Jessica Lange: five best moments
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Version 0 of 1. Jessica Lange is in it for the long haul. During a film career spanning almost 40 years, she has thrilled and captivated audiences with the emotional breadth of her dramatic work. She started as a damsel in distress in the 1976 remake of King Kong, and is currently wooing a new generation of fans on television, in American Horror Story. Lange also stars in The Gambler, which was released in America on Christmas Day last year and opens in UK cinemas this weekend. She plays Jim Bennett (Mark Wahlberg)’s wealthy mother in the reworking of Karel Reisz’s 1974 drama. We’re looking back at Lange’s past roles and picking our five best of the bunch. But which would you add to our list? Tootsie Although Dustin Hoffman took centre-stage in his depiction of cross-dressing actor Michael Dorsey, Lange put in a memorable performance too. She played Dorsey’s soap opera co-star, Julie Nichols, who battles with confusing romantic feelings towards Dorsey as Dorothy Michaels, while also dealing with her no-good boyfriend. Lange picked up the best supporting actress Oscar and Golden Globe for her part in the 1982 comedy-drama. The Postman Always Rings Twice At this stage in her career, Lange’s roles were still primarily cast based on her looks. In the 1981 version of James M Cain’s noir thriller, she plays Cora Smith, the beautiful, self-destructive wife of an older man, who has an extra-marital affair with Jack Nicholson’s Frank Chambers before things take a murderous turn. Look no further for Lange at her smouldering best. Frances Lange poured wry wit and raw emotion into her depiction of the unconventional 1930s actor Frances Farmer. The 1982 biopic charts Farmer’s life from high school, when she caused controversy with her atheist views, to Hollywood, and a later struggle with alcoholism and mental health issues. Lange earned a best actress Oscar nomination for her moving and poignant performance. Blue Sky At first glance, Lange’s Carly Marshall simply appeared to be a flirtatious woman with an unstoppable libido, in this 1994 drama about life on a military base. But, in typical Lange style, there was more to the sexually charged army wife than initially met the eye – and Lange displayed the emotional range to drive the point home. She picked up a best actress Oscar for her efforts. Sweet Dreams Lange took on the role of the feisty and driven country star Patsy Cline in this 1985 biopic. She put in a powerful performance next to Ed Harris as Cline’s swaggering – and abusive – partner Charlie Dick, and earned the third of her five best actress Academy award nominations. |