University Chic

Kirthana
March 16, 2007 - 11:01am.
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Last December, I watched the Cameron Diaz romantic comedy The Holiday. Sure, Jude Law was pretty to look at, and Jack Black was sorta funny, but I was disappointed to see the five-time Oscar nominated Kate Winslet, so awesome in so many roles from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind to Little Children, playing the part of an insecure, romantically-challenged neurotic.

Before I watched The Holiday, I couldn't ever imagine an actress like Ms. Winslet ever taking a part like this. Later, when I saw a clip of the classic screwball rom-com His Girl Friday played in the film, it also occurred to me we rarely kind of see those kinds of women in movies today--fast-talking, headstrong, breezy, confident, vulnerable but not beholden to a man's opinion.

So I asked Stephanie Zacharek, film critic for Salon.com, to recommend a list of movies featuring gutsy and intelligent women to introduce to UChic readers. That means movies that do NOT feature women in roles in the usual archetypes -- no nagging, shrill mothers, no Bridget Jones single gals, no dimwitted sexpots, and no portly sidekicks played for laughs.

The people on this list are strong and interesting, bold and fun, and they all make a lasting impression long after the film ends.

Stephanie warns that "not all of these characters -- actually, almost none of them-- are what you'd call role models. These aren't women you'd necessarily want to emulate -- in The Letter," Bette Davis is a murderess! But they're all women with guts, that's for sure."

So in honor of Women's History Month, here is a list of films that star great actresses playing great roles...and there's not a Bridget Jones among them.

Barbara Stanwyck in The Lady Eve (left)