1. Gal Gadot
The pretty girl from Fast & Furious became Diana of Themyscira / Diana Prince / Wonder Woman. And man, she's great as Wonder Woman! After a scene-stealing appearance in last year's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, it seemed she would suffer from the same fate as Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow - a recurring supporting character in big ensemble superhero movies. But it didn't happen and THANK GOD! She got her own solo movie, which was directed by Patty Jenkins and things couldn't be better: universal critical acclaim and it became a box-office hit. Gadot proved it is possible for a woman to carry a solo superhero movie. She's a charismatic presence on-screen and her performance makes Diana Prince a multi-dimensional character and not only a cinematic figure to please male audiences. Then, she reprised the same role in Justice League and while the critical reception wasn't as good as Wonder Woman's, it has been doing really nice at the box-office. Wonder Woman made $821.9M worldwide at the box-office and Justice League made $647.9M so far but it is estimated to reach $750M mark worldwide. But Gadot deserves my top spot not only for being the Billion Dollar Girl of the year, but because she made it: she opened a solo female superhero movie!
2. Saoirse Ronan
She's great in On Chesil Beach, really great! She has a part (voice role) in the exquisite animated feature Loving Vincent (such a visual wonder and one of the strongest contenders for an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature). But let's talk about her work in Greta Gerwig's Lady Bird! Yeah, that's the real deal! Ronan suprassed all my expectations with that performance. Ronan becomes Lady Bird and it leads to one of the best (and most iconic) performances in recent years (can I say "decade", please?). A central performance that's cinematic gravity. Comedic timing, emotional honesty and a natural charisma. She's seems destined to become some kind of Katherine Hepburn / Meryl Streep / Cate Blanchett... I don't think I have to say I'm rooting for her in the Best Actress race, right?
3. Mary J. Blidge
She's a celebrity. She's a R&B music star. And she's also an actress! She was the best thing in the awful 2012's adaptation of Rock of Ages and she showed she has something to offer as an actress the following year with Black Nativity. Well, Dee Rees' critically acclaimed Mudbound has just proved Blidge is an actress! It's not a showy performance in the way some over-acting and fireworks would hide some significant acting struggles... In fact, her character, Florence Jackson is a quiet one. Her performance shows some kind of a inner strenght. She's a mother, a midwife, a nanny, a nurse, a working wife, a woman that carries a family on her shoulders. And Blidge plays it nuanced and heartfeld, yet strong! One of the most remarkable supporting performances of the year, she's a strong contender to an Oscar nomination. AMPAS (and Hollywood in general) seems to have some issues with Netflix, which doesn't help her Oscar chances... but at least the Globes, the SAG and critics have already noticed and recognized her great work.
4. Sally Hawkins
She's the star of Guillermo del Toro's masterpiece The Shape of Water and she's simply great as Elisa Esposito, a mute janitor at a secret research department. It's a beautiful performance in such a beautiful movie and critics have noticed it too. Golden Globe, SAG Award and Critics' Choice Award nominations and a big couple of critics associations' awards noms and wins, the year couldn't be better for Hawkins... but it happens she's also amazing in the drama Maudie, where she portrays Canadian artist Maud Lewis. It's another stellar performance (and I would dare to call it an "even more impressive work than" The Shape of Water's). At 41, Hawkins is living one of the highest points of her career after 2008 (her iconic performance in Happy-Go-Lucky) and 2013 (her Academy Award nominated performance in Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine). Not a movie star, she's a true actress!
5. Michelle Pfeiffer
Known for being a quite picky actress when it comes to work on a project... After a 5 years hiatus (yes, I'll just deny 2013's The Family existence like forever), the iconic Michelle Pfeiffer was back! First, a Sundance Film Festival movie called Where Is Kyra?, which received warm reviews with critics singling out her amazing acting turn - the very best in years, according to critics. While the movie didn't get a 2017 release, it served as an acting showcase for her. Then, she got a scene-stealing part in Darren Aronofsky's mother! alongside Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem and in spite of the mixed / polarized reviews, critics agreeded Pfeiffer was a on-screen magnet and one of the best elements of the movie (she got some Oscar buzz but precursor awards didn't pay attention to her). Later this year, she was part of the all-star cast of Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express, a movie that got mostly positive reception by both critics and audiences and it did well at the box-office - and once again she shined, this time as one of Poirot's suspects, a widow. Funny thing: she sings "Never Forget", a Murder on the Orient Express' song which in contention for a Best Original Song nomination (we got Pfeiffer, the actress and the singer)!!! I know I'm all about movies, but I have to mention her acclaimed work in the television drama film The Wizard of Lies that granted her an Emmy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie and a Golden Globe nod in the very same category. Welcome back, Miss Pfeiffer!
Breakthrough Actress of the Year: Florence Pugh, Lady Macbeth
She's so evil, she's so good! No one had great hopes for Lady Macbeth, but when we saw it... GOD! Pugh is a revelation and she assures the "one of the most promising of her generation" status. Big precursor awards didn't go for her (only the more "European prizes" and a couple of critics associations'), but no matter what, her breakthrough performance as the ice-cold, manipulative, independent and free-spirited Katherine in Lady Macbeth is a triumph and it will put her under the radar. A young beauty with a big talent: keep an eye on this girl!
Honorable mention: Brooklynn Prince, The Florida Project
For her outstanding work in Sean Baker's indie gem The Florida Project. Prince might be quite young, but she delivers an high-calibert acting performance. While some might say such a performance from such a young actress comes from nice directing work, there's no way to deny Prince's charisma. She brings warm and joy to the screen, while representing the beauty of innocence. Such a performance shouldn't get passed when it comes to Oscar nominations morning and while she's the clear leading actress of the movie, I bet a category fraud so she can get promoted as a supporting actress. Best young actress / performance by a youth / debut awards were kind to year, but she's more than just a on-screen breakout.
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