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iwaskirsdarke1-3 was pretty easy. The rest...well, let's just say that I fully expect someone to disagree with me.
The notes don't really apply here, either, so I'll leave them out and get straight to the good stuff.
10.) Alexandra Dreyfus as Sarah Genatiempo on lonelygirl15
"Look at my stupid life. I wasn't supposed to turn out like this. You know? This isn't who I am, this isn't who I'm supposed to be."
Sarah, Sarah, Sarah. We first met Sarah as a "crazy emo chick" from Texas who thought video-blogging was for babies. Oh, how things changed. Over the next few years, she became one of the most important members of the Resistance and a huge fan favorite. She questioned herself, her decisions and her life many times, but always seemed to be a consistent and loyal friend. I went back and forth about the character many times, but always admired Lexi Dreyfus's performance. Sister to Sister will always be one of my favorite LG15 videos, not just because of the insight into Sarah's character, but also the performances of Dreyfus and Becki Kregoski. Dreyfus brought a complicated character to life and made us care about and trust her, making the ending of LG15: The Resistance all the more heart-breaking.
9.) Hallee Hirsh as Daley Marin on Flight 29 Down (and a whole bunch of other stuff)
"We've done our best and no matter what happens, we have to remember that."
Hallee Hirsh is probably one of the most recognizable young actresses in television. Many know her as Rachel Greene on ER, but in my opinion, her performance as Daley on Flight 29 Down is one of her best. Daley is a complicated character. She's stubborn and difficult, but has vulnerable spots, like her family (and, eventually, Nathan). She's one of the strongest people on the island and has the responsibility of not only helping others, but protecting her younger brother. Hirsh plays her beautifully, as someone who feels the weight of the world on her shoulders and is at times overwhelmed and lonely, never sure if she can depend on other people, or even her own instincts.
8.) Mila Kunis as Jackie Burkhart on That 70s Show
"Hey, maybe a good way to break the ice is for everyone to tell a little bit about themselves. I'll go first...I like makeup and diets."
Jackie Burkhart started as a typical spoiled rich girl, and Kelso's annoying girlfriend who nobody liked. She ended up being one of the most entertaining characters on the show. Her relationship with Hyde was a prime example of how the "opposites attract" idea should be done. (At least most of the time.) Through the years, she shed many (although not all) of her shallow tendencies to become a more three-dimensional character and one that the viewers came to care about. Mila Kunis made the character likable and fascinating even when the writing was failing her. (Because it can't be said enough: Fez? Really?)
7.) Karyn Parsons as Hilary Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
"I exploit people every day, but it's Thanksgiving so I'm taking the day off."
Like Jackie Burkhart, most of the time Hilary Banks comes across as a typical spoiled rich girl, which is basically the role she was meant to fill. But other times, she's much more than that. She's shown, numerous times, to truly care about her family and the character is most compelling when she's interacting with her younger sister Ashley or remembering her dead fiancee Trevor. Karyn Parsons not only pulls off the typical comedy with wonderful timing and delivery, but she handles the emotional moments with surprising grace that adds an extra dimension to the character.
6.) Jenna Fischer as Pam Beesley on The Office
"I hate thinking that someone out there hates me. I even hate thinking that Al-Queda hates me. [Pause] I think if they got to know me, they wouldn't hate me."
I think we all know someone like Pam Beesley. When we meet her in season one, she had a job she didn't like and a relationship that everyone else but her could see wasn't going anywhere, but she was too complacent to do anything about it. In season 3, she began to change her life and herself, taking chances she never had before. Jenna Fischer had created a character that we cared about and were thrilled to watch as she became a stronger person. The character has changed over the years, but the performance has always been wonderful.
5.) Lucille Ball as Lucy Ricardo on I Love Lucy
"Butter? On bread? I'll never get used to your crazy Cuban dishes."
Lucille Ball was the queen of comedy and she proved it on I Love Lucy. She knew how to deliver lines, give looks and pull of physical stunts for the maximum comedic effect. She was also a great actress and she created a character that would go down in history. Lucy Ricardo was more than just a housewife. She was an evil genius in the body of a beautiful redhead. Still, she loved her husband, her son, and her friends and could use her powers for good as well as evil.
4.) Jessica Rose as Bree Avery on lonelygirl15
"So finally they stopped calling me 'Stargirl' and they stopped saying that I thought I was smart, and instead they started saying that I was...doing something with my teacher. And that's when I stopped asking questions about stars."
(Okay, I know lonelygirl15 is not a TV series, but it's the only logical place to put it.)
The greatest thing an actor can accomplish is truly convincing people that they're real. That's exactly what Jessica Rose did. If you watched the first season in real time, you know what I mean. She convinced you that Bree was a very special but very real girl. She invited us into her life and made us laugh. She made mistakes and frustrated us sometimes, but we all cared about her, right to the bitter end. She was the first and original Lonelygirl.
3.) Billie Piper as Rose Tyler on Doctor Who
"I am the Bad Wolf."
Rose Tyler was just a girl working in a shop. Until one night when the mannequins came to life and a mysterious man named The Doctor came to save her. Billie Piper created a character that Doctor Who fans fell in love with because she was so much like us- just a normal girl who got the chance to travel the universe, make a difference, and see things many people never even dream of. She was adventurous, likable, and full of life. Her introduction was the perfect premiere for the "New Who". She left her mark on the series the same way she left her mark on The Doctor and will never be forgotten.
2.) Jaime Pressly as Joy Turner on My Name is Earl
"As you can see I have a black son and a white son, but I don't see race so I can't tell which is which."
Joy Turner is not a good person. So why do we like her? Certainly the writing is a huge part of it, but good writing is nothing without a good performance, and this is as good as it gets. Jaime Pressly delivers the sometimes shocking dialogue with amazing naturalness, goes headfirst into the physical comedy and imbues Joy with surprising emotion when it comes to her family. Although Joy's morality is extremely questionable, she truly loves her sons and her husband. That's what allows us to embrace her as a person, rather than a villian.
1.) Kristen Bell as Veronica Mars on Veronica Mars
"You know those people who can predict when change is coming in their life? I'm not one of them. Change has a way of just walking up and punching me in the face."
I know- shocker. But anyone who's watched Veronica Mars can appreciate what a fine performance Kristen Bell gives in the titular role. It's a very tricky role that requires an actress to be smart, funny, angry and emotional. Bell walks a fine tightrope. She's not afraid to make Veronica unlikable, but you can easily see why so many people do like her, and trust her, especially when she's dealing with her father, her best friend and her many boyfriends. This performance is one of the things that made the show such a gem.
As always, this is only my (highly uncultured) OPINION. Please, comment and let me know what you think.
<3
The notes don't really apply here, either, so I'll leave them out and get straight to the good stuff.
10.) Alexandra Dreyfus as Sarah Genatiempo on lonelygirl15
"Look at my stupid life. I wasn't supposed to turn out like this. You know? This isn't who I am, this isn't who I'm supposed to be."
Sarah, Sarah, Sarah. We first met Sarah as a "crazy emo chick" from Texas who thought video-blogging was for babies. Oh, how things changed. Over the next few years, she became one of the most important members of the Resistance and a huge fan favorite. She questioned herself, her decisions and her life many times, but always seemed to be a consistent and loyal friend. I went back and forth about the character many times, but always admired Lexi Dreyfus's performance. Sister to Sister will always be one of my favorite LG15 videos, not just because of the insight into Sarah's character, but also the performances of Dreyfus and Becki Kregoski. Dreyfus brought a complicated character to life and made us care about and trust her, making the ending of LG15: The Resistance all the more heart-breaking.
9.) Hallee Hirsh as Daley Marin on Flight 29 Down (and a whole bunch of other stuff)
"We've done our best and no matter what happens, we have to remember that."
Hallee Hirsh is probably one of the most recognizable young actresses in television. Many know her as Rachel Greene on ER, but in my opinion, her performance as Daley on Flight 29 Down is one of her best. Daley is a complicated character. She's stubborn and difficult, but has vulnerable spots, like her family (and, eventually, Nathan). She's one of the strongest people on the island and has the responsibility of not only helping others, but protecting her younger brother. Hirsh plays her beautifully, as someone who feels the weight of the world on her shoulders and is at times overwhelmed and lonely, never sure if she can depend on other people, or even her own instincts.
8.) Mila Kunis as Jackie Burkhart on That 70s Show
"Hey, maybe a good way to break the ice is for everyone to tell a little bit about themselves. I'll go first...I like makeup and diets."
Jackie Burkhart started as a typical spoiled rich girl, and Kelso's annoying girlfriend who nobody liked. She ended up being one of the most entertaining characters on the show. Her relationship with Hyde was a prime example of how the "opposites attract" idea should be done. (At least most of the time.) Through the years, she shed many (although not all) of her shallow tendencies to become a more three-dimensional character and one that the viewers came to care about. Mila Kunis made the character likable and fascinating even when the writing was failing her. (Because it can't be said enough: Fez? Really?)
7.) Karyn Parsons as Hilary Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
"I exploit people every day, but it's Thanksgiving so I'm taking the day off."
Like Jackie Burkhart, most of the time Hilary Banks comes across as a typical spoiled rich girl, which is basically the role she was meant to fill. But other times, she's much more than that. She's shown, numerous times, to truly care about her family and the character is most compelling when she's interacting with her younger sister Ashley or remembering her dead fiancee Trevor. Karyn Parsons not only pulls off the typical comedy with wonderful timing and delivery, but she handles the emotional moments with surprising grace that adds an extra dimension to the character.
6.) Jenna Fischer as Pam Beesley on The Office
"I hate thinking that someone out there hates me. I even hate thinking that Al-Queda hates me. [Pause] I think if they got to know me, they wouldn't hate me."
I think we all know someone like Pam Beesley. When we meet her in season one, she had a job she didn't like and a relationship that everyone else but her could see wasn't going anywhere, but she was too complacent to do anything about it. In season 3, she began to change her life and herself, taking chances she never had before. Jenna Fischer had created a character that we cared about and were thrilled to watch as she became a stronger person. The character has changed over the years, but the performance has always been wonderful.
5.) Lucille Ball as Lucy Ricardo on I Love Lucy
"Butter? On bread? I'll never get used to your crazy Cuban dishes."
Lucille Ball was the queen of comedy and she proved it on I Love Lucy. She knew how to deliver lines, give looks and pull of physical stunts for the maximum comedic effect. She was also a great actress and she created a character that would go down in history. Lucy Ricardo was more than just a housewife. She was an evil genius in the body of a beautiful redhead. Still, she loved her husband, her son, and her friends and could use her powers for good as well as evil.
4.) Jessica Rose as Bree Avery on lonelygirl15
"So finally they stopped calling me 'Stargirl' and they stopped saying that I thought I was smart, and instead they started saying that I was...doing something with my teacher. And that's when I stopped asking questions about stars."
(Okay, I know lonelygirl15 is not a TV series, but it's the only logical place to put it.)
The greatest thing an actor can accomplish is truly convincing people that they're real. That's exactly what Jessica Rose did. If you watched the first season in real time, you know what I mean. She convinced you that Bree was a very special but very real girl. She invited us into her life and made us laugh. She made mistakes and frustrated us sometimes, but we all cared about her, right to the bitter end. She was the first and original Lonelygirl.
3.) Billie Piper as Rose Tyler on Doctor Who
"I am the Bad Wolf."
Rose Tyler was just a girl working in a shop. Until one night when the mannequins came to life and a mysterious man named The Doctor came to save her. Billie Piper created a character that Doctor Who fans fell in love with because she was so much like us- just a normal girl who got the chance to travel the universe, make a difference, and see things many people never even dream of. She was adventurous, likable, and full of life. Her introduction was the perfect premiere for the "New Who". She left her mark on the series the same way she left her mark on The Doctor and will never be forgotten.
2.) Jaime Pressly as Joy Turner on My Name is Earl
"As you can see I have a black son and a white son, but I don't see race so I can't tell which is which."
Joy Turner is not a good person. So why do we like her? Certainly the writing is a huge part of it, but good writing is nothing without a good performance, and this is as good as it gets. Jaime Pressly delivers the sometimes shocking dialogue with amazing naturalness, goes headfirst into the physical comedy and imbues Joy with surprising emotion when it comes to her family. Although Joy's morality is extremely questionable, she truly loves her sons and her husband. That's what allows us to embrace her as a person, rather than a villian.
1.) Kristen Bell as Veronica Mars on Veronica Mars
"You know those people who can predict when change is coming in their life? I'm not one of them. Change has a way of just walking up and punching me in the face."
I know- shocker. But anyone who's watched Veronica Mars can appreciate what a fine performance Kristen Bell gives in the titular role. It's a very tricky role that requires an actress to be smart, funny, angry and emotional. Bell walks a fine tightrope. She's not afraid to make Veronica unlikable, but you can easily see why so many people do like her, and trust her, especially when she's dealing with her father, her best friend and her many boyfriends. This performance is one of the things that made the show such a gem.
As always, this is only my (highly uncultured) OPINION. Please, comment and let me know what you think.
<3
