There seems to be some prejudice still in the Hollywood world. It’s more than challenging to break through, but it’s even more complicated if you’re a woman and don’t fit the stereotypes. Even if a woman is beautiful by Hollywood standards, this does not eliminate the possibility of her being underestimated because of some other quality or characteristic that has nothing to do with acting talent. That’s why we at The Dope Lists have put together ten of the most underrated actresses. The women on the list have different achievements, some even Oscar nominations, but that doesn’t help them much either.
Mia Wasikowska
Most significant nomination – Screen Actors Guild Awards
Australian-born actress Mia Wasikowska is best known for her role as Sophie in the American series Psychotherapy. After a series of minor roles in 2008, she finally landed the lead role in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. Mia has partnered with Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Anne Hathaway. Other famous films in which she participated are Madame Bovary and Jane Eyre.
Eva Green
Most significant award – BAFTA
Most significant nomination – Golden Globe
Eva was born in Paris and had French and Swedish roots. She made her theatrical debut in 2001 in the production Jalousie en Trois Fax, for which she received a nomination for the Moliere Award. Eva made her film debut two years later in the film Dreamers. She also participated in Casino Royale, The Golden Compass, 300: Rise of an Empire, Camelot, Penny Dreadful, etc. We can all agree she’s one of the most underrated beautiful actresses of our time.
Sarah Paulson
Most significant award – Emmy
Most significant nomination – Golden Globe
She began working as an actress as soon as she graduated from Manhattan School of the Arts. She also attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and participated in several plays. Sarah has acted in many films and has received many episodic roles in series. Her most famous roles are in the series Ominous Family History and Change of Game and the films 12 Years of Slavery and Ocean’s Eight. Arguably she’s one of the most underrated actresses at the moment.
Allison Janney
Most significant awards – Oscar, Emmy
She was born in Massachusetts but grew up in Ohio. She studied drama at Kenyon College and then at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Allison gained success with her role in the series on the West Wing. Other well-known series in which she participated are Showtime and the sitcom Mama. She has also appeared on stage in various plays and musicals.
Christina Ricci
Most significant awards: Saturn, Satellite
Most significant nomination: Golden Globe
A local theater critic discovered her talent during her participation in the school play The Twelve Days of Christmas. The American actress made her debut in the movie Mermaids. Then she accepted roles in The Adams Family, Casper, Nothing to Do with Sex, Sleepy Hollow, Gold Diggers: The Secret of Bear Mountain, Bastard out of Carolina, etc. Her name surely rings a bell when we talk about underrated actresses.
Dakota Fanning
Most significant awards: Saturn, Satellite
Most significant nomination: Screen Actors Guild Awards
Yes, this is Dakota Fanning. You may remember the charming little girl who appeared in a lot of movies about a decade ago. She came into contact with the acting industry only at the age of five, when she was entrusted with a role in a television commercial. Dakota has not stopped filming since then. Famous productions with her participation are Man on Fire, Hide and Seek, War of the Worlds, The Runaways.
Zoe Saldana
Most significant award: Saturn
Zoe’s artistic talents became apparent at an early age when she entered one of the most prestigious schools in the Dominican Republic and began ballet and contemporary Latin American dance lessons. Her acting career started with the theater group Faces and later received her first significant role on the big screen in the film Center Stage. Other productions with her participation are Avatar, Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Trek Into Darkness, and Star Trek Beyond.
Amanda Seyfried
Most significant award: Satellite
Most significant nomination: Oscar
Amanda made her film debut at the age of 19 in Mean Girls. Then she took part in the series Veronica Mars and Big Love. Among her filmography are quite famous titles: Jennifer’s Body, Dear John, Les Misérables, A Million Ways to Die in the West, etc. Who would believe that she actually suffers from stage fever? This is the reason why Amanda did not participate in theatrical productions until 2015, when she played in The Way We Get By.
Megan Fox
For Megan, the path to the world of show business began at the age of 13 when she started performing as a model and won several prestigious competitions. Her debut as an actress was two years later in 2001 in the film Holiday in the Sun. She has received many episodic roles in popular series. Famous movies with her are Transformers, Jennifer’s Body, and Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen.
Tilda Swinton
Most significant award: Oscar, BAFTA
The Scottish theater and film actress began her career in experimental films directed by Derek Jarman. She has many nominations for various awards, and by 2021 their number is 156. In 2020, Swinton received the British Film Institute Award – the highest honor she earned for her outstanding contribution to film or television culture. Famous films with her are Michael Clayton, Young Adam, Orlando, Edward II, The Deep End, Vanilla Sky, Chronicles of Narnia, etc. Could she be the most underrated actress? Why not.
As you can see, the article includes underrated actresses who have no awards or few nominations and those who, although they have won a few, seem to remain in the background. Unlike Hollywood, which apparently ignores them, you can appreciate their talent by enjoying their movies.