It’s been a banner year for women in Hollywood. From Emma Stone’s portrayal of an independent, successful businesswoman in the upcoming movie ‘Four Seasons’ to Brie Larson’s stunning portrayal of a naval combat veteran in the highly anticipated ‘Captain Marvel’, many stories this year have focused on strong, successful women.
Even the big-name films have shifted to embrace this new modern sensibility with female protagonists leading the way. From Meg Ryan to Ali Larter, the message is clear: women are now seen as a valuable marketing demographic and studios have shifted their attention to include them in their strategies.
As a result, 2014 has been a triumph for female performers in film with many earning critical acclaim and award nominations for their roles. Here, we take a closer look at the actresses who made headlines in 2014 and the impact they made on film:
1. Emma Stone, ‘Four Seasons’
Emma Stone is arguably the most prominent member of this year’s elite group of female performers. The 34-year-old actress took home the Academy Award for Best Actress this year for her portrayal of fashion designer Marchesa Casanova in the historical drama ‘Four Seasons’.
Based on the novel The Summer Game by Richard Matthews, ‘Four Seasons’ follows the story of four women who are competing for the attentions of London society’s wealthiest bachelor. Stone’s character Marchesa embodies all the qualities the audience might expect from a modern-day British fashion tycoon’s wife – beautiful, accomplished, and slightly devious.
The Academy Award-winner previously starred in the critically acclaimed independent film ‘The Help’, for which she earned a Best Supporting Actress nomination, and the box-office hit ‘Ghostbusters’. She will next be seen in the action-adventure comedy-’22 Jump Street’, in theaters March 4th, 2016.
2. Brie Larson, ‘Captain Marvel’
Another actress who made a real splash this year is Brie Larson. After winning the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival for her riveting performance as an alien refugee in the drama ‘Brooklyn’, the 40-year-old will star in two highly anticipated films this year: ‘Captain Marvel’ and ‘Room’.
‘Captain Marvel’ is the first solo film appearance for the comic book hero who will be portrayed by Academy Award winner and three-time winner Robert Downey Jr. in the movie. The story follows Captain Marvel as she adjusts to life in the U.S and ventures into the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the first time. ‘Room’ sees Larson returning to her Sundance breakout role as a young woman looking for her place in the world. Her character must hide her true identity from the world as she is the only survivor of a deadly plague. She is aided by a band of rebels who dub her Madame Curie.
Larson is an accomplished actress who has also written and directed short films and established herself as a literary agent. She will next be seen in the indie comedy ‘The Hollars’ and the musical ‘Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle’ alongside Chris Pine.
3. Charlize Theron, ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’
Charlize Theron is one of the few actors who managed to transition from the big-budget studio films to the indie circuit this year. The 50-year-old starlet took home the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of a troubled woman coming to terms with her past in the Oscar-nominated ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’.
Based on the graphic novel by George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road tells the story of Imperator Furiosa, who leads a band of refugees in a journey to find a new home. Amidst the post-apocalyptic landscape, Furiosa sets her eyes on the fertile oasis of Elysium and her ultimate goal: to overthrow the tyrannical leader Maximilian, known as Max (played by Mel Gibson).
Furiosa’s story is interwoven with that of three women – one of whom is played by Charlize Theron’s real-life daughter, Madeline. The movie is set to be an international co-production between New Zealand, the U.K, and the U.S., and will be released in theaters around the world in March 2015.
4. Saoirse Ronan, ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’
Another actress who impressed this year is Saoirse Ronan. At only 22 years old, the Irish starlet became the second youngest Best Actress nominee in Academy Award history after being nominated for her portrayal of an introverted, yet feisty, young woman navigating a world of chaos and intrigue in the upcoming adaptation of Wolfgang Herrndorf’s acclaimed novel, The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Based on the movie of the same name, The Gran Budapest Hotel follows a quirky quartet of hotel concierges who assist in the search for the missing jewels of a famous painting.
The movie marks a big-name starring role for the former child actress, who landed her first movie at the age of five. Since then, she has gone on to appear in numerous award-winning films, including her role as Eva Braun in the upcoming drama, ‘Babylon’, which will be released in theaters in April 2016.
5. Jessica Chastain, ‘Maleficent’
Jessica Chastain is known for her versatility – the 46-year-old actress has appeared in everything from comedic roles in comedies like ‘The Help’ and ‘The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby’ to dramatic lead roles in movies like ‘The Tree of Life’ and ‘A Few Good Men’.
Chastain put her versatility to use in 2014, playing a variety of characters in a number of Hollywood movies.
The biggest role of 2014 for Chastain was undoubtedly that of Maleficent in the Disney animated movie ‘Maleficent’. Based on the comic book series of the same name by Kate Beaton, ‘Maleficent’ tells the story of the legendary witch and her rivalry with Aurora (played by Elle Fanning).
As the film’s title suggests, Maleficent is the bad guy in the story. Portraying a character that is both villainous and controversial was not an easy task for Chastain, and she delivered an exceptional performance, earning a Best Actress nomination at the 2014 Oscars.
Chastain will next be seen in the action-adventure drama ‘The Other Way’, in theaters January 13th, 2016, and the comedy ‘Ocean’s 8’ alongside George Clooney and a cast of A-list stars.
6. Meryl Streep, ‘August: Osage County’
Legendary actress Meryl Streep received one of the greatest accolades of the year for her role as the tyrannical Barbara Hutton in the Broadway adaptation of Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play, August: Osage County. Streep’s performance in the role earned her one of the most prestigious theatre awards of the year, the Tony Award.
The acclaimed actress previously won a record 16 Academy Awards, having been nominated a record 24 times. She has also been nominated for two Grammys.
Streep’s performance as Hutton, a tyrannical, wealthy socialite who is married to a mentally challenged man, is one of her most acclaimed roles. The actress has played the character, whose family owns the prominent American department store, in various Broadway and international productions. Streep will next be seen in the period piece ‘Florence on the Hudson’ in theaters September 22nd, before heading back to Broadway in December for another run of August: Osage County.
7. Jennifer Lawrence, ‘Joy’
When it comes to Academy Award-winning actresses, the list is usually dominated by names like Streep and Cate Blanchett, who can lay claim to at least 20 and 16 wins respectively. However, another actress has managed to make a name for herself by becoming the first female winner of the prestigious Best Actress award.
‘Joy’ is a new drama from the writer-director Jason Winer, and it centers around the relationship between a father (played by Taran Killam) and his teenage daughter, Joanie (Jennifer Lawrence).
The film follows Joanie as she navigates her way through adolescence and budding sexuality. She befriends a group of girls who become her friends as she explores her feminine side and finds her place in the world. In the process, she learns to trust her instincts and believe in herself, which is essential for any young woman to learn.