With the supporting performances in the books today we began the task of looking back at the very best lead performances from 2024. As usual we’ll start with lead actress, a category chock-full of worthy considerations. There were several very deserving leading ladies making this a challenging category to narrow down. But such is the nature of these silly lists so let’s get to it.

Honorable Mentions: Kate Winslet (“Lee”), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (“Hard Truths”), Saoirse Ronan (“The Outrun”), Kirsten Dunst (“Civil War”), Jodie Comer (“The Bikeriders”), Lily-Rose Depp (“Nosferatu”), Adria Arjona (“Hit Man”), Angelina Jolie (“Maria”), Cate Blanchett (“Rumours”), Daisy Edgar Jones (“Twisters”), Lupita Nyong’o (“A Quiet Place: Day One”), Maika Monroe (“Longlegs”), Pamela Anderson (“The Last Showgirl”), Vicky Krieps (“The Dead Don’t Hurt”)

#5 – Soheila Golestani (“The Seed of the Sacred Fig”)

There’s A LOT going on in Mohammad Rasoulof’s captivating political thriller “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” and lead actress Soheila Golestani is the linchpin that holds it all together. She plays a wife and mother torn between her loyalty to her husband and the well-being of their two daughters. Golestani navigates the simmering political and domestic drama with remarkable control which is essential to what Rasoulof is going for.

#4 – Nathalie Emmanuel (“Megalopolis”)

You won’t find much awards talk about Francis Ford Coppola’s “Megalopolis”, but I’m not ashamed to say I loved it. One of its strengths lies in the performance of Nathalie Emmanuel which is a significant piece of the film’s audacious story. Emmanuel’s character offers us a distinct perspective on the many themes Coppola is exploring and she brings some much-needed heart amid the corporate and creative chaos. Emmanuel is our emotional anchor and deserves recognition for what she’s able to pull off.

#3 – June Squibb (“Thelma”)

Now here’s a more lighthearted yet equally deserving pick. June Squibb brings heart, humor, and incredible personality to “Thelma”, one of the most enjoyable comedies of the year. Squibb has an effortless charm that once again shows itself in her latest film. But she’s also strikingly authentic which makes a movie like this even more endearing. Don’t miss her in “Thelma”. She’s an absolute delight.

#2 – Christiana Dell’Anna (“Cabrini”)

It seems so long ago, but one of the year’s best performances came in March in director Alejandro Monteverde’s biographical drama “Cabrini”. A fiercely committed Cristiana Dell’Anna offers a subdued yet powerful portrayal of Catholic missionary Francesca Cabrini who tirelessly worked on behalf of immigrant children in 1889 New York City. It’s a stirring and deeply empathetic performance that has stuck with me since first seeing it.

#1 – Fernanda Torres (“I’m Still Here”)

Among the easiest choices for this list is Fernanda Torres. She is the emotional force behind “I’m Still Here”, the Brazilian political thriller that tells the true story of Eunice Paiva, a wife and mother navigating through a harrowing political whirlwind. Torres is fearless but also remarkably restrained which fuels some of the movie’s most heart-wrenching scenes. This was an eye-opening turn for me, and how Torres isn’t topping every Best Actress list is beyond me.

And that does it for the Lead Actress category. See something I miss? Let me know in the comments. There’s only one category left – Lead Actor. Look for it tomorrow.