Julianne Moore’s best movie roles ranked

By Megan Riedlinger 5:08am PDT, Sep 24, 2020

To celebrate the release of Julianne Moore's latest movie, the biopic "The Glorias" — in which she plays journalist, activist and famed feminist Gloria Steinem — on Sept. 25, 2020, Wonderwall.com is taking a look back at all of Julianne's films to see which performances are worth a rewatch. Do you agree with our list? Keep reading to find out…

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15. Havana Segrand in "Map to the Stars"

2014's "Maps to the Stars" saw Julianne Moore play Havana Segrand, an aging actress stuck in her movie-star mom Clarice Taggart's shadow. Sarah Gadon plays Clarice — who appears in the film as a ghost visiting her daughter — during her prime. The David Cronenberg flick, which also stars Mia Wasikowska, John Cusack and Robert Pattinson, brings the plight of women in Hollywood to light. Julianne picked up a best actress nomination at the Golden Globes for her performance.

14. Cathy Whitaker in "Far From Heaven"

We love seeing Julianne Moore in a period film. "Far From Heaven," which took place in the 1950s, saw the actress playing Cathy, a housewife living what seems to be the perfect life. The 2002 film goes on to show all of the drama beneath that perfect facade, including Cathy's husband Frank (played by Dennis Quaid) cheating on her with men and a close relationship between Cathy and Raymond (played by Dennis Haysbert), the son of her late gardener. Her work in the flick resulted in Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for best actress.

13. Linda Partridge in "Magnolia"

Next is Julianne Moore's performance as Linda Partridge in 1999's "Magnolia," which featured a star-studded ensemble cast that included Tom Cruise, Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy and John C. Reilly. Linda was a trophy wife to Earl (played by Jason Robards), who later gets involved with Tom's character, Frank. The twisty psychological drama was a critical hit, with Julianne's portrayal of Linda earning her an outstanding performance by a female actor in a supporting role nod, as well as an outstanding performance by an ensemble cast nod, at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

12. Dr. Sarah Harding in "The Lost World: Jurassic Park"

We're not used to seeing Julianne Moore in major blockbusters, so fans loved when she joined the cast of "The Lost World: Jurassic Park." The sequel to the original flick came out in 1997 and saw Julianne playing Dr. Sarah Harding, a behavioral paleontologist who's the girlfriend of Jeff Goldblum's character, Dr. Ian Malcolm. Though the movie wasn't a critical darling — a rare occurrence in Julianne's largely indie filmography — it was a big hit at the box office. In fact, it was the second highest grossing film of 1997.

11. Clarice Starling in "Hannibal"

Another sequel where Julianne Moore wowed? 2001's "Hannibal," the followup to 1991's "The Silence of the Lambs." Julianne replaced Jodie Foster in the role of Clarice Starling, an FBI special agent who attempts to go after murderous Hannibal Lecter 10 years after the first film ended. Like "The Lost World: Jurassic Park," the film did very well at the box office but wasn't a hit with critics. Fun fact: It earned Julianne her first and only MTV Movie Award for best kiss for her smooch with Anthony Hopkins in the film.

10. Laura Brown in "The Hours"

Julianne Moore joined an all-star cast that included Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman in 2002's "The Hours." This psychological drama featured women in three different generations with Julianne playing a '50s housewife trapped in an unhappy marriage. She picked up a best supporting actress nomination at the Oscars, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards, and co-star Nicole went on to win the best actress Academy Award for her performance in the movie.

9. Mrs. Laura Cheveley in "An Ideal Husband"

In the late '90s, audiences and critics alike adored "An Ideal Husband," the film based on the Oscar Wilde play of the same name. Julianne Moore starred as Mrs. Laura Cheveley, who knows about Sir Robert Chiltern (played by Jeremy Northam) and a shady element of his past. Rupert Everett, Cate Blanchett and Minnie Driver also star in the film. It earned Julianne a Golden Globe nomination for best actress in a motion picture musical or comedy.

8. President Alma Coin in "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1"

Julianne Moore's highest grossing movie ever? "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1." The 2014 film, which was the third installment in the wildly popular "Hunger Games" series, saw her tackle the role of President Alma Coin, the rebel leader who asks Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) to be the Mockingjay, a symbol of the rebellion. Julianne returned for the final installment, "The Hunger Games: Mockingay – Part 2," in 2015.

7. Marian Wyman in "Short Cuts"

Even though the film featured a massively impressive ensemble cast, Julianne Moore's work in "Short Cuts" stood out. This 1993 comedy-drama hybrid covered short stories by Raymond Carver, showing how the lives of more than a dozen characters intersected. Julianne played Marian Wyman, a painter struggling in her marriage to a jealous doctor. Robert Downey Jr., Lily Tomlin, Jack Lemmon and Frances McDormand are just a few of the other actors in the movie who, along with Julianne, were nominated in the now-defunct best cast category at the Golden Globes.

6. Alice Howland in "Still Alice"

Alice Howland in "Still Alice" ranks high on the list thanks to Julianne Moore's memorable turn as a professor diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease shortly after she turns 50. With impressive performances from the actress as well as Alec Baldwin (who plays her husband) and Kristen Stewart, Kate Bosworth and Hunter Parrish (who play her kids), the film was a critical success. It earned Julianne her very first Academy Award for best actress.

5. Emily Weaver in "Crazy, Stupid, Love"

We adored Julianne Moore in "Crazy, Stupid, Love," the 2011 rom-com that united her with Steve Carell on screen. Julianne plays Emily Weaver, the wife of Steve's character, Cal, who asks him for a divorce. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone also star in this fun flick, which nearly tripled its budget at the box office and earned Ryan a Golden Globe nomination.

4. Charlotte (Charley) in "A Single Man"

Fashion designer Tom Ford's directorial debut, "A Single Man," starred Julianne Moore as Charley, the best friend of the titular character, Colin Firth's George Falconer. The film, which is based on a novel of the same name by Christopher Isherwood, follows George's life as a gay British professor living in California in the '60s. Beautifully shot and filled with poignant drama, the movie was lauded by critics and earned Julianne a best supporting actress nomination at the Golden Globes.

3. Jules Allgood in "The Kids Are All Right"

"The Kids Are All Right" saw Julianne Moore playing Jules, half of a same-sex couple whose children ask to meet their biological father. Annette Bening plays her wife, Nic, while Mark Ruffalo plays the biological dad, Paul, in this dramatic flick centered around family life. The 2010 film was one of the first major movies to portray a lesbian couple raising teenagers. It earned four Oscar nominations and was a hit with critics. Julianne nabbed Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations for best actress.

2. Sarah Miles in "The End of the Affair"

"The End of the Affair" came out in 1999 and saw Julianne Moore starring as Sarah Miles, a married woman who has an affair during World War II. The film features a lot of flashback work, showing the forbidden romance between her character and Ralph Fiennes' Maurice Bendrix, a novelist. After the war, the two unexpectedly reunite as Sarah's husband asks Maurice to investigate whether or not his wife is cheating. The drama resulted in best actress nominations for Julianne at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Academy Awards.

1. Maggie/Amber Waves in "Boogie Nights"

Julianne Moore starred in 1997's "Boogie Nights," a film about the adult film industry in the San Fernando Valley in the '70s and '80s. She plays Maggie — also known as Amber Waves, an adult film star dealing with real-life struggles that include a custody battle with her ex-husband — opposite Mark Wahlberg, who plays Eddie Adam, also known as rising star Dirk Diggler. The drama was critically acclaimed, earning Julianne a best supporting actress nomination at the Academy Awards. It remains our favorite flick from her filmography.