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Dame Judi Dench
The repertoire: Oh, just give the award to her! There she sits in Kodak Theatre with that measured smile and applauding every Oscar winner knowing very well that when it comes to the ma — or maybe baap — of acting, it’s her and only her. She may be remembered as M, but her body of work is so much more.
High 5: Mrs Henderson Presents, Notes on a Scandal, Iris, Shakespeare in Love, Chocolat.
Wow moment: She was there for all of eight minutes in Shakespeare in Love but that was enough for Judi to claim the Best Supporting Actress Oscar as Elizabeth. All eight minutes were wow.
t2 rating: 9/10
Emma Thompson
The repertoire: Another great actress who gave up the screen for the stage, Emma is considered by many as the best British actress of all times. Those who have seen many re-runs of Sense and Sensibility and Howards End will definitely vouch for that. Even with cameos, like the ones she does in the Harry Potter films, Emma can steal the show.
High 5: The Remains of the Day, Sense and Sensibility, Howards End, Stranger Than Fiction, Love Actually.
Wow moment: In Sense and Sensibilty when she is fighting her deepest doubts and innermost fears.
t2 rating: 8/10
Meryl Streep
The repertoire: The joke in Hollywood is that if Meryl Streep doesn’t have an Oscar nomination she must not have done a movie that year. With a whopping 14 Oscar nominations, she is the actress to beat. Give her anything, from shoddy to shining, and trust Streep to make magic out of that. If you don’t trust us, get yourself The Bridges of Madison County DVD and keep watching.
High 5: The French Lieutenant’s Woman, The Bridges of Madison County, The Devil Wears Prada, Kramer vs. Kramer, The Hours.
Wow moment: In The Devil Wears Prada, when Meryl’s Miranda Priestly finally breaks down and yet doesn’t want to show it to Anne Hathaway’s Andy Sachs.
t2 rating: 9.5/10
Cate Blanchett
The repertoire: For someone who’s played Virgin Queen, Katharine Hepburn and Bob Dylan convincingly, she doesn’t need another reason to be on every Best Actress list. The Australian actress has taken on one challenge after the other and has invariably come out on top every time. A special actress.
High 5: Elizabeth, The Aviator, Notes on a Scandal, I’m Not There, Veronica Guerin.
Wow moment: In the short called Cousins in the film Coffee and Cigarettes, Cate plays lookalike cousins, one who is a nobody and the other a Hollywood superstar. Two good!
t2 rating: 9/10
Kate Winslet
The repertoire: Beautiful women find it tough to convince the world they can act but by now Kate Winslet has done it and done it quite well. As someone who came to be known as the girl who goes nude in every film (thankfully, she still does), Winslet is now regarded as the perfect combo — great box-office appeal and flawless performance.
High 5: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Little Children, Iris, Titanic, Finding Neverland.
Wow moment: In Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, the whole sequence when Kate’s Clementine and Jim Carey’s Joel break into an empty house and then lie on the beach. Also, the look in her eyes in Titanic, lying on the couch naked, while Leonardo sketches her.
t2 rating: 8/10
Rani Mukerji
The repertoire: She made people sit up and take notice of an obscure film like Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat. A complete nobody in Bollywood when she arrived, Rani is now Queen B (Bollywood, not Bachchan, silly). No Karan Johar or Yash Chopra film is complete without Rani — whether as prostitute or princess.
High 5: Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, Paheli, Saathiya, Hum Tum, Black.
Wow moment: In the last scene of Paheli, when she comes to know that the man in front of her is not her husband, but the man she loves.
t2 rating: 8.5/10
Shabana Azmi
The repertoire: A total powerhouse, she became synonymous with Indian cinema’s New Wave after her stunning debut in Ankur. Cliched as it may sound, she didn’t look back. Whatever problems we have with her are off-screen; on it, she remains a class act.
High 5: Ankur, Paar, Arth, Godmother, Khandahar.
Wow moment: Her confrontation with Smita Patil in Arth.
t2 rating: 9/10
Konkona Sensharma
The repertoire: You don’t need a face like Aishwarya or a body like Shilpa to be a sought-after actress. From Subrata Sen to Yash Raj Films, Konkona has come a long way in a short time. And this is just the beginning...
High 5: Mr & Mrs Iyer, Dosar, Omkara, Life in a... Metro, Laaga Chunari Mein Daag.
Wow moment: In Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, Konkona’s outburst during a heart-to-heart with sister Rani.
t2 rating: 8/10
kajol
The repertoire: Bollywood watchers went into mourning when the most spontaneous leading lady of our times tied the knot with Ajay Devgan and cried off from films. Fortunately for us all, Kajol’s back in a big way with Fanaa and is, hopefully here to stay.
High 5: Gupt, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Dushman, Pyar To Hona Hi Tha.
Wow moment: When Simran came alive in a towel with Mere khwabon mein jo aaye in DDLJ, a star was born.
t2 rating: 8.5/10
Tabu
The repertoire: Tabassum Hashmi is a class act. Forget Hum Naujawan, forget Prem. Saza-e-Kala Paani onwards it has been one blinding performance after the other. From Lady Macbeth to Ashima Ganguli, the range has been superb. With a little luck, an Oscar nomination for Namesake is not that far away.
High 5: Maachis, Maqbool, Chandni Bar, The Namesake, Cheeni Kum
Wow moment: In The Namesake after she is told on the telephone that her husband is dead — the next couple of minutes are Tabu at her best.
t2 rating: 8.5/10
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