Top 5: Best Supporting Actress 2015

The role of supporting actress can often fall into a somewhat formulaic, empty version of a person with no real motivation aside from propelling the lead forward in the story. It’s when one can break that mold, pull the viewer toward them and become a fully realized character themselves that they show up on lists such as this. To go with performances reaching that level, we have an interesting variety of roles showing up for 2015. Everything from a marketing chief to a deadly damsel to a robot. In the end, one lady landed the top spot according to RWT’s contributors. She landed the top two spots, actually.

4. TIE: Rachel McAdams, Spotlight/ Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight

“As Sacha Pfeiffer, the American journalist she portrays in Spotlight, McAdams’ strong performance not only brings the viewer into the complex events of the story, but draws us in emotionally. Through her own heart-wrenching journey into horrific discovery about a trusted institution, we gain personal buy-in to a situation so hugely shocking and terrible that it is otherwise difficult to engage with in heart or mind.” -Laura Fissel

“In a movie made to be dominated by male actors, Leigh holds her own with presence, grim comedy, and a measure of toothless tenacity. Once she gets the chance to shine in the final third, she brings it all and it is frightening. Marvelous performance in her first Tarantino film. ” -Josh Crabb

3. Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs

“It has been a while since I have so thoroughly seen (and enjoyed) Kate Winslet give herself over completely to a role. Much like Fassbender in the title role as Jobs, Winslet embraces the incredibly smart and layered script put to her by Aaron Sorkin. Winslet’s Joanna Hoffman anchors the film in a way that turns an info dump into an emotionally weighty, albeit unconventional, biopic.” -Fizz

2. Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl

“The movie was pretty good, but she was great.” -Griffin Kale

“Vikander has such an incredible acting range, and her softer side is on full display in this film. ” -Blaine Grimes

1. Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina

“If she can’t win for The Danish Girl, then she deserves to win for this.” -Blaine Grimes

“What is Ex Machina without Alicia Vikander delivering the kind of role that is ambiguous in both child and adult, human and machine. I can think of a sparse few that could pull off such a feat.” -Fizz