Olivia Cooke's 10 Best Movies and TV Shows

The best Olivia Cooke films and TV shows reveal one of the most consistently difficult career trajectories of any actor to rise to prominence in recent decades, and include a surprisingly consistent number of critically acclaimed projects. Born in 1993 in the United Kingdom, Olivia Cooke is most widely recognized for her role as Alicent Hightower in the HBO series. Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon, as well as programs such as Bates Motel and highly celebrated films such as Metal Sound and Me, Earl and the Dying Girl.

Olivia Cooke's on-screen career began in 2012 in BBC miniseries such as Blackout and The Secret of Crickley Hall. However, it was the horror of 2014 The Calms (which was filmed several years before it was released) which allowed him to lay the foundations of his career. Word on Cooke's performance in The Calms spread quickly, and from there the future Dragon House star landed her breakout role in A&E's horror drama Bates Motel in 2013. After the 1st season of Bates Motel premiered, Cooke's career quickly accelerated due to her incredibly solid performances in a series of highly acclaimed films and TV shows.

10

Ouija (2014)

Olivia Cooke plays Laine

One of the best films from the beginning of Olivia Cooke's career is from 2014 Ouija, in which she leads the cast as Laine Morris. Directed by Stiles White and co-written by White alongside Juliet Snowden, Ouija takes the popular tool for communicating with spirits, a Ouija board (which is technically a Hasbro board game), and turns it into a chilling supernatural horror. While it's not Olivia Cooke's highest-rated film, it features one of Future's best early performances. Dragon House star.

As one of the central characters of Ouija, Olivia Cooke spends a lot of time on screen. Playing Laine allowed Cooke to showcase her talent as an actress, and the 2014 horror gave audiences the first glimpses of many of the skills she would later harness in more high-profile shows and films, such as Bates Motel. Ouija It wasn't exactly a critical success, but it was a box office success, grossing over $100 million worldwide against a budget of $5 million.

9

Heart of Fire (2022)

Olivia Cooke voices Georgia Nolan

One of the most underrated titles among Olivia Cooke's best movies and TV shows is the 2022 animated comedy Heart of Fire. Although it went unnoticed by critics, Heart of Fire is a truly captivating story that chronicles the dreams of a teenager determined to become the first firefighter. This girl, Georgia, is voiced by Olivia Cooke, and the Bates Motel and Dragon House star shows that she is equally capable of bringing characters to life when she can only rely on her vocal performance.

Many critics praised Cooke's performance and noted that the plot of Heart of Fire it was especially motivational when it came to children's films (especially for young female viewers). While it may not have been a box office success like some of Cooke's other film appearances, still stands out when it comes to his strongest performances – especially since it's his only voice acting role in an animated film thus far.

8

Vanity Fair (2018)

Olivia Cooke plays Becky Sharp

Based on the 1848 novel by William Makepeace Thackeray, Olivia Cooke's performance in the complex role of Becky Sharp cements the 2018 miniseries Vanity Fair as one of his best TV shows. Cooke's character, Becky, is the daughter of an opera singer and performer. A master manipulator (especially when it comes to men), Vanity Fair focuses on Becky as she uses her skills of influence and persuasion to increase her social standing among the wealthy elites of 19th century London.

It was in Vanity Fair that Olivia Cooke showed off her chops when it came to acting in period dramas – an essential side of her acting chops for her role as Alicent in Dragon House (even if the medieval setting takes place in a fictional world). Cooke's performance as the cast's leading man in Vanity Fair was fundamental to its success, and the fact that it still maintains an 89% rating in Rotten tomatoes speaks to the strong screen presence she was as Becky Sharp.

7

Ready Player One (2018)

Olivia Cooke plays Samantha Cook/Art3mis

2018's Ready Player One is Steven Spielberg's 2018 sci-fi epic and also marks Olivia Cooke's first appearance in a big-budget Hollywood blockbuster. Based on the novel of the same name by Ernest Cline, Ready Player One takes place in a dystopian future where a shared virtual reality universe has become more meaningful than the decaying remains of the real world. Co-leading the cast alongside Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke plays Art3mis (and her real-world player, Samantha), a famous figure in the virtual world who is fighting to keep it free from the control of the sinister corporation IOI.

While Ready Player One wasn't a career-changing project for legendary director Steven Spielberg, it was a significant step forward for Olivia Cooke. His performance as Art3mis earned him several award nominations, as well as Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Ready Player One brought a significant amount of positive exposure to Cooke. The film itself may not be groundbreaking, but Olivia Cooke's performance in it is an undisputed career highlight.

6

Little Fish (2021)

Olivia Cooke plays Emma Ryerson

Of all Olivia Cooke's best films, few have as intriguing a premise as 2021's Little fish, from director Chad Hartigan. Based on the novel of the same name by Aja Gabel, little fish is set in a future where humanity is plagued by a horrible virus. However, unlike many films about pandemics, the disease in little fish It is not scary because it causes death. Instead, the virus erases the memories of those infected, like Olivia Cooke's character Emma Ryerson.

little fish is one of Olivia Cooke's highest-rated films when it comes to critical reception, with a score of 91% on Rotten tomatoes. Despite the science fiction premise, the story itself is a romantic drama. The narrative focuses on Cooke's Emma and her partner, Jude (Jack O'Connell), as they fight to preserve their memories of the love they share. It's an incredibly emotional journey, driven by Cooke's performance and the on-screen chemistry she shared with co-star Jack O'Connell.

5

Bates Motel (2013-2017)

Olivia Cooke plays Emma Decody

Although Olivia Cooke has had some impressive film roles, it was her best TV shows that really helped cement her career. Her first appearance as a main cast member came when she took on the role of Emma Decody on the 2013-2017 A&E horror drama. Bates Motel. A loose prequel to Alfred Hitchcock's legendary 1960 horror film Psycho, Bates Motel focused on the childhood of Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore) and his strange relationship with his mother, Norma (Vera Farmiga).

Emma Decody was a challenging role and Olivia Cooke's performance as her in Bates Motel it was an early sign that she had a promising career ahead of her. Cooke not only convincingly portrayed Emma's struggles with cystic fibrosis, but also perfectly captured the nuances of her character's complex feelings for future serial killer Norman Bates. Her chemistry with Freddie Highmore and how she kept Emma's relationship with Norman compelling throughout their ever-changing dynamic is especially noteworthy and, in retrospect, makes it clear why Olivia Cooke was always the perfect choice for Queen Alicent in the treacherous film full of betrayal. House of the Dragon.

4

Me, Earl and the Dying Girl (2015)

Olivia Cooke plays Rachel Kushner

Me, Earl and the dying girl is cemented as one of Olivia Cooke's best films due to how many accolades and awards her performance as Rachel brought her. The 2015 coming-of-age dramedy from director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon was a pivotal film in Cooke's early career, bringing a lot of attention to her acting skills and opening many doors. Cooke was nominated for Best Supporting Actress by the San Diego Film Critics Society, Best Actress – Feature Film at the Women's Image Network Awards, and Best New Female at the 2016 Empire Awards. She also won the Jury Award for Best Actress at the Newport Beach Film Festival .

At this point in her career, these accolades marked Olivia Cooke's first significant success when it came to critical recognition. Me, Earl and the dying girl was also well received by general critics, as evidenced by its 81% rating on Rotten tomatoes. It's also perhaps the most moving performance of all Olivia Cooke's film roles, as her portrayal of the terminally ill Rachel ensures that few viewers will be able to reach the credits with dry eyes.

3

Pure Blood (2018)

Olivia Cooke plays Amanda

The black comedy of 2017 Thoroughbred sees Olivia Cooke co-star alongside another talent whose career blossomed in the 2010s, Anya Taylor-Joy. The duo has an exceptional level of chemistry, and their performances as Amanda (Cooke) and Lily (Taylor-Joy) were highlighted by several critics. Like many of Olivia Cooke's best films, Thoroughbred was received incredibly well and is another one of his projects to rank incredibly high on the Rotten tomatoes of 87%.

Directed and written by Cory Finley, Thoroughbred sees Cooke's Amanda conspire with her best friend Lily to murder Lily's stepfather. It's a truly unique viewing experience, as tense and hard-hitting at points as it is uncomfortably hilarious at others. Olivia Cooke's performance as the cold, emotionally flat Amanda ensures that she steals many scenes, and as well as being one of the best roles of her career, it also stands out as perhaps her most unique.

Olivia Cooke plays Lou Berger

When it comes to his feature films, it's undeniable that 2019 Metal Sound It's Olivia Cooke's best film. Maintaining a near-perfect score of 97% on Rotten tomatoes and receiving dozens of award nominations and wins, including multiple Academy Awards, no film Olivia Cooke has appeared in thus far has come close to matching her level of acclaim. While much of the focus was on cast leader Riz Ahmed's performance as Ruben Stone (a drummer with hearing loss), Olivia Cooke's portrayal of Ruben's girlfriend Lou is equally essential to the 2019 drama's emotional depth. .

To say this Metal Sound makes for emotionally intense viewing is an understatement. What's more, although Ruben is the focus, Lou faces many struggles, including self-harm. Olivia Cooke manages to bring the character's depth and nuance to the screen with an incredible level of authenticity and realism, both in terms of Lou's struggles and her complex relationship with Ruben as her hearing deteriorates.

1

House of the Dragon (2022-present)

Olivia Cooke plays Alicent Hightower

Not just HBO Dragon House Olivia Cooke's best TV show, but her performance as Queen Alicent Hightower on Game of Thrones prequel is steadily cementing her as a household name. Debuting in 2022, Dragon House takes place centuries before the events of Game of Thrones, featuring the devastating Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of Dragons. The fact that Alicent stands out as one of the most memorable characters is a testament to Olivia Cooke's abilities as an actress.

If Alicent had been played by someone less capable than Olivia Cooke, she likely would have taken a backseat to viewers, as she's part of a story packed with jaw-dropping action, larger-than-life Targaryen personalities, and no shortage of CGI. dragons. However, Cooke's performance as Alicent ensured that the Queen was considered one of the show's most essential ingredients. While Dragon House may still be in the works, it's already clear that it's a career-defining role for Olivia Cooke and will only become more meaningful to her once it's completed.