The best Annette Bening movies and TV shows prove that she is one of the top actresses in Hollywood history. However, she also has one disappointing fact about her career. She is one of the few actors to ever earn nominations at the Oscars, Emmys, and Tonys, yet never walk away with a single win. Bening got her start working in theater for a Shakespeare company in the 1980s and then finally moved into movies right as the decade was coming to an end.
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Bening earned her first Tony nomination before she made her name in movies and TV shows, but when she took on the role of con artist Myra Langtry in The Grifters, she picked up her first Oscar nod, and her film career was officially rolling. Bening went on to earn Oscar nominations four more times, with roles in American Beauty, Being Julia, The Kids Are All Right, and Nyad. She has appeared in blockbusters (Captain Marvel) and dramas (The Report) and is usually the best part of them.
10 Captain Marvel (2019)
Mar-Vell / Supreme Intelligence
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7.2/10 Captain Marvel PG-13ActionFantasyAdventure
Set in 1995, Captain Marvel follows Carol Danvers, a former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, as she turns into one of the galaxy’s mightiest heroes and joins Starforce, an elite Kree military team, before returning home with new questions about her past and identity when the Earth is caught in the center of an intergalactic conflict between two alien worlds.
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*Availability in US Director Ryan Fleck , Anna Boden Release Date March 8, 2019 Distributor(s) Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Cast Lee Pace , Brie Larson , Rune Temte , Clark Gregg , Ben Mendelsohn , Algenis Perez Soto , Samuel L. Jackson , Jude Law , Djimon Hounsou , Gemma Chan , Lashana Lynch , Mckenna Grace Runtime 124 minutes
Annette Bening joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2019 as the original Captain Mar-Vell, although she posed under the name of Dr. Wendy Lawson. She also pulled double duty as she took on the role of the Supreme Intelligence, one of the antagonists of the film, as well. The movie stars Brie Larson as Carol Danvers, who ended up as the Avengers member known as Captain Marvel. Bening plays her former commanding officer and friend Wendy, but she was really a Kree Warrior on Earth in disguise.
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Related Captain Marvel Didn’t Change Mar-Vell As Much As Fans Think
Captain Marvel makes a massive change to one of the most important cosmic characters. But how different really are they from the comics?
In the comics, Mar-Vell was male, but Captain Marvel changed the character to a woman and Bening did great in her role, which was part of the big twist when Carol realizes that she had been used by the Kree for years. While Jude Law was the main villain in the film, Bening was solid as the secondary antagonist who was pulling the strings all along, and she helped the extremely critically underrated MCU movie surpass $1.1 billion at the box office.
9 Mrs. Harris (2005)
Jean Harris
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Annette Bening has not been on television very often in her career. She had a handful of TV show appearances, a voice role (Libert’s Kids), and starred in a 2024 miniseries (Apples Never Fall). However, her best television appearance without a doubt came in 2005 when she appeared in the lead role in a TV movie called Mrs. Harris. The film is a drama following the relationship between cardiologist and author Herman Tarnower and headmistress Jean Harris.
Mrs. Harris
received 10 Primetime Emmy nominations but failed to win a single one.
The movie starts with Jean Harris (Bening) going to Ternowe’s house, intent on dying by suicide. When he sees her there, he tries to stop her, but she accidentally shoots him. Mrs. Harris then has flashbacks to show their relationship and flash-forwards to her trial for his murder to tell the story. The film is a story of emotional and psychological abuse and how Herman destroyed Jean to the point that she was submissive even after his death. Mrs. Harris received 11 Primetime Emmy nominations but failed to win a single one.
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8 Running With Scissors (2006)
Deirdre Burroughs
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Running with Scissors RComedyDocumentaryDrama Where to Watch
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*Availability in US Director Ryan Murphy Release Date October 27, 2006 Cast Annette Bening , Brian Cox , Joseph Fiennes , Evan Rachel Wood , Alec Baldwin , Joseph Cross Runtime 116 minutes
In 2006, Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story, Glee) directed the comedy-drama movie Running with Scissors, based on the memoir by Augusten Burroughs about his life growing up. Joseph Cross stars as Augseten in the film, while Annette Bening plays as his birth mother Deirdre. She is a woman who wants to become a poet but suffers from mood swings and erratic behavior, she eventually sends her son to live with her psychiatrist’s family, who themselves are a bit of an eclectic group of people.
Annette Bening earned a Golden Globe nomination for her role.
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The film follows Augusten with his new family while also showing how his mother is growing more and more estranged from him as their lives move on. Running with Scissors received average to negative reviews, but it was up for several awards at the end of the year. Annette Bening earned a Golden Globe nomination for her role as Augesten’s mother, although she lost out to Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada).
7 Bugsy (1991)
Virginia Hill
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Bugsy RBiographyCrimeDramaHistory
Bugsy chronicles the tumultuous life of notorious gangster Bugsy Siegel and his role in the establishment of modern Las Vegas. Directed by Barry Levinson and featuring Warren Beatty in the titular role, the film explores Siegel’s ambition, turbulent relationships, and enduring impact on the American criminal underworld.
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*Availability in US Director Barry Levinson Release Date December 10, 1991 Cast Warren Beatty , Annette Bening , Harvey Keitel , Ben Kingsley , Elliott Gould , Joe Mantegna , Bebe Neuwirth , Bill Graham , Lewis van Bergen , Wendy Phillips , Richard C. Sarafian , Karen Russell , Robert Beltran , Stefanie Mason , Kimberly McCullough , Andy Romano , Bryan Smith , Eric Christmas Runtime 134 minutes Expand
In 1991, Annette Bening starred in the biographical crime drama Bugsy. The film tells the life story of Bugsy Siegel, his rise in the American mafia, and his affair with starlet Virginia Hill. Bening plays Virginia in the film, while Warren Beatty plays Bugsy. The two actors would end up getting married in real life one year later. The movie was a labor of love for Beatty, who had fought to get the story told for years before he finally got his chance to star in the movie, directed by Barry Levinson (Rain Man).
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Annette Bening and Warren Beatty are married in real life, and started their relationship after filming
Bugsy
.
In this film, Bugsy meets actress Virginia Hill and begins an affair with her in California while his wife and daughters live in New York. The entire film tells the story of their star-crossed love and betrayals that never broke their connection, even after Bugsy was murdered and Virginia died by suicide within one week of each other. Bugsy received 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and two for Best Supporting Actor, while Bening received a Golden Globe nomination.
6 The American President (1995)
Sydney Ellen Wade
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The American President PG-13ComedyDramaRomance
The American President, a romantic comedy-drama, follows the personal and political life of widowed U.S. President Andrew Shepherd as he navigates the complexities of his role and his relationship with an environmental lobbyist. Addressing themes of love, power, and public perception, it paints an insightful portrait of balancing private desires with public responsibilities, offering a nuanced look at the human aspects of political life.
Director Rob Reiner Release Date November 17, 1995 Cast Michael Douglas , Annette Bening , Martin Sheen , Michael J. Fox , Anna Deavere Smith , Samantha Mathis , Shawna Waldron , David Paymer , Anne Haney , Richard Dreyfuss , Nina Siemaszko , Wendie Malick , Beau Billingslea , Gail Strickland , Joshua Malina , Clement von Franckenstein , Efrat Lavie , John Mahoney , Taylor Nichols , John Mahon Runtime 114 Minutes Expand
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In 1995, Annette Bening took on the role of Sydney Ellen Wade, a lobbyist who enters into a romantic relationship with the President of the United States (played by Michael Douglas). President Shepherd is trying to get a crime control bill passed before the next election to secure his re-election, while Sydney is an environmental lobbyist he meets. Shepherd is also a widower, and he soon falls in love with Sydney, but thanks to political machinations, it is not a love story that is easy.
The film was a huge success. It made $107.9 million on a $62 million budget and was universally acclaimed, with a 91% approval rating. It also received nominations at the Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical, Best Director (Rob Reiner), Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical for Bening, and Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical for Douglas.
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5 Nyad (2023)
Diana Nyad
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Nyad PG-13
Based on the true story of athletic swimmer Diana Nyad, Nyad is a biographical sports drama by directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin. Decades after shifting careers to a prolific sports journalist, Diana partners up with her best friend to coach her to tackle the 110-mile swim from Cuba to Florida that she always wanted to tackle, now at the age of sixty.
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*Availability in US Director Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi , Jimmy Chin Release Date September 1, 2023 Distributor(s) Netflix Cast Annette Bening , Jodie Foster , Rhys Ifans Runtime 121 Minutes
Annette Bening received her fifth Oscar nomination, and her fourth for Best Actress, for her role in the biographical sports drama Nyad. In this movie, Bening plays Diana Nyad, a 60-year-old who wants to accomplish an astonishing feat. She wants to undertake a 110-mile nonstop swim from Cuba to Florida. Nyad tried this when she was 30 and failed. She then asks her friend and former partner, Bonnie (Jodie Foster), to help train her and sets out to prove to everyone that age is only a number.
Related The True Story Of Diana Nyad & Her Swim From Cuba To Florida
The 2023 Netflix movie Nyad depicts the amazing true story of Diana Nyad, a long-distance swimmer who swam from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage.
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The film is a basic inspirational sports movie about a woman with a seemingly impossible dream who achieves it thanks to her ironclad will and the trust of the people she surrounds herself with. Critics favored the movie, giving it an 85% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while also praising the performances of Bening and Foster. Both women received Oscar nominations, although neither won in their catgory.
4 Being Julia (2004)
Julia Lambert
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Being Julia RComedyDocumentaryDramaRomance Where to Watch
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*Availability in US Director István Szabó Release Date September 3, 2004 Cast Michael Gambon , Annette Bening , Leigh Lawson , Shaun Evans , Mari Kiss , Jeremy Irons Runtime 104 minutes
Annette Bening received an Oscar nomination for her role in the comedy-drama film, Being Julia. In this movie, Bening plays Julia Lambert, a popular theater actress in London who has grown disillusioned with her career. She is approaching middle age and wants to step away from the theater to travel the world. However, her husband convinces her to remain on for the summer, although she privately wants to retire and just live life as she wants.
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Soon, she begins an affair with a self-professed gold-digging gigolo named Tom (Shaun Evans) who himself begins a second affair with a young, new actress named Avice (Lucy Punch). The entire movie is a dark comedy with Julia planning an elaborate revenge against all those who hurt her during a play, and Bening masterfully delivers this role to great success. While critics only awarded it a 76% fresh rating, they praised Bening, and she won the Golden Globe for Best Actress.
3 The Kids Are All Right (2010)
Dr. Nicole Allgood
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The Kids Are All Right LGBTQ
The Kids Are All Right is a 2010 film directed by Lisa Cholodenko, centering on a married lesbian couple, Nic (Annette Bening) and Jules (Julianne Moore), whose teenage children seek out their biological father, Paul (Mark Ruffalo). The family’s dynamic is tested as Paul becomes involved in their lives, leading to complex and emotional interactions. The film explores themes of family, relationships, and identity.
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*Availability in US Director Lisa Cholodenko Release Date July 9, 2010 Cast Julianne Moore , Annette Bening , Mark Ruffalo Runtime 106 Minutes
Annette Bening earned her fourth Oscar nomination for her performance in the comedy-drama film The Kids Are All Right. In this movie, Bening plays Nic, a woman who’s married to Julianne Moore’s Jules. They live in Los Angeles, where Nic works, and Jules is a homemaker who wants to start a landscaping business. They have two children, one birthed by each spouse, thanks to a sperm donor. Things become complicated when their teenage son Laser (Josh Hutcherson) wants to meet his biological father.
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Paul Hatfield (Mark Ruffalo), a restaurant owner, is that father and becomes part of the family’s lives. When Paul attempts to get Jules to leave Nic for him, it almost blows up the entire family. Critics praised the entire cast, awarding the movie a 92% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie was a huge success as well, winning Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes and giving Bening her second Golden Globe win for Best Actress.
2 American Beauty (1999)
Carolyn Burnham
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American Beauty RDrama
American Beauty, released in 1999, is a drama film directed by Sam Mendes. It follows the life of Lester Burnham, played by Kevin Spacey, a disillusioned suburban father undergoing a profound midlife crisis. Annette Bening co-stars as his ambitious wife, Carolyn. The film explores themes of beauty, desire, and existential ennui within the confines of American suburbia.
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*Availability in US Director Sam Mendes Release Date September 15, 1999 Distributor(s) DreamWorks Pictures Cast Kevin Spacey , Annette Bening , Thora Birch , Wes Bentley , Mena Suvari , Peter Gallagher , Allison Janney , Chris Cooper Runtime 122 minutes
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In 1999, Annette Bening starred in the Oscar-winning film American Beauty. Directed by Sam Mendes, the movie is led by Kevin Spacey as Lester Burnham, a middle-aged man in an unhappy marriage who sees no future in his life. His wife Carolyn (Bening) is very neurotic and ambitious, and his daughter Jane (Thora Birch) hates both of her parents. The film then follows Jane as she meets the charismatic Ricky (Wes Bentley) and Lester, as he starts to have lustful thoughts of Jane’s high school friend Angela (Mena Suvari).
While the movie mostly follows Lester and Jane, Annette Bening is fantastic in her role as their wife and mother, trying to get her life under control while her family falls apart around her. American Beauty was a critical darling upon release, although it is not looked at as highly in current times. However, it did receive eight Oscar nominations, winning five of them, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor. Bening also received a Best Actress nomination while winning a BAFTA for her performance.
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1 The Grifters (1990)
Myra Langtry
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9/10 The Grifters RCrimeDramaThriller
The Grifters is a crime drama film directed by Stephen Frears, focusing on the lives of three con artists: a seasoned hustler, her estranged son, and his girlfriend. The story delves into their complicated relationships and the treacherous world of grifting, with standout performances by Anjelica Huston, John Cusack, and Annette Bening. The film is based on the novel by Jim Thompson and explores themes of deception and betrayal.
Director Stephen Frears Release Date January 25, 1991 Cast Anjelica Huston , John Cusack , Annette Bening , Jan Munroe , Robert Weems , Stephen Tobolowsky , Jimmy Noonan , Richard Holden Runtime 110 Minutes
Annette Bening received her first Oscar nomination for only her third movie appearance. Bening stars in The Grifters alongside John Cusack and Anjelica Huston. Released in 1990, The Grifters is an independent movie by director Stephen Frears (My Beautiful Laundrette) and tells the story of a con artist named Lilly (Huston) who works for a mob bookmaker. She visits her son, Roy (Cusack) and instantly dislikes his girlfriend Myra (Bening), whom neither knows is also a con artist.
The film is basically about three grifters who decide to run cons on each other, all of which leads to a disastrous and tragic end. The Grifters was a huge success, with a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and critics praising the caper story and the actors’ performances. Both Anjelica Huston and Annette Bening earned Oscar nominations for their performances, while Stephen Frears earned one for Best Director. The film also won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Feature and Huston won for Best Female Lead.
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