Annette Bening’s 10 Best Movies and TV Shows

The best Annette Bening movies and TV shows prove that she is one of the top actresses in Hollywood history. However, she also has a disappointing fact about her career. She is one of the few actresses to receive Oscar, Emmy and Tony nominations, but has never walked away with a single win. Bening began working in theater for a Shakespeare company in the 1980s and eventually moved into film as the decade was coming to an end.

Bening received his first Tony nomination before making a name for himself in films and TV shows, but when she took on the role of con artist Myra Langtry in The swindlersshe received her first Oscar nomination and her film career was officially underway. Bening received Oscar nominations four more times, with roles in American Beauty, Being Julia, The Kids Are Alrightand Nyad. She has appeared in blockbusters (Captain Marvel) and dramas (The Report) and it’s usually the best part of them.

10

Captain Marvel (2019)

Mar-Vell / Supreme Intelligence

Annette Bening joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2019 as the original Captain Mar-Vell, although she posed under the name Dr. She also pulled double duty by taking on the role of the Supreme Intelligence, one of the film’s antagonists. The film stars Brie Larson as Carol Danvers, who ended up as the Avengers member known as Captain Marvel. Bening plays his former commander and friend Wendybut she was actually a Kree Warrior on Earth in disguise.

In the comics, Mar-Vell was a man, but Captain Marvel changed the character to a woman and Bening did very well in her role, which was part of the big twist when Carol realized she had been used by the Kree for years. While Jude Law was the film’s main villain, Bening was solid as the secondary antagonist who was pulling strings the entire time, and she helped the critically underrated MCU film surpass $1.1 billion at the box office.

9

Mrs. Harris (2005)

Jean Harris

Annette Bening has not appeared on television very often in her career. She had a few appearances on TV shows, a voice (Image: Getty Images)Sons of Liberation) and starred in a 2024 miniseries (Apples never fall). However, his best television appearance arguably came in 2005, when she appeared in the lead role in a TV movie called Mrs.. The film is a drama that follows the relationship between cardiologist and author Herman Tarnower and director Jean Harris.

The film begins with Jean Harris (Bening) going to Ternowe’s house with the intention of dying by suicide. Seeing her there, he tries to stop her, but she accidentally shoots him. Mrs. then has flashbacks to show their relationship and flashforwards to his trial for his murder to tell the story. The film is a story of emotional and psychological abuse and how Herman destroyed Jean to the point that she remained submissive even after his death. Mrs. it received 11 Primetime Emmy nominations, but failed to win any.

8

Running with Scissors (2006)

Deirdre Burroughs

In 2006, Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story, Glee) directed the comedy-drama film Running with scissorsbased on Augusten Burroughs’ memoir of his life growing up. Joseph Cross stars as Augseten in the film, while Annette Bening plays his biological mother, Deirdre. She is a woman who wants to become a poet, but suffers from mood swings and erratic behavior.she eventually sends her son to live with her psychiatrist’s family, who are a somewhat eclectic group of people.

The film follows Augusten with his new family, while also showing how his mother is increasingly estranged from him as their lives progress. Running with scissors it received average to negative reviews, but competed for several awards at the end of the year. Annette Bening was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role as Augesten’s mother, although she lost to Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada).

7

Bugsy (1991)

Virginia Hill

In 1991, Annette Bening starred in the biographical crime drama Bugsy. The film tells the life story of Bugsy Siegel, his rise in the American mafia and his affair with star Virginia Hill. Bening plays Virginia in the film, while Warren Beatty plays Bugsy. The two actors would end up getting married in real life a year later. The film was a labor of love for Beatty, who fought to get the story told for years before finally getting the chance to star in the film, directed by Barry Levinson (rain man).

In this film, Bugsy meets actress Virginia Hill and begins an affair with her in California, while his wife and daughters live in New York. The entire film tells the story of their unhappy love and betrayals that never broke their connection, even after Bugsy was murdered and Virginia died by suicide within a week of each other. Bugsy it received 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and two for Best Supporting Actor, while Bening received a Golden Globe nomination.

6

The American President (1995)

Sidney Ellen Wade

In 1995, Annette Bening took on the role of Sydney Ellen Wade, a lobbyist who begins a romantic relationship with the President of the United States (played by Michael Douglas). President Shepherd is trying to pass a crime control bill before the next election to ensure his reelection, while Sydney is an environmental lobbyist he knows. Shepherd is also a widower and soon falls in love with Sydney, but thanks to political machinations, it is not an easy love story.

The film was a huge success. It grossed US$107.9 million on a budget of US$62 million and was universally acclaimed, with an approval rating of 91%. It also received Golden Globe nominations, including Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical, Best Director (Rob Reiner), Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical for Bening, and Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture. Picture – Comedy or Musical for Douglas.

5

Niade (2023)

Diana Nyad

Annette Bening received her fifth Oscar nomination and fourth for Best Actress for her role in the biographical sports drama Nyad. In this film, Bening plays Diana Nyad, a 60-year-old woman who wants to accomplish an amazing feat. She wants to swim 180 kilometers non-stop from Cuba to Florida. Nyad tried this when he was 30 and failed. She then asks her friend and former partner, Bonnie (Jodie Foster), to help train her and sets out to prove to everyone that age is just a number.

The film is a basic, inspirational sports film about a woman with a seemingly impossible dream who achieves it thanks to her iron will and the trust of the people she surrounds herself with. Critics favored the film, giving it a recent rating of 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, while also praising the performances of Bening and Foster. Both women received Oscar nominations, although neither won in their category.

4

Being Julia (2004)

Julia Lambert

Annette Bening received an Oscar nomination for her role in the comedy-drama film, Being Julia. In this film, Bening plays Julia Lambert, a popular theater actress in London who is disillusioned with her career. She is approaching middle age and wants to move away from theater to travel the world. However, her husband convinces her to stay for the summer, even though she wants to retire and live her life as she pleases.

Soon, she begins an affair with a self-proclaimed gold-digger gigolo named Tom (Shaun Evans), who also begins a second affair with a young, up-and-coming actress named Avice (Lucy Punch). The entire film is a dark comedy with Julia planning an elaborate revenge against all those who hurt her during a play, and Bening masterfully delivers this role with great success. Although critics only gave it a recent rating of 76%, they praised Beningand she won the Golden Globe for Best Actress.

3

The Kids Are All Right (2010)

Dr.

Annette Bening received her fourth Oscar nomination for her performance in the comedy-drama film The children are fine. In this film, Bening plays Nic, a woman married to Julianne Moore’s Jules. They live in Los Angeles, where Nic works, and Jules is a homemaker and wants to open a landscaping business. They have two children, one born to each spouse, thanks to a sperm donor. Things get complicated when his teenage son Laser (Josh Hutcherson) wants to meet his biological father.

Paul Hatfield (Mark Ruffalo), a restaurant owner, is that father and becomes part of the family’s life. When Paul tries to get Jules to leave Nic for him, it nearly blows up the entire family. Critics praised the entire cast, giving the film a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The film was also a huge success, winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and giving Bening her second Golden Globe win for Best Actress.

2

American Beauty (1999)

Carolyn Burnham

In 1999, Annette Bening starred in the Oscar-winning film American Beauty. Directed by Sam Mendes, the film stars Kevin Spacey as Lester Burnham, a middle-aged man in an unhappy marriage who sees no future in his life. His wife Carolyn (Bening) is very neurotic and ambitiousand his daughter Jane (Thora Birch) hates her parents. The film then follows Jane as she meets the charismatic Ricky (Wes Bentley) and Lester as he begins to have lustful thoughts about Jane’s high school friend Angela (Mena Suvari).

Although the film mainly follows Lester and Jane, Annette Bening is fantastic in her role as a wife and mother, trying to keep her life together as her family falls apart around her. American Beauty It was a critical darling upon release, although it is not as well regarded nowadays. However, it received eight Oscar nominations, winning five of them, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor. Bening also received a Best Actress nomination and won a BAFTA for her performance.

1

The Grifters (1990)

Myra Langtry

Annette Bening received her first Oscar nomination for only his third appearance in the film. Bening star The swindlers alongside John Cusack and Anjelica Huston. Launched in 1990, The swindlers is an independent film by director Stephen Frears (My beautiful laundry room) and tells the story of a con artist named Lilly (Huston) who works for a mafia bookmaker. She visits her son, Roy (Cusack) and takes an instant dislike to his girlfriend Myra (Bening), who neither of them know is also a con artist.

The film is basically about three con artists who decide to scam each other, which leads to a disastrous and tragic end. The swindlers was a huge success, with a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and critics praising the caper’s story and the actors’ performances. Both Anjelica Huston and Annette Bening received Oscar nominations for his performances, while Stephen Frears won one for Best Director. The film also won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Feature Film and Huston won for Best Female Lead.