With so many emotionally rich characters under her belt, Joanne Woodward is truly one of the most amazing actresses of all time. No matter if it is her Oscar-winner performance or one of her collaborations with her iconic husband Paul Newman, she has wowed us for decades! Let us sit back and relive ten of her most iconic movie roles.

The Three Faces of Eve (1957)

What better place to start than the movie which saw Joanne Woodward win the Academy Award for Best Actress? This was the first time an actress had played a character with what was then referred to as multiple personality disorder. Joanne Woodward is amazing in this role that sees her go from the housewife Eve White, the naughty and dangerous Even Black, and the stable Jane. This is a fantastic drama movie with truly one of the most amazing performances of her career!

The Long Hot Summer (1958)

Next up we have The Long Hot Summer which was released in 1958. This is a very important movie for Joanne Woodward as this would be the first time that she would be on the big screen along with her husband Paul Newman. This is a drama movie that sees Paul Newman play the role of a drifter who comes into the life of the Varna family where the young and beautiful Clara has some very strong feelings for him.

Mr. & Mrs. Bridge (1990)

We go from one Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman movie straight to another! 1990’s Mr. & Mrs. Bridge is about a married couple (played by this real-life married couple) and their family and the way that the world is changing around them. Without a shadow of a doubt, Joanne Woodward is the star of this movie! Her performance as the mother, wife, and dreamer that is India Bridge is absolutely outstanding. Think of this as a “slice of life” kind of movie that is set during the 30s and 40s and you will have a good idea of what to expect here.

Rachel, Rachel (1960)

Directed by her husband Paul Newman, he really struck gold that his wife Joanne Woodward was so perfect for the role of Rachel Cameron. This is a coming-of-age/sexual awakening kind of movie. However, the twist here is that Rachel is not some teenager or someone in her early 20s. She is a full-grown woman in her 30s who has lived a mundane and safe life, until she kisses a woman, has sex for the first time, and realizes that there is a great and fulfilling life out there for her if she wants to go and take it! A fun bit of trivia here is that Paul and Joanne’s daughter is also in this movie.

They Might Be Giants (1971)

Next up we have the romantic comedy, They Might Be Giants and yes, the band of the same name got it from this movie! This is a movie where a man called Justin (played by George C. Scott) snaps and starts to think that he is in fact, Sherlock Holmes! This sends him to a psychiatric hospital where he meets Joanne Woodward who plays a doctor called…. Watson. Holmes and Watson are together again, but they have never been seen like this before!

No Down Payment (1957)

No Down Payment was a 1957 drama with a touch of comedy movie. In this movie, Joanne Woodward plays the role of Leola Boone. The movie is about a group of married couple who are trying to get by and Leola is married to a man called Troy who is obsessed with becoming the Police Chief, even at the expense of the happiness of his wife. An interesting bit of trivia about this movie is that it earned Joanne Woodward a nomination for the Best Foreign Actress award at the BAFTAS in the UK.

The Glass Menagerie (1987)

Next up we have The Glass Menagerie which is based on a play and this is one of many movies based on that play. Joanne Woodward would once again be directed by her husband, Paul Newman in her role as the matriarch of the Wingfield family, Amanda. Amanda longed for her supposed days as a southern belle and was obsessed with finding a husband for her disabled daughter Laura. The movie is told from the point of view of her son, Tom, who is played by the very talented John Malkovich.

The Fugitive Kind (1960)

The Fugitive Kind is another movie that is based on a play. This time Joanne Woodward stars alongside Marlon Brando and Anna Magnani. Brando plays the role of a drifter called Snakeskin who ends up in a small town and falls for a woman called Lady, but this town has a very violent past and present, something Snakeskin is trying to get away from. However, Joanne Woodward’s Carol knows of Snakeskin’s past and she very well may drag him back to the life he was trying to get away from. This is a very different role for Joanne Woodward and she is awesome in it!

A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966)

Here we have A Big Hand for the Little Lady from 1962. This is a fantastic Western and in this movie, Joanne Woodward plays a double role. What makes this such a great movie is the twist ending that you do not see coming! Playing the role of Mary, Joanne Woodward ends up at the table of a high-stakes card game with the money her family was going to use for a house on the line! However, things are not what they seem and by the time the movie wraps up, your mind is blown!

The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds (1972)

What better place to bring this collection of amazing Joanne Woodward performances to a close than with the mouthful of a title that is, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds? Here she plays the role of a mother who lives in let's just say a less-than-affluent life. She has dreams, but no way to realistically make them happen! Her two daughters one of whom is a rebel and the other who is super smart, but rather awkward have dreams of their own. What makes this such a great Joanne Woodward movie is that once again, this was directed by her husband Paul Newman, but she also starred alongside one of her daughters, Nell Newman, who went by the stage name, Nell Potts.

It was so hard to narrow this list down to just ten movies! Picking the best Joanne Woodward was no easy feat and we encourage you to take a trip back in time and check out these amazing performances that we have looked at here today. You can also enjoy some of the other top film picks we have in store for you right here, coming from celebrities like Paul Newman, Angie Dickinson, and Robert Wagner.

In today’s digital landscape, video content has become a cornerstone of effective communication and engagement. Platforms like YouTube allow creators to share their vision, connect with audiences, and establish their brands. One great example is Stream TV, a channel dedicated to reliving your greatest movie memories with your favorite Hollywood stars! With its growing library of quality videos, Stream TV is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in countdowns, reviews, trivia, and much more.

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