Best of 2011: Perfect Casting Choices in Film - Michelle Williams, Rooney Mara and More!
The job of a casting director isn't an easy one -- especially when you're charged with casting famous literary characters and real-life icons! This year we had some amazing adaptations of famous fictional characters like Lisbeth Salander and superhero sagas like X-Men and Thor -- as well as biopics of Marilyn Monroe and J. Edgar Hoover, to name a few.
In our latest Best of 2011 list, see which chameleon-like actors flawlessly transformed into already well-known characters! Here's our list, and let us know which choices you LOVE, HATE or who we missed in the comments below!
1. Marilyn Monroe, played by Michelle Williams
A part that every pretty young ingenue dreams of embodying -- Marilyn Monroe -- we were thrilled that Michelle, one of our fave actresses, took on the part. While My Week With Marilyn was more about the young man who spent a, well, week with Marilyn, we loved Michelle's understated performance -- and she nailed the physicality of Marilyn -- her swaying hips moved like waves through the film. And she's definitely the most Marilyn-a-like of any blonde starlet out there.
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2. Lisbeth Salander, played by Rooney Mara
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series not only is loved the world over, but a trio of films have already bene made in Sweden. So it certainly isn't easy to nab the right Hollywood actress for this gritty, dark challenging role. While many A-list names were mentioned as Maybes for the coveted role of Lisbeth, we were so thrilled that David Fincher and the studio took a chance on a lesser-known actress. And boy, did it pay off! Not only is Rooney amazing in the role, but she proved her commitment by getting multiple piercings for the role -- including, ahem, nipple piercings! Now THAT's dedication.
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3. J. Edgar Hoover, played by Leonardo DiCaprio
This isn't Leo's first foray into playing a historical figure -- in 2004, Leo shined as Howard Hughes in The Aviator, and he's rumored to be playing Frank Sinatra in an upcoming biopic. But Leo's protrayal of the Hoover, the founder of the FBI, in Clint Eastwood's J. Edgar is masterful. He delves head-first into the dark, morally-questionable psycho of one of the more controversial characters in American history. The role got him nominated for both a Golden Globe and a SAG award, and we're thinking an Oscar nom isn't too far behind.
4. Jane Eyre, played by Mia Wasikowska
The latest film adaptation of the Charlotte Brontë classic, Jane Eyre, went somewhat under the radar and seems to be overlooked for awards' season. That being said, Mia deserves accolades up the arse for her controlled portrayal of this iconic heroine. And while Mia is certainly radiantly beautiful, she stripped away her vanity to play this notably plain governess.
5. Thor, played by Chris Hemsworth
Playing the part of a Norse God-turned-comic book hero isn't an easy task. It takes unending confidence, a noble character and a WHOLE lot of ab exercises. Aussie eye candy Chris Hemsworth was tapped as this God among men, and we were pleased with the result. While the movie Thor wasn't the best of superhero movies, Chris brilliantly brought this larger-than-life role to life by embracing the campy style of the flick -- and of course, by going shirtless in every other scene. And for that, we thank you, Norse mythology.
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6. Aibileen Clark, played by Viola Davis
The adaptation of the 2009 bestseller The Help isn't making its way onto Best Movies of 2011 lists, though maybe not at the tip-top. However, Viola's portrayal of Aibileen, a maid who so desperately wants her story to be brought to the public eye, is arguably the best performance of the year. Viola already has noms from SAG and the Golden Globes -- and the Oscar buzz around this performance is palpable.
7. Magneto, played by Michael Fassbender
This guy has had quite the year. He's getting Oscar buzz around his role in the gritty indie drama Shame, but the guy proved he can carry a blockbuster by playing a young Magneto in the prequel X-Men: First Class. This is not an easy role to play, as in the previous films, he is played played by the venerable Sir Ian McKellan. But Fassbender was able to inhabit the morally questionable superhero with ease -- making sure that he represented the McKellan's portrayal, while simultaneously giving it a personal spin.
And last, but certainly not least we have...
8. Margaret Thatcher, played by Meryl Streep
Okay, full disclosure: we haven't seen the movie yet. But is there any DOUBT (heh) that Meryl will nail this role? Her makeup artists alone transformed the beautiful actress into Britain's former Prime Minister. And based on her one speech in the trailer alone, we're fairly certain she'll be an Oscar contender. Team Meryl!
Whew! Those are our favorites! And we're getting excited to ring in the new year, because next year we've got Kristen Stewart as Snow White, Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss and Andrew Garfield as Spiderman! Next year's list is already getting long...
Which performance of a real-life or literary character was YOUR favorite this year?
