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20 Female Actors Who Were So Perfectly Cast In Their Movie Roles, I Can't Imagine Anyone Else Playing Them

Whoopi Goldberg was brilliant as Sister Mary Clarence.

Kayla Yandoli
by Kayla Yandoli

BuzzFeed Staff

We asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us which female actors were perfectly cast in their movie roles. Here are the brilliant results:

🚨 SPOILERS AHEAD! 🚨

1. Ana de Armas as Marta Cabrera in Knives Out (2019)

Marta revealing to everyone that Hugh was the one who killed Harlan
Lionsgate / Via davidlowery.tumblr.com

"Ana de Armas's role as Marta Cabrera was so memorable and such a stand-out performance. Not a lot of people talk about her, but she's an extremely talented actor."

—androidwithelectricsheep

2. Saoirse Ronan as Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson in Lady Bird (2017)

Lady Bird leaving her mom a voicemail outside of a church in New York City
A24

Saoirse Ronan is amazing in every movie she's in, but nothing compares to her performance in Lady Bird. She brought such depth and originality to this role, and I can't picture anyone else playing that awesome teen with pink hair.

—laurengarafano

3. Awkwafina as Billi Wang in The Farewell (2019)

Billi telling her mom in the back party room how frustrated and sad she was when they moved to the States
A24

People are so nervous whenever a comedian tackles a serious role, but Awkwafina absolutely killed it in The Farewell. She delivered amazing monologues with such depth, and she cried in all the right places — no wonder she won the Golden Globe for Best Actress!

—androidwithelectricsheep

4. Angelina Jolie as Lisa Rowe in Girl, Interrupted (1999)

Lisa hiding in the basement, creepily telling Susanna she's playing the villain just like she expected
Columbia Pictures / Via tumblr.com

"Only Angelina Jolie could play a role so passionate, smart, and sexy at the same time. Girl, Interrupted is one of my favorite movies, mostly because of Lisa Rowe's character."

—kovacka23

5. Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma Kelly in Chicago (2002)

Velma singing "All That Jazz"
Miramax Films

"All of Chicago was perfectly cast, especially Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma Kelly. No one could sing or dance like her — what a legendary character!"

—maddy_m_krause

6. Angela Bassett as Tina Turner in What's Love Got to Do with It (1993)

Tina standing up to Ike in her dressing room just before she performs as a solo act for the first time
Buena Vista Pictures

"This movie is pretty hard for me to watch because of *ke T*rner's character, but oh my God, Angela Bassett was perfect as Tina Turner. She danced just like her, and she tackled the very dark and serious scenes so well. I can't believe she didn't win an Oscar for this role — like, come ON."

—kaylayandoli

7. Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange in the Harry Potter movies

Warner Bros. Pictures / Via marthajones.tumblr.com

"Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange was PERFECT casting. I couldn't imagine anyone portraying such a terrifying and deranged character as well as she did."

—ashleighb4bdc4ffe0

8. Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow in the MCU movies

Marvel / Via giphy.com

"Thank God the role went to Scarlett Johansson because she portrayed her perfectly. From the look itself to the acting — she was just brilliant."

—oliviastyles1d13

9. Regina Hall as Brenda Meeks in the Scary Movie movies

Brenda watching the news and telling Cindy a white girl fell down the well
Dimension Films

"Regina Hall's comedic timing was unmatched by anyone else, and she brought everything to that role which made her the most likable character in the series. No one else could've done as an iconic acting job for Brenda Meeks."

—monikap6

10. Jennifer Lopez as Selena Quintanilla-Pérez in Selena (1997)

Selena at a restaurant with Chris telling him how much she loves pizza
Warner Bros. Pictures / Via mrbeniciodeltoro.tumblr.com

"Jennifer Lopez was amazing as Selena!!! It was the best casting because you could tell she worked her ass off to perfect that role!"

—lydiamichelle

11. Kate Hudson as Penny Lane in Almost Famous (2000)

Penny Lane telling William her and her friends aren't groupies: they're "Band Aids"
DreamWorks Pictures / Via fyeahmovieclub.tumblr.com

"Kate Hudson made it seem so effortless, like she really was Penny Lane. Her best role ever in my opinion."

—therachelbrant

12. Kara Hayward as Suzy Bishop in Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

Suzy looking outside the window with her binoculars
Focus Features

"The whole cast was on point, but Kara Hayward was a really excellent pick. Not many young women get to play roles that are alternately intense, bizarre, funny, awkward, confident, anxious, and lovestruck, but she did it exceptionally well. It felt so natural and real in such an odd and idiosyncratic world that only Wes Anderson could create."

—sebastiangraycroteau

13. Lupita Nyong'o as Adelaide Wilson/Red in Us (2019)

Adelaide looking at Red in a petrified way after she broke into her house
Universal Pictures

"Lupita Nyong'o was made for that film and played both parts perfectly. Not only was she great at acting with her co-stars, but she was also great at acting by HERSELF!"

—charliv

14. Whoopi Goldberg as Deloris Van Cartier/Sister Mary Clarence in the Sister Act movies

Deloris saying grace at the lunch table with the fellow nuns at the convent
Disney / Via stannisbaratheon.tumblr.com

"Only Whoopi Goldberg could deliver such hilarious one-liners so brilliantly and effortlessly. She made the movie an instant classic and a whole lot funnier — there is no Sister Act without Whoopi Goldberg, tbh."

—spenceralthouse

15. Anjelica Huston as Morticia Addams in The Addams Family (1991)

Morticia cutting a rose in her house, telling Gomez not to worry
Paramount Pictures / Via diablito666tx.tumblr.com

"Anjelica Huston embodied Morticia Addams to a 'T.' From the long silhouette and graceful mannerisms to the accentuated black dress and dark makeup — she was amazing."

—jessilyne00

16. Jennifer Hudson as Effie White in Dreamgirls (2006)

Effie singing "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" to Curtis alone on stage
DreamWorks Pictures

"I don't think there's a better movie musical performance than Jennifer Hudson's 'And I Am Telling You' from Dreamgirls. She gives 150% in this scene, singing her whole heart and soul out, making Effie White one of the most memorable characters in movie history. There's a reason she won the Oscar for this role!!!"

—taylorowens

17. Julia Stiles as Kat Stratford in 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

Kat calling Joey an asshole in English class
Disney / Via jesimahcah.tumblr.com

"I can't imagine anyone else playing Kat Stratford but Julia Stiles. It's one of the best movie performances of the '90s, tbh."

—beanieboo109

18. Queen Latifah as Cleo Sims in Set It Off (1996)

New Line Cinema / Via giphy.com

"Queen Latifah was perfectly cast as Cleo in Set It Off! Her last scene was so full of emotion — she was great for that role."

—christinashumway

19. Maggie Smith as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter movies

Professor McGonagall casting a spell to protect Hogwarts during the Battle of Hogwarts
Warner Bros. Pictures / Via femaledaily.tumblr.com

"The whole series was well cast, but she in particular was irreplaceable."

—greyladybast

20. And Carrie Fisher as Princes Leia/General Leia Organa in the Star Wars franchise

Leia angrily telling Han he's a scruffy-looking nerf-herder
Lucasfilms / Via movie-gifs.tumblr.com

"I couldn't imagine anyone else in that role but Carrie Fisher. We talk about how society expects women to impossibly balance between strong and sexy, independent and approachable, assertive and likable... but Carrie Fisher managed that as Leia in a way few actors could pull off."

—jadem6

Note: Submissions have been edited for length and clarity.

An earlier version of this post featured Elliot Page in Juno before he came out as trans in December of 2020, and has since been deleted.