that.
20. Linda Cardellini
Seen her in: "Freaks and Geeks", Brokeback Mountain, "ER"
Why she's underrated: Is so much more than just a TV actress. Deserves more acclaim, deserves some leading film roles
19. Lara Flynn Boyle
Seen her in: "Twin Peaks", Mobsters, Where the Day Takes You, Wayne's World, Red Rock West, The Temp, Threesome, Baby's Day Out, Afterglow, The Road to Wellville, Happiness, 2 episodes of "Ally McBeal", Men in Black 2, "The Practice"
Why's she underrated: Impressive in Where the Day Takes You and The Practice, then written off as "weird" in the eyes of hollywood after the whole Nicholson thing, etc. Talented, deserves more respect and good roles
18. Sarah Polley
Seen her in: The Big Town, "Ramona", The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Road to Avonlea, The Sweet Hereafter, The Hanging Garden, Last Night, ExistenZ, Go, My Life Without Me, Dawn of the Dead
why she's underrated: should get more starring roles; she knows how to carry a film
17. Michelle Forbes
Seen her in: Kalifornia, "Star Trek The Next Generation", Swimming with Sharks, one episode of "Seinfeld", "Homicide", Homicide: The Movie, one episode of "Fastlane", "24", Dandelion", "Battlestar Galactica", Battlestar Galactica: Razor, one episode of "Lost"
why she's underrated: such a great actress, is rather under-used. Always steals whatever scene she is in. She's hypnotic
16. Ione Skye
Seen her in: A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon, Say Anything.., Gas Food Lodging, Wayne's World, Guncrazy, Four Rooms, Dream for an Insomniac, But I'm a Cheerleader, one episode of "Arrested Development", Zodiac
why she's underrated: Extremely talented, should at least be getting lead roles in depth-filled independent films, like a "Frozen River" type role.
15. Peta Wilson
Seen her in: "La Femme Nikita", Superman Returns
why she's underrated: amazing in "La Femme Nikita".. why she hasn't been given the chance to transend to mainstream cinema is beyond me. I mean, she's fucking gorgeous too. AND she can act, unlike a certain someone who's last name rhymes with Sox.
14. Saffron Burrows
Seen her in: In the Name of the Father, Circle of Friends, Hotel de Love, The Matchmaker, The Loss of Sexual Innocence, Timecode, Enigma, Frida, Peter Pan (voice)
why she's underrated: beautiful, talented, should be as popular and famous and sought after as any A-lister working today
13. Sherilyn Fenn
Seen her in: The Wild Life, Just One of the Guys, Wild at Heart, "Twin Peaks", Of Mice and Men, Boxing Helena, Three of Hearts, 3 episodes of "Dawson's Creek"
why she's underrated: under-used, under-appreciated
12. Sheryl Lee
Seen her in: I Love You to Death, Wild at Heart, "Twin Peaks", Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, Backbeat, Don't Do It, Fall Time
why she's underrated: same as her Twin Peaks co-star, completely under-used and under-appreciated. adore her
11. Kelly Macdonald
Seen her in: Trainspotting, Elizabeth, Splendor, The Loss of Sexual Innocence, Gosford Park, Finding Neverland, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, No Country for Old Men
Why she's underrated: Should be more wellknown by now but I feel after No Country for Old Men maybe she'll make a break. Still doesnt seem to get enough recognition
10. Bridget Fonda
Seen her in: Easy Rider, The Godfather Part III, Drop Dead Fred, Doc Hollywood, Single White Female, Singles, Army of Darkness, Bodies Rest and Motion, Point of No Return, Little Buddha, It Could Happen to You, The Road to Wellville, Rough Magic, City Hall, Grace of My Heart, In the Gloaming, Mr. Jealousy, Jackie Brown, A Simple Plan
why she's underrated: Never really seemed to get respect or taken seriously. always thought she was great in everything she was in. sadly hasn't worked since 2002. Hoping she is pulling a Michelle Pfeifer type hiatus and will eventually return
9. Radha Mitchell
Seen her in: High art, Nobody's Baby, Finding Neverland
why she's underrated: should be more of a household name
8. Alicia Witt
Seen her in: Bodies Rest and Motion, Four Rooms, Citizen Ruth, Urban Legend, two episodes of "Ally McBeal", Vanilla Sky,
why she's underrated: Again, should get more credit, more notice, etc
7. Amy Acker
Seen her in: Catch me if You Can, "Angel", one episode of "Supernatural", "Dollhouse"
why she's underrated: Again, another another actress that should be able to transend the tv to film barrier with no problem. At the very least, she should get recognition for the work she does do on tv.
6. Melanie Lynskey
Seen her in: Heavenly Creatures, Ever After, But I'm a Cheerleader, Shattered Glass, Flags of Our Fathers, The Informant!
why she's underrated: After Heavenly Creatures, she easily could have become as big as her co-star. Would love for her to get a breakout role, ala Toni Collette in Muriel's Wedding
5. Samantha Mathis
Seen her in: Pump Up the Volume, This is My Life, FernGully (voice), Super Mario Bros., The Thing Called Love, Little Women, How to Make an American Quilt, The American President, Broken Arrow, American Psycho, The Mists of Avalon, one episode of "Lost"
why she's underrated: Again, someone I always thought was never really taken seriously, deserved a lot more credit. Has a few things in 2009 coming up, am interested in seeing them
4. Gina Gershon
Seen her in: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Pretty in Pink, Cocktail, Jungle Fever, The Player, Bound, Face/Off, Palmetto, The Insider, one episode of "The Practice", one episode of "Family Guy" (voice), two episodes of "Curb Your Enthusiasm". also seen her in Cabaret on Broadway
why she's underrated: really doesn't get the respect she should
3. Juliette Lewis
Seen her in: My Stepmother is an Alien, Christmas Vacation, Too Young to Die, That Night, Kalifornia, Romeo is Bleeding, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Natural Born Killers, Mixed Nuts, The Basketball Diaries, Strange Days, From Dusk Till Dawn, The Evening Star, Hysterical Blindness, Old School
why she's underrated: had a string of great performances in the early 90's, should get more acclaim. after a 3 year hiatus has quite a few upcoming films. exicting.
2. Rose McGowan
Seen her in: Encino Man, The Doom Generation, Bio-dome, Scream, Going All the Way, Nowhere, Jawbreaker, The Black Dahlia, Grindhouse
why she's underrated: basically gets written off as hot, but this chick can act. Really, she brought so much depth to Cherry in Planet Terror that I'm still surprised to this day
1. Kate Beckinsale
Seen her in: Much Ado about Nothing, Cold Comfort Farm, The Last Days of Disco, Pearl Harbor, Serendipity, Underworld, The Aviator, Snow Angels
why she's underrated: okay, so she's the most famous actress of anyone on this list. Yet, she's still the most underrated. My history with this woman began with Cold Comfort Farm, which she was excellent in. Then came Last Days of Disco, in which she was fantastic. Afterwards, she could have gone the root of her co-star Chloe Sevigny, but, unfortunately, mainstream hollywood found her. When I mention mainstream films in this list, i mean *good* mainstream films. In Kate's case, it was mostly bad mainstream hollywood that found her. Still, even with the mediocre films she was doing, she remained on my favorite actresses list since Disco. Then, things began to turn around. She was given a small role in The Aviator, which she was great in, and then gave a stunning performance in Snow Angels. Apparently she's also great in Nothing But the Truth but I still haven't seen it. Next she'll be seen in Whiteout, which will most likely not give her much to work with. Nevertheless, I feel the tide has shifted and she will begin to get layered roles that will allow her to showcase her talent. But until she starts getting taken more seriously for good, she will remain the most underrated actress in hollywood, in my mind.
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Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
A few other favourites of mine:
~ Catherine Keener
~ Mia Kirshner
~ Brittany Murphy
~ Ellen Page
~ Isabelle Adjani
~ Monica Bellucci
~ Rachel McAdams
~ Marisa Tomei
~ Thora Birch
~ Jennifer Jason Leigh
Comment by cinema is truth
Cinema is Truth
Cinema is Truth
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Like Bryn, Catherine Keener is always close to the top in my list of under appreciated actresses.
Jennifer jason Leigh is hands down the best female actress of this generation IMo (last exit to Brooklyn being proof positive)
Monica Bellucci earns a mention anytime this type of list come around.
I will add:
Natascha Mcelhone (Ronin, Californication etc)
Evan Rachel Cook (The Wrestler, Thirteen etc)
Anjelica Huston (sure she is respected but never turns up as often as I would like on lists nor in film)
Rose Byrne (Dead Girl, Sunshine etc)
Rebecca Pidgeon (David Mamet regular)
Michelle Monaghan (Kiss Kiss, bang Bang, Gone Baby Gone)
Loads more but I'm at work and the boss is looking at me funny
Comment by Anonymous
Tarantino and Almodovar offer some good roles for women. Then there is the odd cheese-filled role like Blind Side, that goes to either Julia Roberts or Sandra Bullock, just purely as Oscar bait. Once those two or three roles per year are gone, these actresses are stuck doing the usual "girlfriend"/"chick flick" crap that nobody respects.
Comment by Anonymous
Chloe Sevigny could have also got an honorable mention.