Allison Williams has proven herself to be one of the most exciting performers working today with several iconic roles in movies and TV across her relatively brief career. From her breakout role as Marnie Michaels on HBO’s Girls to being dubbed a new scream queen due to her success in the horror genre, Williams has consistently confounded audiences’ expectations and proved her hidden, often underappreciated talents. With equal skills as a comedic and dramatic performer, when given the right material, Williams’ has truly excelled with some highly effective performances.
In her role as Rose Armitage in Get Out, Williams gave an extraordinary performance in one of the best horror films of all time and has continued to gain acclaim in this genre in subsequent films like The Perfection and M3GAN. Williams’ television credits have also been impressive, with memorable performances in Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events and an effective turn in the political miniseries Fellow Travelers. With so many great performances to her name already, William’s future career looks ripe with potential as she has continued to go from strength to strength in recent years.
10 American Dreams (2002 – 2005)
Allison Williams as Deborah
Although Allison Williams’ career did not really take off until she was cast as Marnie in HBO’s Girls, she had several small roles before gaining her breakout role. One prime example of this was her recurring role as Deborah on America Dreams, a part she played in just two episodes, in “Stewart’s Charge” from Season 2 and “Charade” from Season 3. American Dreams was an NBC drama about the Pryor family, a close-knit Irish American family in 1960s Philadelphia.
As a series packed with well-known pop music from the 1960s, American Dreams primarily followed the teenage daughter Meg Pryor (Brittany Snow) and her experiences as a dancer on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand. With plenty of special guests playing real historical figures, American Dreams included fascinating casting choices, such as Usher as Marvin Gaye or Fountains of Wayne playing the 1960s pop group The Hollies. American Dreams was an underrated series featuring Williams in a small role when she was just 16.
9 Jake and Amir (2007 – 2015)
Allison Williams as Cheryl
Jake and Amir was a web series set in CollegeHumors New York offices where the comedians Amir Blumenfeld and Jake Hurwitz played fictional versions of themselves. Despite being CollegeHumor’s longest-running series that has amassed over one billion views on YouTube (via Vice), like most sketch-based comedy, the results were hit and miss as it balanced genuinely funny sequences with some real comedic duds. One high point in the series was Allison Williams’ two-sketch role as Cheryl, Amir’s oldest friend, whom he just met yesterday.
Cheryl was a hilariously unlikable character who consistently made fun of Jake and drunkenly called her boyfriend a coward for breaking up with her after she cheated on him. Williams’ role in Jake and Amir showed her willingness to commit to the bit entirely and play unlikable characters with charm and charisma. While these brief appearances meant the role of Cheryl fell short of much of Williams’ better work, it’s still a fun addition to her filmography.
8 Horizon Line (2020)
Allison Williams as Sara Johnson
Allison Williams has always given great performances, and it’s a shame she didn’t have better material to work with for Horizon Line. This adventure thriller had an interesting premise: Williams played Sara Johnson, and Alexander Dreymon played Jackson Davisen, a couple trying to survive flying a small plane over the Indian Ocean after the pilot suffered a fatal heart attack. While there were some moments of real excitement, a lack of overall suspense stopped Horizon Line from truly sticking the landing and saving itself from mediocrity.
As one of just two film roles for Williams in between Get Out and M3GAN, Horizon Line highlighted the actress struggling to find the right material for her skills, and her talents were wasted with this poorly structured script. Horizon Line was just too silly to be taken seriously and not outrageous enough to work on a comedic level. Sadly, the movie could have just been much better than it was and failed to justify its existence by bringing anything new or interesting to its well-trodden story of survival amid imminent disaster.
7 The Mindy Project (2012 – 2017)
Allison Williams as Jillian
The Mindy Project 0
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Created by and starring Mindy Kaling, The Mindy Project follows the life of Dr. Mindy Lahiri, an OBGYN working at a clinic in New York City. The series deals with the trials and tribulations of Mindy’s professional and personal life, with a colorful cast of characters that includes the talents of Chris Messina, Ike Barinholtz, Ed Weeks, and Garret Dillahunt.
Cast Mindy Kaling , Chris Messina Release Date September 25, 2012 Seasons 6 Network FOX Streaming Service(s) Hulu , Netflix , Apple TV+ , Prime Video Writers Mindy Kaling Directors Mindy Kaling Showrunner Mindy Kaling Expand
The Mindy Project was Mindy Kaling’s romantic comedy series, where she played a young obstetrician/gynecologist trying to balance her personal and professional life. With a charming story and strong performances, this Fox comedy showcased Kaling’s skills outside of The Office, not just as an actress but also as a writer, creator, and showrunner. One of the main relationships in the show was between Mindy and Dr. Danny Castellano, her best friend, love interest, and, at one point, the boyfriend of Allison Williams’ character, Jillian.
Williams appeared in just three episodes of The Mindy Project as the oceanographer Jillian, who, after dumping Danny in Season 1, Danny desperately tried to win back. Similar to John Cusack’s heartfelt act of love in Say Anything, Danny even showed up at Jillian’s place of work with a stereo system, although rather than playing anything romantic, he ended up blasting Korn instead. Williams’ short-lived role on The Mindy Project was yet another testament to her comedic skills but lacked the impressive characterization of her better performances.
6 A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017 – 2019)
Allison Williams as Kit Snicket
Allison Williams’ first main role in a television series following the conclusion of Girls was as Kit Snicket in Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. As the sister of Lemony and Jacques Snicket, a member of the Volunteer Fire Department, and Count Olaf’s former fiancée, Kit’s role was expanded upon in the series, and she was presented as much more confident and determined than in the original books. This suited Williams perfectly, as she portrayed Kit as a fiercely resolved woman who was willing to risk her life for the good of her child.
A Series of Unfortunate Events was an enjoyable, dark retelling that maintained its source material’s sinister undertone and uniquely gothic sense of humor. William’s was a fantastic addition to the cast, which also featured a transformative performance by Neil Patrick Harris, as the mysterious Count Olaf. With appearances in eight episodes of the show, Williams’ was one of the most interesting and tragic characters in A Series of Unfortunate Events.
5 The Perfection (2018)
Allison Williams as Charlotte Willmore
The Perfection 0
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When troubled musical prodigy Charlotte seeks out Elizabeth, the new star pupil of her former school, the encounter sends both musicians down a sinister path with shocking consequences.
Director Richard Shepard Release Date May 24, 2019 Writers Eric C. Charmelo , Richard Shepard , Nicole Snyder Cast Logan Browning , Mark Kandborg , Allison Williams , Steven Weber , Alaina Huffman Runtime 90 minutes Expand
The psychological horror The Perfection proved that Allison Williams’ twisted performance in Get Out was not a one-time fluke and that this was a genre in which she truly excelled. WIlliams played the troubled musical prodigy Charlotte, who sought out Lizzie, the star pupil of her former school, in a thriller that will catch viewers off guard and has enough twists and turns to keep them hooked until the very end. With solid acting and a unique story, The Perfection showcased how great Williams can be when given the right material.
From director and co-writer Richard Shepard, The Perfection dealt with ideas of idol worship within the cutthroat world of prestigious music schools and the underlying horror beneath this concept. With intense gore and even sexual assault, The Perfection may push things too far for some viewers but still acted as a clever and shocking thriller. Coming just one year after the release of Get Out, The Perfection contributed to Williams’ reputation as a modern horror scream queen.
4 Fellow Travelers (2023)
Allison Williams as Lucy Smith
Fellow Travelers 1
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Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey star in Fellow Travelers, a historical romantic thriller that follows two men who meet in the 1960s and begin a decades-spanning volatile romance. Hawkins Fuller (Matt Bomer) is a careful, financially astute man who keeps himself from romance to focus on his career – but when he meets an idealistic young man named Tim Laughlin (Bailey), the two fall for one another during one of the most tumultuous times in the nation’s history.
Cast Matt Bomer , Jonathan Bailey , Allison Williams , Linus Roache , Will Brill , Jelani Alladin , Noah J. Ricketts Release Date October 27, 2023 Seasons 1 Network Showtime Streaming Service(s) Paramount+ Writers Ron Nyswaner Directors Uta Briesewitz , Daniel Minahan Showrunner Ron Nyswaner Main Genre Drama Expand
Fellow Travelers was an excellent historical thriller miniseries that explored taboo issues of same-sex relationships and communist affiliations throughout the 1950s to the 1980s. The series took viewers on a journey through the height of McCarthyism, the drug-fueled hedonism of the 1970s, and eventually, the AIDS crisis. Fellow Travelers highlighted societal prejudices across eras within the context of a homosexual relationship between the closeted World War II veteran and official at the State Department, Hawk Fuller (Matt Bomer), and an idealistic congressman named Tim Laughlin (Jonathan Bailey.)
Allison Williams played Lucy Smith, the woman who dated and eventually married Fuller as he secretly carried out his affair with Laughlin. Williams’ performance was deeply layered as audiences questioned what Lucy knew or didn’t know about her husband’s double life and how the prejudices of her time and her father’s stern support of McCarthyism would influence her reaction to it. As a smart and moving series that brought up interesting questions about how the discriminatory attitudes of that time reflect the modern era, Fellow Travelers was one of William’s most accomplished television roles.
3 M3GAN (2022)
Allison Williams as Gemma
M3GAN 3
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M3GAN tells the story of a lifelike robotic doll who arrives in a little girl’s life to help her cope with the death of her parents. As the young Cady befriends the robot, its designer, Cady’s aunt Gemma, realizes her self-aware invention is too dangerous to be kept alive. Blumhouse’s 2022 horror phenomenon mixes Chucky’s creepy inclination for violence with the Terminator’s unstoppable nature to craft a terrifying look at the dangers of Artificial Intelligence.
Director Gerald Johnstone Release Date January 6, 2023 Studio(s) Universal Pictures Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Writers Akela Cooper , James Wan Cast Amie Donald , Kimberley Crossman , Allison Williams , Ronny Chieng , Violet McGraw , Brian Jordan Alvarez Runtime 82 Minutes Budget 12 million Expand
M3GAN was pure camp horror in all the right ways, as it told the story of a self-aware artificially intelligent doll who became increasingly possessive of anyone who interfered with her and her eight-year-old human companion. Allison Williams portrayed Gemma, a roboticist at the high-tech toy company Funki, who developed the M3GAN doll to be a friendly companion to children. With plenty of absurdity, M3GAN was packed with over-the-top silliness, but it wore its outrageous nature on its sleeve and was all the better for it.
M3GAN worked well as a highly relevant satire of the incoming A.I. revolution that balanced comedy with genuine scares. The stunning visuals of M3GAN also contributed to its unique appeal, as an animatronic puppet mixed with impressive digital and visual effects contributed to the movie’s impressive world. With a sequel titled M3GAN 2.0 on the way, viewers can look forward to seeing Williams reprising her role as Gemma.
2 Get Out (2017)
Allison Williams as Rose Armitage
Get Out 5
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Jordan Peele made his directorial Horror debut with Get Out, a terrifying Psychological Horror film starring Daniel Kaluuya. In the 2017 release, Chris Washington heads to Upstate New York to meet the family of his girlfriend, Rose. What follows is a horrifying ordeal for the anxious photographer.
Director Jordan Peele Release Date February 24, 2017 Studio(s) Universal Pictures Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Writers Jordan Peele Cast Lyle Brocato , LaKeith Stanfield , Caleb Landry Jones , Betty Gabriel , Allison Williams , Marcus Henderson , erika alexander , Bradley Whitford , Jeronimo Spinx , Catherine Keener , Daniel Kaluuya Runtime 1 hour, 44 minutes Budget 4.5 million Expand
Get Out was Allison Williams’ feature film debut, and right out of the gate, she left her mark on the horror genre with one of the best villainous performances in modern cinema. As Rose Armitage, Williams’ performance in Get Out was an impressive showcase of subverting audiences’ expectations as her character’s true intentions were slowly revealed in this highly unnerving narrative. The way that Williams presented herself as the progressive white girlfriend of Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya) only to actaully be a remorseless sociopath who took pleasure in forming false relationships was highly effective.
Get Out received universal acclaim and signaled writer and director Jordan Peele’s transition from sketch comedian into a cinematic auteur. It was among the best movies of the 2010s. With strong writing, direction, and acting from everybody involved, Williams’ role was essential to the success of Get Out, as it proved the actress’s untapped talents and ability to play complex and sinister roles. With her performance in Get Out, Williams ensured she would not be doomed to a career playing characters typecast in roles similar to her breakout performance in Girls.
1 Girls (2012 – 2017)
Allison Williams as Marnie Michaels
Girls 0
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Created by Lena Dunham, Girls is a coming-of-age comedy-drama series that follows a group of four twentysomething-year-old girls now discovering that they’re on their own and must find their way through life. Central to the show is Hannah Horvath, who, after graduating college, is cut-off financially from her family. Hannah will soon discover trying to make it as a writer in Brooklyn is far more challenging than she thinks.
Cast Lena Dunham , Adam Driver , Allison Williams Release Date April 17, 2012 Seasons 6 Network HBO Max Streaming Service(s) Hulu , HBO Max Writers Judd Apatow Directors Lena Dunham Showrunner Lena Dunham Expand
Allison Williams first gained widespread recognition for her role as Marnie Michaels on Girls, where she gave a truly spellbinding performance. This HBO series, created by and starring Lena Dunham, offered a nuanced and realistic look at the lives of 20-somethings in New York City as young women traversed the trials and tribulations of modern romance with hilarious accuracy. Marnie was truly one of the great comedy characters, as Williams perfectly embodied her misguided ambitions, self-centered attitude, and often narcissistic personality traits.
While it’s true that Marnie got worse and worse as Girls progressed, the frustrating nature of her character was a testament to Allison William’s impeccable performance. Girls was full of characters that audiences loved to hate, but the frustrating decisions and unaware contradictions of its cast were what made it so believable. Girls was a fantastic series that powerfully addressed issues around body politics, female sexuality, and the experience of being a wayward 20-something woman in an effective, believable, and often frustrating manner.
Source: Vice